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Debt Relief -- Why Most Programs Have A 75% Failure Rate
Debt consolidation, equity loans, credit counseling, debt management plans, even Chapter 13 bankruptcy - it doesn't matter which of these debt programs you're talking about. They all suffer from one fatal flaw, the number one problem that causes most people to fail at eliminating their debts through these techniques. Can you guess the problem?
It's probably not what you're thinking. It's not the fees, interest rates, or the quality of the companies behind these debt solutions. No, the number one problem with most debt programs is that they require FIXED monthly payments without exception. This major flaw is the main reason that very few people make it through a credit counseling program or a Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan.
Do you make exactly the same amount of money each and every month? If you are like most people, the answer is probably NO. It's easy to understand why. Salespeople, for instance, often experience ups and downs based on how much commission they earn from one month to the next. Seasonal workers experience boom and bust times depending on the time of the year (think retail workers getting lots of overtime around the holidays). Overtime hours come and go depending on company workloads. Part-time jobs may offer hours that vary widely from week to week. And so on.
Now, what about your expenses? Do you spend exactly the same amount of money each and every month? Sure, your mortgage or rent and your car payments are a set amount each month. But doesn't your utility bill go up and down depending on the weather? What about your phone bill? How much will you spend on car repairs over the next 6 months? Medical bills? Dental bills? Can you predict such variable expenses with any accuracy?
If you have lots of room in your budget, with money left over at the end of the month, then fluctuating income and expenses are probably not a major issue for you. However, if you are struggling to make ends meet, living from one paycheck to the next, then an unexpected expense can destroy your monthly budget.
People enter debt relief programs with the best of intentions. Take credit counseling, for example. You enter a program to get some help in bringing your credit card debts under control. The monthly payment of $500 sounds good. You're humming along just fine for a few months, then wham! The water heater blows up. Time to shell out $800 for a new one. Unless you like cold showers, you'll need to skip the $500 payment to the agency this month, and part of next month's payment as well. Where does that leave you with the credit counseling program? Back on the street, that's where. You simply CANNOT miss payments into that type of plan and expect anything but failure.
Or look at Chapter 13 bankruptcy, where the court requires you to pay a set monthly amount to your creditors over a 3-5 year period. Even before the drastic new law went into effect, 2 out of every 3 people failed at Chapter 13 bankruptcy. It will get much worse under the new law, because the court will set your monthly budget for you, based on what the IRS says it should be for your state and county. This is simply unrealistic, and once people realize how bad the new law is, they will run in the other direction from Chapter 13. (Forget about Chapter 7, where you wipe the debts away. The new law will make it very difficult to qualify for the old Chapter 7 fresh start.)
Again, the big problem with most debt relief programs is lack of flexibility. You cannot call your loan officer, the credit counseling agency, or the court trustee and say, "Hey, my kid broke his leg and I had to pay the hospital $500 to cover my insurance deductible, so I'll need to skip my debt payment this month." If you could, then these plans might have a chance of working. But such inflexible programs simply do not reflect the unpredictable nature of the average household budget.
So is there any debt program that does provide this flexibility? Yes. It's called debt settlement, or debt negotiation. It's certainly not for everyone. Debt settlement is an alternative to bankruptcy. It's not for people who can pay their bills in full without hardship. But it can be a real blessing for those seeking relief from a crushing debt burden.
The reason debt settlement is so flexible is simply because YOU control the cash. You build up money in a separate savings account until you have enough to make a reasonable offer to one or more of your creditors. Like any debt program, debt settlement has its downside and its risks, but no other program provides this level of flexibility. Because the monthly payment is going into a negotiation fund that you set up and control, a bad month simply means you have less money to settle with. If you can make it up later, that's great. If not, that's life. When you have enough to settle ONE account (usually between 35% and 50% of the balance owed), then you make an offer. If your creditor takes the deal, then you start building up funds to knock out the next debt, and so on. It's the only program out there that recognizes a basic reality: Your budget should set the pace for your debt elimination program. Not the other way around!
Again, debt settlement is not a magic bullet. It won't cure every debt problem. But if you need to skip a month, or adjust up or down a little to reflect what's going on in the real world, it doesn't mean the end of the program. It's truly a shame that the financial "experts" who have set up the bankruptcy rules, consolidation loan terms, credit counseling plans, and debt management programs haven't figured this out yet. If they would just recognize this fundamental problem, then the success rate on their programs would increase dramatically and they could stop misleading the public about what works and what doesn't in the world of debt relief.
Charles J. Phelan has been helping consumers become debt-free without bankruptcy since 1997. A former senior executive with one of the nation's largest debt settlement firms, he is the author of the Debt Elimination Success Seminar?, a five-hour audio-CD course that teaches consumers how to choose between debt program options based on their financial situation. The course focuses on comprehensive instruction in do-it-yourself debt negotiation & settlement designed to save $1,000s. Personal coaching and follow-up support is included. Achieves the same results as professional firms for a tiny fraction of the cost. http://www.zipdebt.com/article5
MORE RESOURCES:
 Card Trak | Obama Credit Card Debt Relief Program – New Act to Help Lower Debt Load Subprime Blogger (blog) The Obama credit card debt relief program was designed to help all Americans alleviate their credit card issues. The new Credit CARD Act that was signed ... Credit Card Debt Relief: 3 Simple Steps Credit Card Debt Relief Self-Help Tips Offered by Total Debt Relief ConsumerDebt and New Federal Credit Card Act (CARD) to be Topic of March 9 ... |
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 Reuters | HAITI: US Acts Quickly on Debt Relief Ahead of Preval Visit Inter Press Service "I have long been a proponent of debt relief for low-income countries to enable them to focus on providing health care, education, and other vital services ... Senate supports Haiti debt relief |
 MiamiHerald.com | Highlights of Senate bill extending tax breaks, jobless aid Gaea Times (blog) It meets and exceeds all government regulations on sexiness. amortgagedebt Government Credit Card Debt Relief Program CARD Act Offers New Rules and ... State capitol report: House Dems push on for reform |
Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill Committee DeHavilland (press release) (subscription) The Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill Committee has met to consider the provision of the legislation. The Chair: Good morning everybody. ... |
 Los Angeles Times | Justices to Hear Funeral Protest, Vaccine Cases Courthouse News Service (CN) - Bankruptcy attorneys must identify themselves as "debt relief agencies" and can't advise consumers to rack up more debt before filing for bankruptcy, ... Supreme Court Rules on Bankruptcy Advice, Takes Funeral Protest Case Legal Briefing: Are Hateful Funeral Protests Protected Speech? |
Gov: Debt relief needs regulation The Detroit News Credit unions, banks and regulated debt management companies can help consumers with debt relief, she said, while unregulated settlement programs can be ... Warning For Debt Relief |
Obama Refinance Plan – Need Mortgage and Home Debt Relief Today? Subprime Blogger (blog) Many American homeowners are in need of mortgage and home debt relief. The Obama refinance plan was created to help all Americans gain access to lower ... |
 CNBC | High Court Finds Lawyers and Their Advice Covered by Bankruptcy Reform Law The American Lawyer Consumer bankruptcy lawyers are "debt relief agencies" under a 2005 federal bankruptcy law and restrictions on the type of advice they can give clients are ... Justices reject First Amendment challenges to bankruptcy law MILAVETZ, GALLOP & MILAVETZ, P. A. v. U.S. Silenced! High Court Upholds Ban on Type of Legal Advice |
Obama Credit Card Debt Relief Plan – Get Out of Debt in March 2010 Subprime Blogger (blog) The Obama credit card debt relief plan was designed to help Americans get out of debt as soon as possible. If you are looking to take the necessary steps to ... Why Debt Relief Can Help You and the Importance of Identifying a Professional ... Best Credit Card Debt Relief Programs: How to Get Started Free Credit Card Debt Consolidation Programs For The Best Credit Card Debt ... |
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