How to Negotiate a Debt Settlement with a Law Firm

To prepare to negotiate a settlement or repayment agreement with a collection agency, consider this three-step approach: Suing for a credit card debt occurs at different stages of collection. Are you sued by a debt collection agency on behalf of your original creditor? Any debt collector who contacts you to collect a claim must provide you with certain information when they first contact you, or in writing within 5 days of your contact, including: I tend to have Bank of America lawsuits settled at 65%. Once banks send your accounts to debt collection companies, and especially after a lawsuit has been filed, you need to make settlement and payment arrangements with the law firm. You can do this yourself, but I usually suggest getting help from an experienced lawyer if you`re dealing with a collection. We have help available if you want to talk about strategy. You can arrange a call with me using the field above. However, it is not always easy to move alone in the waters of debt regulation. If you need help negotiating with debt collection agencies, you may want to consider the help of a debt settlement lawyer or debt settlement company. Contact us here at United Settlement to learn more. With do-it-yourself debt settlement, you negotiate directly with your creditors to pay off your debts less than you originally owe. In most cases, non-payment of debt will not solve the challenges you face. If you don`t pay what you owe and a lawsuit ends with a default judgment or judgment from your creditor, they have more power to take debt collection actions against you. A judgement creditor can open bank accounts, receive a wage garnishment, or place a lien on your property.

In addition, judgments are good for many years, depending on the specifics set out in the laws of your state. Some States also allow the renewal of judgements if they are not executed during the first term. Judicial creditors have extensive recovery power and considerable time to recover the full amount due. Although creditors are almost always willing to pay off your debts, sometimes a lawsuit is filed. Creditors do this to put pressure on the debtor. With McCarthy Law, this tactic does not work. While court is something you certainly want to avoid if a credit card company or bank decides to sue, your attorney can take immediate and appropriate action to defend you. You will have a stronger position if you have a lawyer with experience in debt negotiation and credit defense. Debt settlement is an option if your payments are at least 90 days late, but it`s more feasible if you`re five months or more late.

But because you still have to miss payments while you negotiate, the damage to your credit accumulates, and there`s no guarantee that you`ll end up with a deal. Bankruptcy is a powerful tool for debt relief. If you have debt problems, it may be time to think about how the deposit would affect you, as bankruptcy is not the right solution for everyone. A good place to start is to complete credit counselling (it`s free!) by talking to a free advisor at an accredited non-profit financial advisor. And it`s not a bad idea to meet with a bankrupt lawyer for a free consultation to determine if bankruptcy is a debt relief solution that might be right for you. By providing both credit advice and free bankruptcy advice, you`ll get the most comprehensive overview of your options, as well as personalized recommendations for your unique financial situation. This page is a great way to connect with any experienced legal resources you may need. Post more information about your situation in the comments below and I can email you resources I know. You can also call me via the hotline. Whatever your motivations and ability to deal with a debt collection lawsuit, a call to me or a debt advocate in your state will help you make an informed decision about what to do. There are a few things to keep in mind when considering a debt settlement. A debt paid is reported in your credit history as “debts paid for less than the total amount due.” These negative reports are likely to reduce your credit score, which will make future borrowing in the form of higher interest rates and annual fees for more expensive credit cards.

Also pay attention to the possible tax consequences that arise from the settlement of debts. Cancelled debt is considered income by the IRS. Increasing your income by the amount of debt cancelled can result in tax obligations that you will have to pay to the IRS later. In a debt settlement scenario, defaulting credit card accounts continue to incur interest and late fees while damaging a credit score and profile that will need to be repaired later. Are your debts already outstanding? Many creditors will not consider liquidating until your debt is at least 90 days overdue. Bovee, the debt settlement coach, says you have a better chance of settling a debt with the original creditor who is about five months late, which is about the time when many creditors sell the debt to a third party. To whom do you owe anything? Who did you pay to take care of the debt, albeit differently than above? Who is the named plaintiff in your lawsuit and who is suing the debt collection agency? Here`s how DIY debt settlement compares to using a debt settlement company and how you can negotiate with a creditor yourself. When you have your debt validated, you know who you are dealing with and how much you owe. Under federal law, the collector must send a written letter within five days of the first communication with you that includes the following: Bankruptcy also terminates the collection lawsuits. As soon as you apply for insolvency protection, the automatic stay comes into effect, which terminates all collection activities against you. Automatic suspension immediately terminates lawsuits for unpaid debts, harassing calls from creditors, any active wage garnishment or wage garnishment that is about to begin, debt collection letters, repossession and all other collection efforts by collection agencies or creditors.

Hiring a lawyer to defend you against a credit card lawsuit costs money. You need to balance these costs with the costs it may cost to pay the bill. The smaller the balance for which you are sued, say, $2500.00, the less sense it may make to defend the lawsuit on a purely economic basis. In addition, many lawyers who are not familiar with lawsuits filed by debt buyers will only tell you, “Pay the bill” or “I can settle it or set up payments for you.” Well, you or I can do that too. Sometimes what you really need is a lawyer who is already familiar with defending against debt collection lawsuits, and there just aren`t many of them. There is a limit to the period during which a creditor can bring a collection action against you. This is called the statute of limitations and is set by state law. The length of the limitation period varies by State and is generally between 3 and 10 years from the date of the first delay in payment or the date of the last payment received, depending on the procedure of each State. Once the amount of your debt has been validated, an experienced debt settlement lawyer at McCarthy Law will analyze any defenses you may have and begin negotiations on a significant debt reduction. When it comes to debt relief, you have options.

You can still resolve a debt after a lawsuit has been filed. You can even settle a debt after a creditor has succeeded in a lawsuit and obtained a judgment against you. As long as you address your debt problems head-on, you almost always have options that allow you to apply for significant debt relief or restructure your debt so that repayment becomes a more manageable process. Many creditors allow you to pay off your debts at any time, whether through debt settlement, full payment, or another debt settlement option, and even after you take legal action. Are you being sued by the original creditor or a debt buyer? Look at the court documents you`ve received about the people the lawyer they work for has identified. .