Some Debt Management Scams:

Debt management scam includes the much advertised grant programs which seem to be allowing free money to pay bills. One thing has to be realized that this is not possible as it would be not in the interest of the company providing the Debt management solution to give out grants and free money. Also it must be kept in mind that grants to initiate businesses require a lot of effort along with persistence.

Another type of debt management scam includes companies which come up with solutions to erase your debt in a legal way. Such companies generally claim that banks, mortgage and credit –card companies charge interest and other dues illegally. Thus, they are basically trying to look for loopholes to relieve you of your obligation to pay your debts.

Such debt elimination companies demand an initial fee of around $2000 and send a document on your behalf to your creditor which supposedly, relieves you of your obligation to pay back your debt. These documents are fake and can go by the following names:

Bond for Discharge of Debt

Redemption Certificate

Bill of Exchange

The only way to not fall for this lucrative scam is by being aware of it. Even after you have paid such debt elimination companies a large sum, you are required to pay back all of your debt which might leave you in graver financial situation.

Useful tips for avoiding Debt Management Scams:

It so happens that even after paying huge sums of money to the debt management companies, some people find themselves even greater in debt. This is due to the fact that they have been very carefully and deliberately scammed by those companies. The only way to avoid this is go for companies with a sound background instead of those companies which come up with the most tempting, very easy-to-do payment plans. These are likely to be frauds.

Beware of such companies which demand a high fee for enrolling in the debt management company. They might urge you to make “voluntary contributions” which is nothing but a fancy name for fees. They might not ask for your personal financial information as they claim they do not require it .e.g. bank account numbers and credit card numbers. Also they may not provide you with a list of services they would claim to have done for the debtor.

Also they might offer to through a debt management plan before they make sure that the debtor has understood how to manage money and how to budget his finances. They might even insist the debtor to make his payments according to the debt payment plan as drawn up by the scam company, before your creditors have agreed to the plan in case of the certain debtor. If so happens, you are likely being scammed.

So choose the debt management company wisely and try to gain all information about your finances firsthand so that you are able to avoid debt management scam.

One chooses a debt management solution when debt relief seems an impossible dream. Debt management is a carefully planned program by experienced credit counselors, which can ease your debt repayments and get your life into peace. Nevertheless, you should not carelessly hurry up in selecting the right one. The question is how much can you believe the one, who promises to “relieve” you off your debts? Read more to know what you need to watch out for while selecting a debt management solution for yourself.

•    High Fees or Initial Consultation Charges – Most of the debt management organizations claim to be non-profit. However, if they are charging exorbitant fees under the name of legal proceedings or charge a high amount towards initial consultation, then you need to be chary about it. Initial consultation is supposed to be free, as without that you would not decide if you want to go for their services. Mind that you have plentiful number of organizations who charge reasonable fees.

•    Improper Documentation or Contract Records - When you go for a debt management company’s service, it is highly essential that you have all the terms and conditions of your contract documented with appropriate legal steps. No condition should be verbally agreed with them. If the company gives any verbal assurance and is not ready to document the same, it should ring a bell in your mind. You should not proceed on any payments, unless everything has been documented appropriately. If they refuse, check for a new one.

•    Promised a Quick Change in Credit Scores – Strict NO-NO! – Understand the fact that no company reserves the right to change your credit scores by any means with credit bureaus. It can only be improved with proper settlement of dues with the creditors. If you are being promised that your credit scores can be improved without much ado, you are being tricked, be careful.

•    Wary Advices of Neglecting Creditors – If the company asks you to simply put your creditors on hold or neglect their payments with an excuse, you should turn a deaf ear to them. A good advisor will never ask you to do this as he understands the consequences of the same. Your creditors do report your defaults to the credit bureaus and that’s how you play bad with your credit scores. A good company will negotiate terms with your creditors and work out things beneficial to both. They also suggest you good measures to improve your credit scores.

•    Insufficient Information on Usage of Your Money – When you arrive at regular schedules of payments to be made to the debt management company, you reserve the full right to know where and how your money has been paid. You should ask the company to send you detailed reports of the periodic payments that company makes on your behalf. If this right is denied, then its time to sense something fishy. You should immediately move on to an ethical company.

So now you know how and where you need to be fully aware and careful of the businesses of these debt management companies. There’s no hurry, you can always take some extra time to start their services. It only matters how to select the right one for yourself.