Are Debt Relief Companies Legitimate – The Latest Online Scams and How to Avoid Them

Debt relief is big business, and most debt relief companies are total scams. They won’t help you. In fact, if you tangle with a debt relief company you will end up with less money than when you started because they demand a hefty upfront fee. And, you’ll still be in debt, because debt relief companies do not do anything. Click to DISCOVER a Proven Path to Financial Independence! Are Debt Relief Companies Legitimate? In most cases, a so-called debt relief company is nothing more than a shell company taking your money or collecting your debt for another company. At best, they are just another loan company that will put you deeper in debt. Anything a debt relief company claims it can do for you, you can do for yourself. At the bottom of this article, I show you where to learn what you need to know. If you read a glowing review of a debt relief company online, it’s because the reviewer will make a large commission if they get you to sign up. They are not your friend. Debt Reducing Traps. Debt relief companies have only two tools, loaning you more money and offering to negotiate with your creditors. Both are traps. Borrowing money to pay off debts will not help you. It is even worse if you must borrow at a higher interest rate, which is often the case with debt relief companies. The truth is, once you pay the debt relief company their fee, they don’t have to do anything for you. Don’t expect them to negotiate with your creditors, because they probably won’t. Most people who work at debt relief companies know very little about financial management. They are just there to talk you into paying the up-front fee. If you pay them, you’ll be paying good money for a whole lot of nothing. Relief Companies Are Proven Scams. Debt relief scams are common. A month rarely passes that a news organization, consumer advocacy group or government agency does not report on yet another fraudulent debt relief company. When a consumer advocate exposes a debt relief scam, there is a typical pattern of complaints. For example, usually, the debt relief company made wild and exaggerated claims about what they can do for the client and lies about their rate of success. Consider anything a debt relief company claims to be nothing more than their attempt to talk you into paying the upfront fee. Click to DISCOVER a Proven Path to Financial Independence! Typical Debt Relief Company Pitch Below, I discuss in general terms a case that was prosecuted by the Federal Trade Commission against a well-known online debt relief company. Incidentally, although this company is a blatant scam, it has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. In the past, the BBB has been caught charging money for their ratings, so you really can’t trust them. Here’s what happened to a customer: A debt relief company promised a client that if she paid the upfront fee of $999, they would negotiate a lower interest rate on her credit cards, her mortgage and auto loan. The company promised that she would be able to pay off the loans much faster and soon be debt free. Also, the company promised that with their help, the woman would save more than $2,500 in the first month. The woman paid the $999, and the debt relief company did nothing. The woman suffered greater debt and a devastated credit score. The lesson here is don’t expect a debt relief company to do anything for you. The Government Approval Pitch. Many debt relief companies, particularly those you find online, claim to be part of a government debt relief program or approved by the government. This is a lie. It is not unusual for debt relief companies to pretend to be government agencies or to work on behalf of a government agency. The “U.S National Debt Relief Plan” is an example of a total scam that pretends to be part of the government. A Web of Deception. Debt relief is hugely profitable. Every year, hundreds of debt relief and debt consolidation companies set up shop on the internet. Tens of thousands of affiliates sing the praises of these fraudulent businesses to earn a generous commission. Commissions of $300 per referral are typical. Don’t get caught in their web of deception. Beware of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. If an agency offers you free debt management help, there’s a catch. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling presents itself as a non-profit service to help consumers. However, in reality, the NFCC works for credit companies. The NFCC is a debt collection agency. They are NOT your friend. Click to DISCOVER a Proven Path to Financial Independence! How to Get Out of Debt on Your Own. All you need to get out of debt is a little discipline and income. See the book I recommend at the bottom of this article. You can get out of debt with a low income, but you will need to reduce your monthly expenses, so there is something left over at the end of the month to pay the bills. Start with a budget. Sometimes the most expensive monthly costs are the non-essential ones like entertainment and eating away from home. Cooking at home and cooking from scratch will save a bundle that can be used to pay off debts. Also, negotiate better terms with your creditors. It’s easier than you might think to get better terms. Almost Free Debt Management Help. I highly recommend the book Credit Repair: Make a Plan, Improve Your Credit, Avoid Scams, written by Amy Loftsgordon and published by NOLO. It costs about $25 on Amazon and it is well worth it. Amy Loftsgordon is a lawyer and NOLO has spent decades helping the average Joe understand the law and how to manage legal situations on his own. You can get out of debt and you can do it yourself without spending a bunch of money with a bogus debt relief company. Get the book and stop worrying about your debts. Credit Repair: Make a Plan, Improve Your Credit, Avoid Scams