What are the cons of debt settlement?
Debt settlement can eliminate outstanding obligations, but it can negatively impact your credit score. Stronger credit scores may be more significantly impacted by a debt settlement. The best type of debt to settle is a single large obligation that is one to three years past due.
Debt settlement can eliminate outstanding obligations, but it can negatively impact your credit score. Stronger credit scores may be more significantly impacted by a debt settlement. The best type of debt to settle is a single large obligation that is one to three years past due.
Working with a debt settlement company may lead to a creditor filing a debt collection lawsuit against you. Unless the debt settlement company settles all or most of your debts, the built-up penalties and fees on the unsettled debts may wipe out any savings the debt settlement company achieves on the debts it settles.
Debt relief programs and strategies aim to resolve credit issues caused by built-up debt. But, much like the debt itself, the relief option you choose will impact your future finances. You could be left with hefty fees or even more damage to your credit score.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Might be able to settle for less than what you owe | Creditors might not be willing to negotiate |
| Pay off debt sooner | Could come with fees |
| Stop calls from collection agencies | Could hurt your credit |
| Could help you avoid bankruptcy | Debt written off might be taxable |
Generally speaking, having a debt listed as paid in full on your credit reports sends a more positive signal to lenders than having one or more debts listed as settled. Payment history accounts for 35% of your FICO credit score, so the fewer negative marks you have—such as late payments or settled debts—the better.
The short answer is Yes, people are generally allowed to use their credit cards after debt consolidation as it does not typically involve closing credit card accounts.
Fees. No matter what debt relief solution you choose, it's important to understand the fees associated with it. Debt settlement services typically charge a percentage, usually 15% to 25%, of the total amount you owe. For example, if you have $10,000 in debt and the company's fee is 20%, the fee would be $2,000.
There is a high probability that you will be affected for a couple of months or even years after settling your debts. However, a debt settlement does not mean that your life needs to stop. You can begin rebuilding your credit score little by little. Your credit score will usually take between 6-24 months to improve.
How Long After a Debt Settlement Can You Buy a House? There's no set timeline for how long it takes to get a mortgage after debt settlement. Your ability to qualify for a mortgage will depend on how well you meet the lender's requirements on the issues raised above (credit score, DTI, employment and down payment).
Does debt forgiveness ruin your credit?
Debt forgiveness may negatively affect credit scores, making it challenging to obtain future loans or credit. Forgiven debt of more than $600 may be considered taxable income, potentially resulting in a hefty tax bill.
The potential drawbacks of debt consolidation include the temptation to rack up new debt on credit cards that now have a $0 balance and the possibility of hurting your credit score with late payments. Also note that the best personal loans go to consumers with very good or excellent credit, so not everyone can qualify.
Debt Settlement Tax Consequences
The IRS considers any debt cancelation of $600 or more as additional income — and taxable — even if you didn't actually receive any money. Each Form 1099-C shows the amount of your debt canceled by a specific former creditor and when.
But the truth is, debt settlement is only an ideal debt solution if: You have $10,000 or more unsecured debt. You're usually late on debt payments. You're having trouble making the minimum payment amounts every month.
After you settle debt, the amount you don't pay will be charged off by the creditor or collector. Charge-offs will stay on your credit for seven years.
It is not unusual for the entire debt settlement process to take three to four years. Your attorney or debt settlement company will need time to negotiate with your creditors. The more creditors you have, the more time it will take.
Settling a debt will generally help your credit a little, although not as much as paying your bills in full. However, if you intentionally stop making payments on an account that's current or only slightly past due, that could significantly hurt your credit scores in the meantime.
As with most other negative credit report entries, settled accounts stay on your credit reports for seven years.
What Percentage Should You Offer to Settle Debt? Consider starting debt settlement negotiations by offering to pay a lump sum of 25% or 30% of your outstanding balance in exchange for debt forgiveness. However, expect the creditor to counter with a request for a greater amount.
| Company | Forbes Advisor Rating | Learn more CTA below text |
|---|---|---|
| National Debt Relief | 4.5 | On Nationaldebtrelief.com's Website |
| Pacific Debt Relief | 4.1 | |
| Accredited Debt Relief | 4.0 | On Accredited Debt Relief's Website |
| Money Management International | 4.0 | Read Our Full Review |
How to repair your credit after debt settlement?
You may want to start by reaching out to a reputable credit repair service. Getting a secured credit card and keeping your balance to 30% of your credit limit or less may also help. And, if you have any other credit lines, be sure to only use, at maximum, about 30% of the available credit on those, too.
Debt consolidation itself doesn't show up on your credit reports, but any new loans or credit card accounts you open to consolidate your debt will. Most accounts will show up for 10 years after you close them, and any missed payments will show up for seven years from the date you missed the payment.
Drawbacks of Debt Settlement:
Adverse impact on credit score: Post-settlement, re-establishing credit to secure loans or make major purchases can take up to seven years. No guaranteed savings: Creditors aren't mandated to settle, which can lead to legal repercussions or involvement of collection agencies.
Debt relief services may have a negative impact on your credit score, but that impact may not be as big as you think — and in some cases, it can help your credit. How these services impact your credit depends on the debt relief option you choose.
Debt relief will also often give you a fixed payment plan and a set payoff date, which can also make it worth considering — as streamlining your payments can make it easier to manage while helping you save money on interest. "One of the biggest advantages of going through a debt relief program is the savings.
