Whether it's credit cards, medical bills, or financial problems after a divorce, debt is a real problem for American households. The average U.S. household carries $16,000 in credit card debt.
Those ads from debt consolidation companies make it sound easy to eliminate your debt and get back in good financial health. But the reality is, without doing your homework, they could actually get you in even more money trouble.
Let's break down the claims with the help of Kim Sands from Greenpath. The non-profit, with offices in Moline and Davenport, counsels people on their money management, including debt.
Claim #1 : Your first call is free. There is no obligation.
While that's true, Sands says that is where the high-pressure sales pitch starts.
"It's so easy to get confused," she said. "They are so high pressure. I have people who say, 'I called them with a few questions, and now I can't get them to quit calling me.'"
Claim #2: We can cut your bills by thousands, avoid high interest foreclosure, and settle your debt for up to 60 percent of what you owe.
With Greenpath's debt management program, you will repay 100% of what you owe.
"You're making on-time, monthly payments," she said. "The interest rate is in the lower single digits."
"Debt settlement companies often will charge - Let's say your payment is $500. They will keep the first three months' payment as their fee," she explained. "Then they take a percentage of what they pay out. So if they pay $2,000 on a $4,000 credit card, they may keep 20 percent of that too. So a lot of what you're sending them is a fee."
Claim #3: Banks and credit card companies have legal representation, and so should you.
No matter who is on their staff, an attorney for a debt consolidation company can't offer you any legal protection. The only thing that can protect you, legally, is filing bankruptcy. That may be the only choice for you, but the key is knowing your options and your long-term financial goals.
Most importantly, Sands says, you should never pay a company to do what you can do yourself. You won't get a better debt settlement just because you have hired one of these companies. Debt settlement is usually only appropriate for people who have access to a large sum of money, like a tax return or and inheritance, to make a one-time payment.