Thursday, September 4, 2008

How to Communicate with Lenders that are hounding you

Summary:
When it comes to writing your creditors you need to be careful to say the right things in the right way, and not give out more information that could be damaging. Creditors will retain all your correspondence and will not hesitiate to use it against you if they can.
We've compiled an exhaustive series of pre-written letter/templates you can send to creditors. In most cases, all you need to do is fill in the blanks, print and send out.
To see a list, go here, Creditscoresystems.com

--------------------------------------------
Text:
Do you have a feeling you won't be able to pay your bills? Are already behind on payments? Resist the urge to hide your head in the sand and hope it will all just go away. Unless you take action, the situation can get worse - not always, but usually.

Here is how to regain the upper hand and revent problems from escalating, possibly even reverse damage.
Don't Wait if you know you won't be able to meet your financial obligations before you actually miss a payment, contact your creditors immediately. You may be eligible for special programs that will keep your accounts in good standing. Waiting until you are behind will not only increase your balance because of hiked up interest rates and fees, but will damage your credit as well.
Be Honest. Never be less than truthful with a creditor. Chances are they've heard every story and excuse. If you are unable to pay a debt, explain why.
Stay Calm. Rather than succumbing to tears, threats, or panic, keep your cool. Getting overly emotional can cloud thinking and you could say something you later regret (i.e. "Go ahead and sue me then!").
Be Conservative. Though it can be very tempting to offer more than you can realistically afford in a time frame you probably can't meet, don't do it. If you think you can send a payment in two months, ask for three. If you make a payment early, great, but if you fail to meet your self-imposed deadline, you may not get another chance for a break.
Offer Specific Solutions
Make your offer first. If you leave it up to the creditor to find a solution to debt that's owed, you probably won't like what you hear. You may ask for:
A hardship plan (lesser or no payments for a specific period of time)
Reduced or eliminated fees and interest
Paying interest only on the debt until you can resume making monthly payments
A settlement (a lump sum payment that is less than the balance due)
Negotiate. If a creditor makes an offer to settle on a debt, don't hesitate to ask for a further reduction. It doesn't hurt to try.
Communicate with the highest-ranking employee. Ask to speak with a manager or supervisor regarding your account. They usually have more authority to strike a deal or make payment arrangements than customer service representatives.
Keep a journal. Keeping track of people you spoke with and what was said can be very confusing, and information can be conflicting. In a notepad or on a spreadsheet, list names, dates, times of day, and what transpired.
Write letters. Corresponding by mail lets the creditor know you are serious and allows you to say what you want without getting flustered. It also provides proof of communication. Having hard copies of your letters can be a great asset if the circumstances becomes dire and you have to go to court. Letters should:
Have your contact information and account number
Be addressed to a specific person or department.
Include a detailed explanation of what led to not being able to pay for the debt
Include the specific solution you are seeking
Documentation (i.e. unemployment or medical papers)
Don't send post-dated checks. Though creditors may ask you to send post-dated checks, don't do it. They can be cashed anytime. And if the checks bounce, your situation will become even worse.
Know what can happen if you can't pay. When communicating with creditors, it is important to know what they can really do if you cannot pay what you owe.
If a debt is secured, the collateral (such as a car) may be repossessed
If a debt is unsecured (such as a credit card, medical bill, or collection accounts), you may be sued for the amount owed
Know your rights. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act regulates third party collector's collection practices, and state law (which closely mimics the federal law) regulates original creditors collection practices. Become familiar with what creditors are legally able to say and do so you can stop them if they go beyond their legal parameters.
Maintain contact. Even if you don't hear from your creditors, continue to provide updates with your situation. It puts you in control.

We all need a boost to get over "writer's block". We've compiled a lost of pre-written letter you can send to creditors. In most cases, all you need to do is fill in the blanks, print and send out.
Go here, Creditscoresystems.com

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Welcome to my blog!

It's a fact that everyone, at some point in their life runs into debt and credit problems (unless their name is Paris Hilton, Ivana Trump, or some other trust account heir or heiress). We already know that banks and other lenders dutifully report our payment histories to the credit reporting agencies. Of course, this is fine when we make our payments on-time, like a good little soldier.
The problems arise when we run into cash flow problems, we make a few late payments and before you know it, time flies and our credit score sinks faster than the Titanic.

After my personal bankruptcy filing in 1994, I vowed to rebuild my credit and never be taken advantage of by the banks - ever again. Through this blog I will do my best to help all those who are in a similar situation.

I will also help you to work smart to get yourself out of debt, work with creditors to agree to your terms for repayment, improve your credit score, and lastly, leverage your improved credit rating (FICO score) to obtain "good debt". The kind of debt that will help you build a structured, stable and secure future.

Please be patient as I work through and let some new creative ideas flow through this blog.
I promise to not waste your time and provide to-the-point, useful info.

Better days are on the way,
Al (last name witheld for my privacy)
creditscoresystems.com