Obviously, debt relief agencies are not required to submit their information to the government, and it is certainly not in their interest to allow any other companies access to their clients. Furthermore, the effects upon credit are limited – with immediate positive changes to be seen upon FICO scores – after debts are erased. Best of all, the costs are relatively insignificant. There’s none of the administrative fees that the courts force upon desperate borrowers, and many of the debt relief or debt settlement programs don’t charge anything for the initial consultation (which is why it’s best for all individuals to discuss their situation with a variety of companies and counselors). Again, some debtors have no choice but to declare bankruptcies, but, for anyone who thinks they have a shot at avoiding Chapter 7 protection, they should very seriously investigate the possibilities.
One of the many deficiencies with bankruptcy protection is that instant debt elimination – although, after recent changes in the laws surrounding Chapter 7, that happens less and less – does not create any changes within the borrower’s behavior. After all, though many debtors are at the mercy of financial mishaps and medical problems, most consumers got to this point because they kept spending beyond their means, and, if their collected debts are eliminated without any real consequences (credit card companies will still offer credit accounts after bankruptcy discharge, after all, even though the interest rates can be absolutely horrendous), why should anyone think that the habits of a lifetime would change?
Bankruptcy lawyers’ responsibilities to clients end as soon as the court trustee signs the papers that first sets up people into one program or another. Half the time, the attorneys often don’t even make a call once discharge papers are sent. The judge randomly assigned to the debtor’s case has even less to do with anything – a disapproving look, a tired remark about how too many people take advantage of the system. Debt relief counselors actually are counselors. They work with their clients to make sure the financial predicaments stay buried. The counselors are certified, after all, not only to negotiate with lenders but also to help advise the consumers on the best strategies for money management and debt management. They’ll talk with them about how to make a worthwhile budget (one that the borrowers can actually stay on top of; too many debtors, in a bout of self-loathing, either make things too stringent and impossible to follow over the course of years or, on the other hand, allow expenses for things like cable and magazines and dinners out that shouldn’t really be considered necessary) and the best methods to stay within that budget. They’ll counsel patience and diligence. The debt relief and debt settlement professionals will help the entirety of a client’s life and future, in other words, rather than simply take the money and run.