Escaping the Sins of the Past: 4 Things to Bear in Mind About Debt Forgiveness

Debt forgiveness programs come in many forms, but there is one thing they all have in common. The lender agrees to forgive a portion or all of the outstanding balance owed when a person is approved for the specific program. People in the past would find they could walk away from thousands of dollars of debt with no consequences but this is no longer the case. Furthermore, scams are common in this industry, and debtors need to research any provider they are considering using. Following are four things to keep in mind when deciding if debt forgiveness is right for you. 

It’s Not the Only Option

A person should be aware of all options before determining which best meets their needs. In addition to debt forgiveness, people may choose a debt management program or debt settlement. Some individuals, however, find they have so much debt, bankruptcy is the only option. Individuals looking for information on affordable bankruptcy, medical bankruptcy, bankruptcy rules and more should speak to an attorney in this field. The attorney can answer all questions and ensure the debtor knows what is being agreed to before a bankruptcy petition is filed as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each debt relief method. 

Debt Isn’t Settled, It’s Forgiven

A person who works to settle their debt negotiates with creditors to reduce the amount of debt owed. This method is frequently used when a person has unsecured debt and has fallen significantly behind on the payments. Debt forgiveness, in contrast, eliminates all or some of the debt, and borrowers usually have to qualify for a program the lender offers. Debt settlement programs tend to hurt a person’s credit score, but debt forgiveness ones often improve the score as the person’s debt load is reduced with this type of program. 

Types of Debt Forgiveness

If a person decides debt forgiveness is the best choice for their specific circumstances, the right program needs to be selected. For example, a person wishing to eliminate student loans needs to find the appropriate program, one that doesn’t offer mortgage loan forgiveness. In addition, there may be several programs for those wishing to reduce or eliminate students loans, and knowing which one to select is crucial. It’s best to speak to someone who has experience in this area to ensure the correct program is chosen, as making the right choice is essential to obtain the desired results. 

Looking to the Future

A person who takes advantage of debt forgiveness programs isn’t free and clear once the process is done. Unless this individual learns how to better manage money, similar problems may arise in the future. For this reason, a person may wish to take part in credit counseling or other financial management programs, such as Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. Men and women who do so find they don’t experience similar problems in the future as they have a better understanding of their money and how to manage it. 

Debt forgiveness is one of several options available to men and women today. The key is to find the one that works for your unique situation, not your best friend’s, your brother’s or anyone else. With several to select from, each person should be able to obtain some much-needed relief from the bills they are struggling to pay. Explore all options so you can obtain this peace of mind as well.