The Truth about Debt Management Plans
Creating a debt management plan helps consumers pay debt, reestablish credit and begin to regain control over their finances. Many avoid doing so, however, because of misconceptions about how debt management plans work. Some people have even been misled by debt counselors to believe myths about debt consolidation. Others can be insecure about being unable to pay obligations have convinced them they are precluded from creating a debt management plan that works.
Debt management plans explained
A debt management plan (DMP) is created with a trained counselor who is willing and able to help consumers pay debt and rebuild credit profiles. To do so, a consumer agrees to regularly deposit money into an account, and allow the counselor to pay debt from those funds. A bonus of a DMP is that debt collectors are inclined to lower or get rid of fees that have accrued due to non-payments. When a counselor is allowed to pay debt on behalf of the consumer, most creditors realize the opportunity to collect what is owed to them and are willing to cooperate in making it affordable to do so.
Dispelling myths about debt management plans
While many creditors view a debt management plan positively, it is never guaranteed that they will do so. It should be clearly understood that the creditor is under no obligation or expectation of reducing amounts owed, but such is done as a courtesy at the creditor’s discretion. Therefore, existing fees should always be factored into the overall budget used to pay debt.
People are also sometimes reticent to participate in a DMP because they have heard rumors that doing so will hurt their credit. This is mostly false. As often as not, the opposite is true. Many creditors view DMPs as a person being serious about regaining control of their finances and repairing their credit. While it is up to individual creditors as to whether or not they will grant future credit, many are inclined to do so as they see a person taking serious strides to pay debt. Also, creating a debt management plan does not adversely affect one’s FICO score at all and, in fact, the Fair Isaac Company does not give reference to debt counseling on one’s credit report.
A Word to the Wise on Debt Counseling
Many have also been afraid of creating a debt management plan because they have been in contact with unscrupulous debt counselors. Charlatans do exist in all industries, and financial planning isn’t exempt. In some cases, people have been told the best way to repair their credit is paying exorbitant fees to counselors and ignoring past debts. In these scenarios, people have trusted supposed experts to do the right thing and, instead, their credit has been further ruined as their hard-earned money has been pocketed, while their debts have sometimes worsened.
Rebuild credit and a new financial future with a debt management plan
Overall, a debt management plan is a great way to pay debt while reestablishing one’s credit. Perks like lower fees on existing debt and new credit can be extended, but not guaranteed. As people become more educated on options available to them to pay debt and rebuild credit, the allure of a debt management plan becomes a perfectly reasonable option and one that can realistically give people control over their financial futures, once again.