We bring our law firm to your living room!

We conduct all consultations virtually through Zoom or in-person. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!
Debt Settlement

Woodland Hills Debt Settlement Attorneys

Top-Rated Debt & Tax Settlement Lawyers

Debt settlement is a renegotiation of the agreement between you and your lender. This new agreement could be keeping your amount of debt the same but lowering your interest rate so that it’s easier for you to make payments, or it could be lowering the amount you owe and allowing you to pay it in one lump sum.

Why would your lender agree to accept less than the total amount you owe? Oftentimes, the debtor’s only other option is bankruptcy. So, a lender would rather get part of the debt you owe in a settlement than get nothing in a bankruptcy. Plus, by the time you’re considering debt settlement, you’ve probably already paid back more than you originally borrowed.

To speak to one of our Woodland hills debt settlement attorneys, contact us online or call (818) 446-1334 today!

Debt Settlement vs. Debt Consolidation

Debt consolidation involves taking out a lower interest loan to pay off multiple higher interest debts. The idea is to reduce your monthly payments to make them more manageable. The disadvantage of debt consolidation is that the debt doesn’t go away. You still have to pay it, but with lower payments at a lower interest rate.

The good thing is that it doesn’t hurt your credit rating. Debt settlement gets rid of your debt, but it’s bad for your credit rating. However, if your credit is so bad that you can’t get a consolidation loan, debt settlement or bankruptcy may be your only choice.

Debt Settlement vs. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

There are many aspects of both Debt Settlement and Chapter 7 Bankruptcy to compare and contrast. See below:

  • Debt settlement (DS): Takes 24 to 36 months. During that time, you’ll be charged interest and late fees — your debt will grow.
  • Chapter 7 bankruptcy (C7): Your debts will be gone within 90 days.
  • DS: Your creditors can sue you over your debt.
  • C7: You’re protected once your Chapter 7 is final.
  • DS: You’ll be able to get unsecured credit within 24 months.
  • C7: You’ll be able to get unsecured credit within 24 months.
  • DS: The typical fee you’ll pay is about 20% of what you owe.
  • C7: The typical fee for filing Chapter 7 is $1,000 to $2,000.
  • DS: According to the FTC, the success rate for debt settlement is 10%.
  • C7: The success rate for Chapter 7 is close to 100%.

Debt settlement works best for unsecured debt, meaning debt for which there is no collateral. Collateral is something that has value that can be retrieved by the lender, like a car.

Credit card debt is the perfect example of unsecured debt. Debt from a government entity, such as a student loan, is unsecured debt, but it’s highly unlikely that a government lender will accept a settlement.

Finding your way out of debt can be very complicated, with many options to consider. Having a skilled debt reduction attorney to negotiate with your creditors on your behalf is vital to the success of your settlement, consolidation, or Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

FAQ

Is Debt Settlement for You?

There are pros and cons of using debt settlement to erase your debt.

The pros are:

  • Lenders are often willing to cut your debt in half, or more.
  • It is harmful to your credit score, but less harmful than a bankruptcy.
  • A bankruptcy stays on your credit history for ten years, a debt settlement stays on your credit history for only seven.
  • It’s an option to get a debt consolidation loan if your credit score is too low.

The cons are:

  • You have to have enough cash, or access to it, to pay off the lump sum agreed upon.
  • A debt settlement generally takes two to three years, which means 24 to 36 months of late fees and penalties and additional damage to your credit score.
  • If you have more than one creditor, you will have to negotiate with each one individually —again, more time and more fees, penalties, and credit damage.
  • If you seek a debt settlement through a debt settlement company, they will charge you additional fees.
  • The lender can refuse. Lenders don’t have to accept settlement offers.
  • The IRS may count the amount forgiven as income.

What Is Repossession?

Repossession is when a creditor takes back something you purchased on credit without suing you first. This is usually done when you’ve fallen behind on your scheduled payments, but it can be done for other reasons. For instance, a creditor can repossess a vehicle you’ve financed if you don’t maintain insurance coverage on it.

What Can Be Repossessed?

Technically, any item or piece of property that you haven’t completely paid for can be repossessed, but it’s doubtful that a creditor is going to bother taking back something of little value.

Creditors tend to go after big-ticket items, including:

  • Houses (foreclosure)
  • Motor vehicles (cars, motorcycles, RVs, trucks, etc.)
  • Boats and other watercrafts
  • Major appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers, etc.)
  • Power tools (table saws, drill presses, lathes, etc.)
  • Electronics (big screen TVs, stereos, home theater systems, etc.)
  • Rent-to-own items (furniture, appliances, etc.)
  • Any property put up as collateral

What Can I Do to Avoid Repossession?

There are several things you can do to avoid repossession of your property, including the following:

  1. Make up the payment or payments that you missed: Creditors would generally rather get the money they’re owed than go through the hassle of repossessing something. Maybe you can get money from a family member or other source. When you do make the payment, make sure to include any applicable fines and late fees. This will ensure that you don’t default. It would also be a good idea to call the creditor and inform them that your payment is on the way.
  2. Refinance the property: Work with your creditor and see if you can work out an interest rate and payment schedule that will better suit your repayment abilities.
  3. Declare bankruptcy: When you file for bankruptcy, an automatic stay is issued. This means that all collection activities aimed at you will immediately stop. You’ll get no more phone calls and letters from collection agencies, and any repossession efforts will cease. Under Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you are allowed to keep tools for your occupation and a car for transportation. If the loan you’ve defaulted on is for a personal watercraft, a luxury car, or anything that isn’t a reasonable necessity, it will not be protected from repossession.

How can Repossession Lawyers help?

A financial crisis can occur at any time in a person’s life. It can come suddenly and have a devastating impact on a person and their entire family. You could get laid off from your job or suffer an injury or illness that kept you from working for an extended period of time.

Unfortunately, your creditors don’t take this into account when they come looking for their money. If you’ve fallen on hard times and missed some payments, you could be facing repossession. Before that happens, you’ll want to talk to an experienced debt settlement attorney.

Contact us online or call (818) 446-1334 to speak to one of our repossession lawyers serving the Woodland Hills area today!

“Ali and his staff work really hard for the benefit of their clients and my personal experience with them have been remarkably great.”

- Sami N.

What Makes Cal West Law Different from the Rest?

  • We Aim to Be Accessible

    We believe everyone deserves high-quality service, which is why we offer payment plans and a 0 down offer for all Chapter 7 bankruptcy filings.

  • Focus on Client Care

    Unlike typical bankruptcy mills, we ensure that the highest quality care, knowledge and skill is put into every single client's case.

  • Over 50 Years of Combined Experience

    Between the two partners, our firm's attorneys have over 50 years of experience in bankruptcy law.

Bring Our Firm into Your Living Room

We strive to make the bankruptcy process as smooth and simple for you as possible. Reach out to our firm today to schedule a free in-person or virtual consultation today.