Debt Settlement FAQs

Debt Settlement is a form of debt relief that works by negotiating with creditors to secure a repayment deal that amounts to less than the balance owed (principal) on your unsecured personal debt accounts. By negotiating the balance itself, Debt Settlement provides a much faster means of handling your debt when compared to other types of debt resolutions such as Debt Consolidation and Credit Counseling, which only reduce interest and not the total debt balance.
Most creditors are willing to negotiate a settlement, even sometimes up to 60% off of the principal balance, because this is a better alternative than the entire debt repayment being lost if the debtor decides to file for bankruptcy instead.

For individuals and families seeking an effective debt resolution as an alternative to bankruptcy, there is simply no better option to get out of debt. But it won’t work for everyone.
Find out if you qualify for a debt settlement program.

The amount it costs you to become debt-free is dependent on a number of factors including your credit balances, your ability to contribute monthly escrow payments into your debt resolution program, the amount that can be negotiated from your balance & how quickly it is negotiated, and what fees your debt settlement firm charges you to negotiate the settlement.

It is unlikely – but possible – that you will owe taxes on the amount of the debt forgiven by creditors. Here’s why:
Financial institutions are required to report any canceled debts (the portion forgiven during settlement) over $600 to the IRS, and the debtor is required to report that as income on their tax return.
However, the IRS permits you to offset any “income” from canceled debts up to the amount you were “insolvent” at the time the debts were canceled. You are “insolvent” if you owe more than you own – in other words, if you have a negative net worth.
People who are deeply in debt generally do not have a positive net worth, so it’s rare to pay taxes on the forgiven debt balance. One exception is an individual with a high level of home equity, which might make the overall net worth positive and thereby negate the insolvency exclusion. However, this is the exception rather than the rule.
Keep in mind that these are generalities and not intended as tax advice. We recommend you discuss this with your accountant.

No debt settlement company can realistically promise to eliminate all collection calls. However, we do understand the stress these collection calls can create and we recognize the importance of offering the support and expertise to help counteract potential collection harassment.
New Era provides our clients with recommendations for dealing with creditor calls as part of our debt resolution & debt negotiation programs.

While creditors have the legal right to bring a lawsuit for non-payment of a debt obligation, such lawsuits during the debt resolution process are far less common than aggressive credit collectors would have you think. Most creditors would rather work things out amicably in a negotiated settlement than spend more money taking a customer to court (with no guarantee of being able to collect on a judgment). That’s why thousands of litigation-free settlements are transacted every month all across the country.
But, the worst-case scenario is that you could be required to pay a debt balance in full in the event of legal action by a creditor. This is little different from the starting situation most clients find themselves in, and again, it is a fairly rare occurrence.

If you listen to some debt collectors, you might be fooled into thinking they will seize your very next paycheck unless you make a payment right then and there. But this is mainly an intimidation tactic used to dissuade you from participating in a debt resolution program.
Actual garnishment actions are relatively rare, and do not happen without advance warning. First, a creditor must bring a lawsuit, obtain a judgment, and then take an additional step to obtain authorization for the garnishment.
No one can take your paycheck without court approval, and you must be given notice of such court action through formal documentation. So, don’t be fooled by one of the oldest collection tricks in the book, find a suitable debt resolution instead.

You will not be able to continue using any of the credit cards or other accounts enrolled into a Debt Settlement program. When you are negotiating to have creditors forgive half or more of the balances owed, they simply will not extend more credit unless you bring the account current again and get back on a plan to pay off the full balance.
However, at New Era we know it’s difficult to make do without at least one credit card for identification and/or emergency purposes. To that end, it is permissible for clients to maintain one card (preferably one with a small balance) outside of the debt negotiation program. This is another great benefit of the Debt Settlement approach versus other debt resolution methods, which take an all-or-nothing approach to handling your debt.

Debt Settlement and Credit Counseling are two different approaches to debt relief. The differences between tehse two forms of debt resolution primarily show up in the length of time it takes to become debt-free and the overall amount it costs to repay the principal and the accrued interest.
With Credit Counseling, you will eventually pay back all of the debt balances – plus interest and fees; whereas with Debt Settlement, you pay back only a portion of your debt load. This makes Debt Settlement a much faster path to handling your debt (2-3 years) than Credit Counseling (5-9 years). And, this means a lot less money out of your pocket.

As a general rule, nearly every type of unsecured debt can be successfully negotiated. An unsecured debt is one that is not tied to a specific material item that could be repossessed by the creditor. So, an auto loan, for example, could not be included in a debt negotiation program because the creditor could legally repossess the vehicle.
Credit card debt, department store cards, signature loans, unsecured lines of credit, and revolving charge accounts are all types of debt that can be included in a debt settlement program. Some medical bills can be included in debt settlement depending on the delinquency state and the collection agency debt is with.
The main exception is student loans, which in most cases, are government-backed loans that cannot even be discharged in a bankruptcy proceeding. (Private student loans that are not sponsored by the government can be included in debt negotiations.)
Negotiating credit union debt can be challenging compared to other types of debt. Credit unions are member-owned organizations, and settling debt might affect fellow credit union members. Generally, credit union debt is considered non-negotiable. However, in some cases, negotiation may be possible with the assistance of litigation support. It’s recommended to consult with a professional debt negotiation service such as New Era Debt Solutions or legal advisor to explore potential options and navigate the complexities involved in negotiating credit union debt. 

New Era has successfully negotiated debts with thousands of creditors all across the nation through our various debt resolution programs. In the course of business, we have established contacts with the major banks, collection agencies, and collection attorneys. Debt Settlement is recognized as a viable solution by collection industry professionals, and at New Era, we pride ourselves on the professional reputation we have established by dealing fairly with creditors.
In the rare instance where a creditor balks at accepting a reasonable settlement at the time it is proposed, it is often a matter of simply waiting for a different phase of the collection process.
Some creditors are more inclined to play “hardball” than others, but virtually all of the major institutions eventually sell their accounts to debt purchasers in order to get what they can for the account balance. Since the debt purchasers acquire these accounts for pennies on the dollar, they are more inclined to accept a reasonable settlement offer, which still represents a profit on their purchase.

Secured debts cannot be negotiated via a Debt Settlement program. This includes home loans, second or third mortgages, equity lines of credit, auto loans, and financing contracts tied to a specific piece of property that may be legally repossessed by the creditor.
Federal student loans, although unsecured, must also be excluded from a debt negotiation program. In addition, Federal and State taxes cannot be included in debt negotiation efforts.

Yes, it is certainly possible for a consumer to negotiate his or her own debts. However, there are several important factors that should be taken into consideration before making such a decision.
First, do you have the time? For individuals with serious debt problems, the complexities of the debt negotiation process can be very time-consuming. Many people simply do not have the time to add this labor-intensive task on top of an already busy work schedule.
Second, it requires a certain kind of psychological toughness to haggle with creditors. The average consumer is hampered by the embarrassment and shame they feel over having gotten into trouble. With all the tricks, traps, and pressure tactics used by creditors, most people will find themselves better off with professional assistance when trying to negotiate a debt settlement.
Third, as with any profession, there are techniques not easily mastered by an amateur. Without professional coaching, the likely result will be high-percentage settlements in the best case and outright failure in the worst case.
When you consider that the total payout including professional fees will still be far less than your original balances, it makes more sense for the average person to obtain debt settlement help in the form of a debt resolution program rather than trying to negotiate the debt themselves.

As with any large industry, there are both good and bad Debt Settlement companies in operation, and it is wise to be sure the one you choose has your best interest at heart.
New Era has been helping consumers become debt-free since 1999. We’ve settled more than $275,000,000 in debt and worked with thousands of happy clients from many states around the country. But don’t take our word for it. Check out our Testimonials page to read or listen to our clients’ stories in their own words.

Few people with debt troubles have perfect credit to begin with, and it is likely that your credit score (usually called the FICO score) will decline during the debt negotiation program.
Regardless of your credit score, we recommend against applying for new credit while going through a debt settlement program. It simply doesn’t make sense to take on new debt while you’re trying to tackle your existing debt problem.
The good news though, is that credit scores tend to improve quickly once a debt settlement program has been completed.