If you are overwhelmed with debt and struggling to keep up with payments, one of the many ways to get your debt under control is to negotiate with your creditor to reduce the payments.
Debt negotiation might be an excellent way to avoid foreclosure, garnishment, bank levies, and bankruptcy, only if done successfully.
However, to most people, negotiating with the creditor seems like a daunting task, especially when you are over your head with debt.
Before you start negotiating with your creditor, you must understand the key debt negotiation strategies and tactics.
Here, we’ll share some general debt negotiation strategies you can use with all types of creditors and collection agencies. Let’s get started!
Key Takeaways
- You can go for debt settlement if you are unable to pay off your debt. This will reduce the amount you actually owe.
- Creditors are more likely to negotiate and settle the debt if they can transfer the funds immediately.
- Your debt negotiation strategy depends on the type of your underlying debt.
- Some creditors may agree to settle for 30% to 50% of the debt you owe.
What Is Debt Negotiation?
Debt negotiation, also known as debt settlement is a form of financial relief that involves wiping out debt by paying a portion of it every month in a lump sum, which is much less than the amount of the debt you owe originally.
The negotiation process starts with explaining to your creditor how dire your situation is and how you cannot afford the monthly repayments.
If you are pursuing multiple debt settlements, you are more likely to get a competitive offer. 1
9 Strategies to Negotiate with your Creditor
Your debt negotiation strategy depends on the type of your underlying debt and your aim to settle your unsecured.
Here are some general strategies for negotiating with creditors and collection agencies:
1. Do Your Homework
Began the process with some research on how the debt creditors and collectors handle debt settlements, what will most creditors settle for, the percentage of the debt they typically accept in a settlement, and how debt settlement affects your credit.
Once you have completed your research, determine what your settlement offer will be.
2. Identify your goals
You must know your goals and be aware of the bigger picture before you start negotiating with your creditor.
Dig into your debts to see how much you owe, who is your creditor, and is it possible to pay off debts without thrashing out a settlement agreement, review your finances and then plan your strategy and set realistic goals ahead to get the best deal possible.
3. Stick to your story
Your creditor does not know every little detail of why you are unable to pay your debt and definitely does not want to entertain any drama.
However, they would like to know if you are facing a hardship, so share a short and crisp reason as to why you are unable to pay debts.
4. Don’t panic & Don’t tolerate bullying
According to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, debt collection agencies and creditors are not legally allowed to:
- Harass you.
- Threaten to put you behind bars.
- Force you to pay a debt that you do not even owe.
- Shame you in public.
- Call your relatives or friends.
- Use abusive language.
5. Take notes
Debts are distressing, and it can be overwhelming to remember everything in a conversation with your creditor or collection agency.
Keep a notebook handy and note down details of what you talked about, the name of who you talked with, etc., whenever you interact with a creditor or collection agency.
6. Talk with your creditors first
Talk with your creditors first and try to settle things with them before they sell your debt to a debt collection agency.
If you miss the opportunity to talk with your creditors, then you will have to deal directly with the debt collection agency, which will not look that pretty.
7. Get Some Cash Handy
In most cases, creditors are more likely to negotiate and settle the debt if they can transfer the funds immediately.
When you have cash ready to make payments before negotiations and offer them a lump sum payment, you are more likely to get a lower settlement.
8. Aim for 50% or less
Aim to settle your unsecured debts for 50% or less. It may take some time, but most creditors agree to settle for 30% to 50% of the debt you owe.
In some cases, it could go up to 80%, depending on whom you are dealing with, your original creditor or the debt collector.
9. Keep the Record
Once you finalize your debt settlement after a successful negotiation with your creditor, make sure to get it in the writing to prevent the problems that may arise later.
There have been cases where people have been pestered for balances, they thought were resolute years before. 2
Alternatives Of Debt Negotiation
Not everyone can choose to go for debt negotiation. Maybe you do not have that kind of lump sum amount to make payment, or you may be your debt is too much.
If debt negotiation is not for you, then you can go for debt consolidation or bankruptcy.
Debt Consolidation
If all your income goes into paying installments for different types of loans and you are left with zero savings, then you can opt for debt consolidation.
In this, all your debts are merged into one with a lower interest rate, and then you are required to make only one single payment each month.
This helps you save a lot in interest and also to save a good part of your salary for your day-to-day expenses.
Bankruptcy
If you owe an overwhelming amount of debt and none of the options seems to work for you, then you should consider filing for bankruptcy:
Here are two ways in which you can declare bankruptcy:
- Chapter 7: In Chapter 7 or straight bankruptcy, your valuable assets, with some exceptions, will be sold out to recover some part of the debt, and the rest part of the debt will be discharged.
- Chapter 13: If you are unable to repay your debt now but think you will be able to pay it in the next 2-5 years, then you can go for chapter 13, Bankruptcy. Once you get approval, your current repayment plan will stop, and you will get a new repayment plan.
Please note that filing for bankruptcy ruins your credit score and remains in your credit history for a minimum of seven years. 3
Wrapping Up
Being in debt and not being able to repay it can be a very stressful situation.
If you are unable to repay your debt, then the above-mentioned ways can help you in dealing with debt. We hope this guide was helpful to you.
FAQ’s
For how low do creditors usually settle for?
As per the American Fair Credit Council, the average amount for which creditors agree to settle for is 48%.
What is better- settling debt or repaying it?
Repaying your debt is always a better option as settlement plummets your credit score and credit report. And also makes it difficult for you to get loan approvals in the future.
Can I use my credit cards even after debt settlement?
Yes, you can, but do not. After debt consolidation, keep your accounts open but do not use your cards and maintain a zero balance.
Traci is a highly experienced debt resolution expert with over 8 years of expertise in helping people become debt-free through various debt relief programs. As a former employee of a well-known debt relief company, she possesses exceptional knowledge and skills to take care of debt-related issues.
When not writing about debt, Traci can be found conducting in-depth research on the latest developments in the industry to ensure that she stays up-to-date with the latest trends and strategies.
ARTICLE SOURCES
The National Planning Cycles is committed to producing high-quality content that follows industry standards. We do this by using primary sources, such as white papers and government data alongside original reporting from reputable publishers that were appropriate for the accuracy of information while still being unbiased. We have an editorial policy that includes verifiable facts with due credit given where applicable.
- https://www.equifax.com/personal/education/debt-management/negotiate-debt-with-lenders/[↩]
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/debt-settlement-negotiations))
Tips From Reddit Users
[LPT Request]: How to negotiate with Debt companies/Collectors to pay off less than the full amount?
by u/rushaz in LifeProTips
How To Negotiate Different Types of Debt?
Here are different types of debt and how you can negotiate them:
1. Credit card debt
Credit card debts are not that difficult to negotiate because they are unsecured loans, and creditors can’t come after your assets to recover the debt amount.
The Credit card companies are more likely to negotiate the debt to recover at least some amount instead of not getting anything at all.
However, not paying credit card debt can put a major dent in your credit score.
2. Mortgage debt
Mortgage debts are hard to settle as you risk losing your assets.
However, mortgage services offer various types of options, including loan modification, forbearance agreements, repayment plans, etc., to help owners repay their loans.
If you do not want to lose your mortgaged asset, then opting for one of these repayment plan can be helpful.
3. Student Loans
Student loans are quite hard to settle because they are difficult to discharge in bankruptcy.
However, if your student loan has defaulted for an extended period and you have accumulated a lot of interest rates, you might get some relief.
Also, there are some government programs that can help in reducing the monthly payment towards your student loan.
4. Secured Loans
Secured loans are easier to negotiate than unsecured loans because secured loans are backed by collateral. You can use all the above-mentioned tips to deal with secured loans. ((https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/strategies-negotiating-with-creditors.html[↩]
- https://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/how-to-negotiate-with-credit-card-companies/[↩]
