OK, so the question is why do consumers wait until they
are up against it to seek out absolutely free counseling
regarding debt issues or any other issue? I am not saying that I have the answer.
I really think that it is just human nature that makes us all seek help
only when the pain gets to be to much. Myself included. So it’s
just a part of the human condition. I always like to share my
motivations for my articles. This one was inspired by an article
I read on Linked in written by Lori Regenstreich, who discovered
an original article from the New York Times written by Jessica Silver Greenberg
entitled “In Prosecutors, Debt Collectors Find A Partner”.
Essentially, the article reveals a rather nefarious partnership, and I use the
word partnership loosely, in which Prosecutors allow private debt collectors to send out letters on their letterhead threatening prosecutorial action unless the
consumer makes good on the debt, usually a bounced check.
Not only do the debt collectors ask the consumer to make good,
but they are also adding on usurious fees. Just imagine if you had
a business and were able to collect your accounts receivable this way.
Quoted from the article “Prosecutors say that the partnerships allow
them to focus on more serious crimes, and that the letters are sent only
to check writers who ignore merchants’ demands for payment.”
Does this remind you of the Southern sheriff from the movies, or what?
So here is the moral of this article. Can a credit counselor help you
with every debt situation? No. But a credit counselor probably can help you
if your situation is the result of to much debt and not enough money, which
often causes a snowball effect because of the denal problem spoken about earlier.
A good debt settlement program or consolidation program, not to mention
an online budgeting course can go a very
long way to easing the debt burden early on, before the legal issues
begin.
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Hope you enjoyed this article, feel free to comment, or contact me:
Yours Truly
Steven Ciantro
Consumer Advocate
American Debt Enders
Certified Credit Counselor
TalkShoe Radio Host
Member National Association of Certified Credit Counselors
Debt Expert for Gail Kasper's Top 1% Club
Gail Kasper's Top 1% Club
877-766-2465
Hey Charles,
Thanks so much for reading.
We appreciate you!
Steven
Posted by: Steven Ciantro | September 29, 2012 at 08:02 AM
Your work article, blogs I mean over all contents is must read stuff.
http://www.thethingsiwant.net
Posted by: CharlesL Moore | September 29, 2012 at 05:49 AM
I am one of those people who decided to wait until my back was against the wall to seek debt management credit counseling. I suppose it was mainly because I thought I could dig myself out of this hole. I realized that I thought I knew more than I actually did. Now I am seeking a professional for advice.
Posted by: Mike Cornelia | September 27, 2012 at 07:49 AM