The Differences Between Debt Settlement And Credit Counseling Programs

Many consumers are unclear about the differences between debt settlement programs and consumer credit counseling programs. According to the Association of Settlement Companies (TASC), consumers seeking to manage their debt have higher success rates when using credible debt settlement companies rather than credit counseling services. TASC, the non-profit watchdog organization for regulating the debt-settlement industry, gathered the information from various sources, including the Consumer Federation of America and National Consumer Law Center, the Executive Office of the U.S. Trustees and testimony by credit counseling companies.

With both shorter program durations and lower budgeted monthly payments, debt settlement programs frequently see higher success rates and fewer dropout rates. Other differences between credit counseling and debt settlement are:

Debt settlement companies do not receive any fees, contributions or other forms of compensation from any entities other than the debtor clients. Meanwhile, credit counseling companies get money each month from their customers, plus they receive "contributions" from credit card companies and "fair shares" from banks.

Debt settlement programs are typically 48 months or fewer in length. Credit counseling programs are usually 60 months or more.

For consumers that complete programs, the total cost of a debt settlement program is usually about half the cost of a debt management program offered by a credit counseling company.

Debt settlement programs achieve individualized and customized results depending on a consumer's circumstances and needs. Credit counseling payment plans are fixed payments over a length of time.

Since both programs do have a negative impact on a consumer's credit reports, it is clear that for those in a financial hardship with ten thousand dollars or more in unsecured debt would be better served, and see much better savings by a debt settlement program with a proven company, than they would through a credit counseling program.

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