Posted on July 27, 2009 at 4:18 am Good day, aside from being a member of the Better Business Bureau, how else can consumers know that the debt settlement companies that they have shortlisted are worth it?

Posted on July 27, 2009 at 4:23 am There really is no concrete guidelines for knowing which debt settlement companies are good but generally, if they made it to the BBB's list, they must have had the following:Competent and organized staff.Guarantees for overall savings (in writing).AffordabilityRespectable and trustworthy websiteLarge amount of savings.They must have already work with almost all of the creditors, especially the tougher ones that are know to aggressively sue clients.They also must have successfully settled not just individual consumer debts but they should have settled small business debts as well.

Posted on July 27, 2009 at 4:28 am I agree with peterpanamerican and just to add that list:-The settlement company's program must also have a fast (competitive) completion time.-That program must also helps protect the consumer's credit standing.-And speaking of the BBB, the company must be a member for at least 5 years.-Must also have a good standing with the Chamber of Commerce -Member of TASC - The Association Of Settlement Companies and the IAPDA or the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators.

Posted on July 27, 2009 at 4:39 am And to further add to the general guidelines for a good debt settlement company:A lot of companies if not all, spend money on customer satisfaction response times, or their customer service department, do check if the debt settlement company pays attention to this important detail.Also see if you can speak with your debt negotiator whenever you need to. Find out if the assigned representative to you is always available.

Posted on July 27, 2009 at 4:45 am One of the most important things to also check out is the company's flexibility or ability of their program to cater to your financial capability--like if you only have this much available amount monthly, would they still take you in?

Posted on July 27, 2009 at 7:40 am In terms of Better Business Bureau and debt settlement companies, ck you made a comment that the company must be a member for 5 years? Do you mean to be a member of the BBB they have to operate for 5 years prior to doing so?

Posted on July 27, 2009 at 8:35 am How do you choose the right debt settlement company when there are so many to choose from? There are several things you should ask to determine which debt settlement company to choose. 1. Do they have attorneys licensed in your home state who will be working on your case? This is critical. You want to be sure that the debt settlement company does have licensed attorneys overseeing your case. Having an attorney who is knowledgable on your state's laws will ensure that your case is being handled properly and that you will receive the most benefit from the program. 2. Does your money go towards settling your debts from day one of the program? If your money is all going towards the debt settlement fees and not towards your debts, then the debt settlement company is getting paid before any of your debts are settled. Look for a company that does not collect all their fees upfront. They have little incentive to ensure you settle your debts if they are paid in full up front. 3. Do they accept everyone in the program or do they have a set of criteria that has to be met to determine if the program is right for you? An in depth analysis should be done by licensed attorneys to determine if you are a good candidate for the debt settlement program and that you will be successful in completing the porogram. 4. Do you retain control of your money that is being put into an account to settle your debts? You should always retain control of your money. There are many additional questions you should ask the debt settlement company. Look for my future posts on the subject. Certified Financial Solutions

Posted on July 28, 2009 at 12:13 pm The company must be in business for at least 5 years if they are to attain an "A" rating.

Posted on August 14, 2009 at 4:31 am The Better Business Bureau also provides the consumers with the debt settlement company's record of complaints and resolution.

Posted on August 14, 2009 at 4:38 am Aside from the Better Business Bureau (BBB www.bbb.org), consumers who are look for good and reputable debt settlement companies should also look at:TASC www.tascsite.orgUSOBA www.usoba.orgIAPDA www.iapda.orgIt's also a plus of the settlement company is member of their state Chamber of commerce and the US Chamber of Commerce.