Phoenix Debt Settlement
Undoubtedly, credit card debt can be a huge stressor. According to the APA, 76% of Americans listed money as their number one source of stress. In addition to stress, many people experience shame and humiliation over having acquired credit card debt. Others report feeling guilty for living beyond their means. Still others blame themselves for the current credit crisis and lingering recession. The reality is, however, that you are not alone. Nor are you alone to blame for what has been deemed the “worst recession since the Great Depression.”
The total U.S. consumer debt reached $2.5 trillion in December 2011, an alarming statistic that is made only slightly more comprehensible when you consider that the average American household has almost $16,000 in credit card debt. What these and many other statistics tend to prove is that credit card debt is exceedingly common. Nevertheless, a recent survey revealed that discussing credit card debt remains highly taboo – 81 percent of those surveyed reported having reservations about being honest with others about the actual amount of credit card debt they have.
Comforting as it may be to hear that others are similarly situated, these statistics afford no help with credit card debt. That’s where the attorneys at McCarthy Law come in.
What does an attorney know about credit card debt?
For years, we’ve been helping our clients negotiate and eliminate their outstanding credit card debt. If experience has taught us anything, it’s that individuals are significantly disadvantaged when they choose to represent themselves in debt settlement negotiations with credit card companies. The reason being is this: because the debt is unsecured, meaning that no property was promised as collateral in exchange for the credit extension, the credit card company has a huge incentive to pursue you for payment. Consequently, every credit card company you encounter will be represented by a team of highly paid lawyers – lawyers who’ve been trained to squeeze every last penny out of you. It’s a mistake to assume that credit card companies won’t bother to prosecute your case due to the rising costs associated with litigation. If settlement negotiations fail, as they often do when people choose to represent themselves, there’s a very real possibility that the credit card company may seek legal recourse. In other words, you may have a pending lawsuit on your hands. And who better than a lawyer to handle a lawsuit?
Aside from being able to represent you in the unfortunate event that a lawsuit is filed, we are able to handle all of the logistics involved in the negotiation process. We handle all of the negotiations and correspondence so that our clients are able to get on with their lives without having to deal with harassing phone calls from relentless collection agents. But even before negotiations begin, we work with our client to devise a workable payment schedule tailored to the budgetary needs of the client. We maintain an open-door policy throughout the entire process and insist on regular communication with our clients to keep them informed on the latest developments. Likewise, we encourage clients to ask questions and/or voice any concerns that may come up during the process.
How long will settlement take? How much will an attorney cost?
Most debt negotiations reach a settlement agreement in 6 to 36 months, depending on the particular circumstances of each case. In the meantime, if you’ve hired an attorney that bills clients by the hour (and most do), you’ve accrued thousands of dollars in attorney’s fees. Fortunately, obtaining legal representation needn’t put you knee-deep back in debt.
At McCarthy Law, we’re genuinely committed to helping people get out of debt, which is why we offer free case evaluations and consultations. During the initial consultation, we review and analyze a person’s current financial situation and budgetary needs to determine what they can realistically afford to pay. Based on this analysis, we are able to offer them the best advice on how to proceed. In the past, our analyses have occasionally led us to conclude that bankruptcy was the best solution for a particular person, in which case we referred them to a bankruptcy law firm.
However, we’ve found that the vast majority of persons are ideal candidates for debt settlement. Because our consultations come with absolutely no obligation, the client may choose not to engage our services. A client who does decide to retain our services is charged a reasonable flat fee, regardless of the length of the process.
The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. What better way to determine if we’re the right firm for you, than by coming in for a free consultation? Contact our Phoenix, Arizona area office today to schedule an appointment.