The best part about DebtSmart.com, for me, is when I get email from readers about their success. Amy and I have been corresponding about her situation regarding settling a debt. When you settle a debt, your goal is to negotiate with the creditor for a deal that benefits everyone. For the debtor, this means reducing the balance and making the payment terms reasonable. For the creditor, it means larger payments and a guarantee of payment in a specific amount of time.

The trick is knowing how low the bank will go when dealing with them or their third party representatives (debt collectors). Typically, I’ve found that you can, on your own, get the amount down to about 50% of the original balance. However, the bank will usually want that settlement amount in one payment.

In my latest book, Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt, I present one chapter (chapter 7, no joke intended) where I negotiated a settlement for a friend. This chapter includes all the phone call transcripts from those negotiations. I was able to get the bank to 55% with one payment, which I thought to be pretty good. I am thrilled to report that a reader of my book and DebtSmart Email Newsletter was able to beat those terms!

Amy originally contacted me to let me know about her success in general. We corresponded a few times regarding her latest negotiation with her credit card bank. She already was doing well, so I asked her to let me know what happens--and she did! I must say that I am very impressed by her success and want to share it with everyone at DebtSmart.com so all can see what is possible when you are persistent! Congratulations Amy, and thank you for allowing me to share this with everyone!

Here’s her story, in her words:

Scott,

My debt was $35,215 and I called to explain that we thought we had to declare bankruptcy because we didn't have any other options. I let them explain other options, blah, blah, blah.

Then I told them that currently, we only had 25% ($8,803.99) and didn't think that was enough to settle. They came back with--THAT is a really low offer, but they would settle at 45% ($15,800). All I could say was " I know, I know" that's why we are looking at Bankruptcy.

The attorneys handling the debt collection have to "go back" to the bank (or so they say..) to see if they will accept the offer and they were able to "present it" even though it was a very low offer (25%). I said, “Hey, it doesn't hurt to try.” This gave me my low starting position, which I think helped me to get to 40% in the end.

The bank came back with $15,000 flat, and then the rep said that they would POSSIBLY accept $14,000. I left a message later in the day saying that I could go to $10,000, but could make all the funds available within 10 days. They didn't call back. So two days later, I called just to confirm that they got the message. They did and continued to stick to the $14,000. I offered $13,000 with the funds available immediately and they stuck to $14,000. I was done and took the $14,000 (39.8%), but am paying in 3 installments--$7,000 in a couple of days, $3,500 in 30 days, and $3,500 in 60 days.

Hope this helps. I will continue to let you know how I do.

Your book is great!!

Amy

Scott Bilker is the founder of DebtSmart.com and the author of Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt, Credit Card and Debt Management, and How to be more Credit Card and Debt Smart. Receive The 5-Year Loan Amortization and Analysis Worksheet at no cost when you subscribe to the FREE DebtSmart Email Newsletter today!