What does it take to be a professional debt negotiator? Do these types of jobs require years of training and education? According to a number of studies of the debt settlement industry undertaken by non-profit organizations and advocacy groups, most of the people employed as debt negotiators in for-profit companies have little or no training or experience in the financial services industries. For this reason, many experts suggest that consumers can often serve just as effectively by overseeing the debt negotiation process on their own behalf. Alternately, it may be beneficial to seek the services of an attorney qualified in debt settlement negotiations. Although the upfront costs associated with securing an attorney may initially seem to be prohibitive, attorney fees are often less than the monthly charges and commission fees that are imposed by debt settlement companies over the life of the settlement process. In some cases, these fees may exceed 25% of the total debt amount - making an attorney's retainer a relative bargain in comparison.