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How long does debt settlement appear on credit history?
I’m looking into debt settlement as an option for dealing with some very large debts I’m having trouble with. If I do this, how long will it appear on my credit report?
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Answers
Debt settlement is treated the same as a “charge off”—that is, as a debt that has not been paid in full, where the creditor is “writing off” part of the debt as uncollectible. As a result, even though the creditor has voluntarily agreed to the settlement, it is treated essentially the same as if you simply paid part of the debt then stopped paying. (The advantage to you of debt settlement over unilaterally making partial payments is that if the creditor agrees to debt settlement, it won’t sue you later for the balance—which it could, if you simply paid part of the debt, then stopped.)
That said, how long does a debt settlement appear on credit history? Charge offs, write offs, and other partial payments of debt will remain on your credit report for seven years, meaning that it has a long-lasting effect; almost as long, in fact, as bankruptcy (10 years).
Talk to a Debt Settlement Lawyer for more information about whether debt settlement is a good option for you vs other solutions.
Good luck.
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Posted by Steven Sweig on 02 Jun 2010