Affordable Debt Care
  • Get A Free Debt Savings Quote

  • Select Your Debt Amount Below:

*Please use the slider to select your debt amount

or Talk to a Texas Debt Specialist 800-816-1003

or Talk to a Texas Debt Specialist
800-816-1003

Debt Consolidation in Texas Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to our most common questions about Debt Consolidation and Debt Relief in Texas.

As a Texan, why should I choose Affordable Debt Consolidation in Texas?

1. Our Texas Debt Relief services are typically 40% less than most competitors, especially out-of-state companies. This program is exclusively for Texans. Talk to one of our Texas Debt Specialists to learn about our advantages and savings over out-of-state "cookie-cutter" programs.
2. We provide an affiliate platform to shop many different lenders for credit card Debt Consolidation Loans up to $100,000.
3. We also offer an affiliate program to reduce interest rates without new loans and our Texas Debt Relief program to negotiate significant balance reductions.
4 We can assist if you are facing creditor lawsuits.
5. Phone and office consultations are free with no obligation.
6. Affordable Debt Consolidation is 100% veteran-owned, Texan-owned, state-licensed, with an A + Better Business Bureau rating.

What are my options to resolve overwhelming debt?

Our Texas Debt Specialists assist Texans with multiple programs offered by our company and by utilizing a high-rated resource. Our Texas Debt Relief program uses Debt Settlement to negotiate significant reductions in the amount you pay back to your creditors. Credit Counseling programs can lower interest rates on credit card debt without a new loan. We also provide our affiliate platform to shop dozens of lenders who offer Debt Consolidation Loans to Texas residents who qualify. Any of these options will allow you to "consolidate" debt with one monthly program amount. We can also arrange a free consultation with a highly-rated Texas bankruptcy law firm if you would like to compare bankruptcy to non-bankruptcy options.

What is your Texas Debt Relief program?

Our Texas Debt Relief program is a Debt Settlement program offered exclusively to Texans. Debt Settlement is also referred to as Debt Negotiation or Debt Resolution. This method resolves your unsecured debt by negotiating a lower amount to pay your creditors and settling in full with a zero balance. The process involves setting money aside in a new special purpose account rather than making small monthly payments to your creditors. Each enrolled debt is negotiated and settled one at a time using money that accrues in the special purpose account until all debts settle with a zero balance remaining. The monthly amount you set aside is based on your budget. In some cases, it can be less than half compared to making high-interest credit card monthly payments.

Consultations with a Texas Debt Specialist are entirely free with no obligation. Our Texas Debt Relief fees are performance-based, meaning clients pay our company no fees until a debt is negotiated and settled. Our settlement fees are a flat 15% of your enrolled debt and are factored into your new affordable monthly program payment. Most Debt Relief companies charge 25% of your enrolled debt, making our settlement fees up to 40% LOWER than most other companies. Our fees do not include any optional third-party fees administered by a separate provider.

Do you guarantee all my debts will settle at a particular percentage?

It is illegal for any company to make such a guarantee. We will provide a realistic good-faith estimation using historical industry settlements and factoring the specific creditors you owe. We believe some companies make unrealistic claims and “bait and switch” their clients. These tactics are often uncovered by reading complaints about the company. One of the largest out-of-state Debt Relief companies was sued by the federal government and several state governments for providing unrealistic outcomes. Our goal is for our clients to graduate sooner than estimated as much as possible, although some clients will be enrolled longer than estimated due to a variety of factors. Affordable Debt Consolidation will not give you an unrealistic expectation to convince you to enroll. Speak to one of our Texas Debt Specialists if you want an honest evaluation. We always work hard on your behalf to save you the most money possible.

What is Credit Counseling?

Credit Counseling is a form of Debt Management that can lower your interest rates with credit card debt and some installment loans while providing one monthly payment. It is a form of Debt Consolidation that does not require a new loan. Credit Counseling and Debt Negotiation are both considered hardship programs, but Credit Counseling does not negotiate the balances. Only the interest rates are reduced. We can help a consultation with a highly-rated non-profit Credit Counselor if you want to pursue this option.

Do you guarantee the lowest Debt Settlement fees?

Affordable Debt Consolidation believes we provide Texans with the best deal available. Texans designed our Texas Debt Relief program and created it exclusively for Texans. Out-of-state companies usually charge 25% of your enrolled debt as a “performance” or “contingency” fee. Our Texas Debt Relief service is provided with a 15% fee, meaning you could easily pay up to 40% higher settlement fees with a competitor. Since we are a Texas company focused on resolving debt for Texas residents, we aim to have low overhead and provide full-service Debt Settlement services at a lower cost. We only charge our fees proportionate to amount of debt settled after payment is made towards the settlement. If you are a Texas resident and qualified for our Debt Settlement service after a consultation, we will provide you with lower performance fees than any licensed and reputable competitor. If we are unable to offer lower performance fees than a qualified competitor, we will give you a $1,000 Visa gift card with the following simple requirements: As state law requires, the competitor is registered with the Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. Fees charged must be performance-based. The Better Business Bureau rates the competitor “A-” or higher. We have determined that you qualify for our services. We receive verifiable written proof of the competing offer. The guarantee only applies to fees charged by our company for our Texas Debt Relief service and does not apply to any optional third-party service. Please speak to one of our Texas Debt Specialists for more information.

What types of debt do you assist with Debt Relief?

We can enroll credit cards, unsecured installment loans, personal loans, medical bills, department store credit cards and loans, payday loans, and most other unsecured debts. We can also assist with many lawsuits and judgments. Our program cannot assist with secured debt, including home and auto loans unless the collateral has been repossessed. Student loans backed by the Department of Education are not eligible, but free student loan assistance is available at https://studentaid.gov. We do assist with some private student loans and some business debt. Speak to one of our Texas Debt Specialists for more information.

Will I receive calls from creditors or debt collectors using Debt Settlement?

Enrolling in a Debt Settlement program alone will not stop creditors or debt collectors from calling you. Even if creditors know they will ultimately receive a settlement in full, individual debt collectors are usually paid a commission based on the amount they collect from you. Therefore, they may call you directly in an attempt to collect more money than our negotiators will arrange. Texas has specific consumer protection laws that protect you in addition to the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. When enforced, the Texas Finance Code can prevent nearly all harassment from original creditors in addition to third-party debt collectors. Affordable Debt Consolidation has made an affordable arrangement to refer clients to whom we feel is the top debt defense attorney in Texas. By retaining the attorney, separately from our program, it is illegal for debt collectors to call you under Texas law. Instead, they will only be authorized to call your attorney, or our settlement representatives. If you do not hire a separatete attorney, our negotiation team will help reduce the number of calls you receive as much as possible. However, most creditors and debt collectors will attempt to call you until the debts are settled

Why is a Texas-based Debt Relief company focused on resolving debt for Texans better for me?

Since we only service Texans, we believe we are very efficient at it, and we do not have the high national advertising expenses of the “national” Debt Relief companies. Therefore we can provide a very high level of customer service with settlement fees that are typically up to 40% LESS compared to out-of-state companies. We also understand the specific consumer protection laws in Texas to help leverage these laws to your advantage. A scary truth is some out-of-state companies are not licensed in Texas. Any Debt Management or Debt Relief company doing business with Texas residents and not registered with the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner is in violation of state law. It is not hard to imagine how a company that violates the law will treat its clients. Any Debt Relief company should also provide an honest and realistic estimation of your potential savings and the amount of time it will take to resolve the debt. Federal and state law prevents Debt Relief companies from charging their fees until after a debt has been settled. When researching any company, check the Better Business Bureau report at http://bbb.org. Read how long the company has been in business, rating, and review any complaints filed against the business as this is one item companies cannot hide.

Can a creditor file a lawsuit while enrolled in a Debt Relief program?

To achieve forgiveness of a large portion of debt balances, the debt must be delinquent to demonstrate a hardship. While most individual debts enrolled do not experience a lawsuit, any time you do not follow the original lending agreement, the creditor has the right to use the civil court system as a method of debt collection. However, most creditor lawsuits can be minimized by prioritizing the settlement of debt at risk of a lawsuit. Texas also has very high consumer protection laws compared to most other states, making it difficult or impossible for a creditor to collect a judgment in many situations, making this method of debt collection much less attractive to creditors. Lawsuits are not the preferred method of collecting a debt for any creditor. We have extensive experience with this method of debt collection in Texas, as we enroll many clients with pre-existing lawsuits. Many of our clients choose a referral to who, in our opinion, is the best debt defense attorney in Texas. The advantage of having the attorney retained upfront is that creditors will understand that you will have legal representation, providing additional protection to minimize lawsuits. The attorney will also take action in an attempt to avoid a lawsuit whenever necessary. If a creditor files a lawsuit, the Texas debt defense attorney will represent you and protect your best interest. If you retain a separate attorney, the law firm will also protect you from creditor harassment while your debts are resolved throughout our debt settlement process. This can help reduce stress during the Debt Settlement process. Alternatively, we can provide a reactionary-only “pre-paid legal” or “legal insurance” similar to what is offered by many competitors. The low-cost plan will not provide the same harassment protection as retaining a debt defense attorney directly but will find and cover the cost of an attorney to represent you if you experience a lawsuit while enrolled.

Do I include all my debt in your Texas Debt Relief program?

Clients usually enroll all unsecured debts with balances over $1,000. You may keep out an unsecured debt with a balance under $1,000 if it remains under $1,000 while enrolled. You may also keep out credit cards that you can pay down and keep under $1,000 within six months of enrollment. If enrolled creditors see that you can pay other accounts with significant balances, it could make it more difficult for your negotiator to obtain the highest possible savings for you. Your Texas Debt Specialist will discuss any exceptions after reviewing your creditors and situation.

Where are my funds for settlement held?

We utilize an A+-rated third-party company called Forth. Funds are held in your FDIC special-purpose custodial account to fund settlements and pay our performance fees when they are due. We only collect performance fees after settling a debt and at least one payment is made towards the new negotiated balance.

Will I owe any taxes on the forgiven amounts?

Sometimes creditors may send you a 1099-C for the debt amount forgiven, which the IRS could consider a taxable income. The IRS provides Form 982 Reduction of Tax Attributes due to Discharge of Indebtedness. Depending on your assets, this form may exempt you from owing any taxes on the forgiven debt. According to IRS.gov “A taxpayer is insolvent when his or her total liabilities exceed his or her total assets. The forgiven debt may be excluded as income under the ‘insolvency’ exclusion. Normally, a taxpayer is not required to include forgiven debts in income to the extent that the taxpayer is insolvent.” We recommend speaking with your tax advisor if you receive a 1099-C.

Do interest and late fees accrue on my accounts?

Creditors will add some interest and possibly late fees onto your balances for at least the first few months of delinquency. We factor this additional amount upfront into our program estimations. Any amount added is included as part of the settlement, and you only pay performance fees based on your enrolled balances. It is important to keep in mind that interest is going to continue to accrue on your debts regardless of whether you are making your minimum monthly payments or not, although it will compound for time if when not making payments.

Can I negotiate my own debt?

Yes. Some people elect to do their taxes, make significant repairs to their homes, and service their vehicles. Most people prefer to have experts in the field handle these tasks. It is possible to make mistakes and debt collectors then go after the total balances. Dealing with professional debt collectors can be very stressful for someone who is not trained and does not do so daily. In addition to the time, effort, and knowledge that you need, an experienced debt negotiator may have the ability to obtain lower settlements. The debt collectors who deal with consumers are highly trained to get the most money possible and usually receive a commission based on the amount they can collect from you. Our negotiators often speak to separate business-to-business representatives with the creditors and collection agencies on a professional level. Sometimes our negotiators also leverage multiple debts owed by multiple clients to negotiate “bulk” savings. If you would like to negotiate debt on your own, our Texas Debt Specialists will provide you with resources to help you succeed at no charge.

When do negotiations begin with my creditors?

Each debt is negotiated one at a time as money accrues in your special purpose account. Negotiations usually begin at about six months into the program since this is when most creditors are willing to offer our negotiators substantial reductions of your balances. Exactly when negotiations start depends on how your program is structured, the status of your debts upon enrollment, and the creditors owed. You will receive documents verifying each settlement. Once the settlement is fulfilled, you will owe a zero balance on the settled debt.

How long will my Texas Debt Relief program last?

Depending on your monthly budget, we usually estimate our programs anywhere from 24 months to 48 months, although we have had clients with the ability to complete a program in as little as three months. In extreme hardship cases, we will sometimes estimate programs out to 72 months to provide the lowest possible monthly program payment. Any Debt Negotiation program can be longer or shorter than estimated depending on the amounts of the final settlements. If you only make the minimum payments, you might stay in debt for the next 10 or 20+ years. Assuming you do not make any more charges on your credit cards, just only making minimum payments could still cost you 2x, 3x, or even 4x as much as you originally borrowed. Your credit card statements will disclose how long it will take to pay off the debt by only making minimum payments.

Should I consider your Texas Debt Relief program instead of bankruptcy?

We believe most Texans want to consider bankruptcy as a last resort. If you qualify, Chapter 7 bankruptcy can be a quick way to eliminate unsecured debt. It will remain on your credit report for ten years after Chapter 7 is discharged or seven years after a three-to-five-year repayment plan from Chapter 13. Bankruptcy may affect your qualification for employment, some licensing, insurance, and your qualification to buy a house after the discharge. It is also important to understand that bankruptcy is a public record and can easily be found in background checks potentially for the rest of your life. After the bankruptcy laws changed years ago, many more people could not qualify for Chapter 7 due to their income and assets. Under Chapter 13 bankruptcy, your debt repayment is restructured. This means you will pay either a portion or all of your debt while still suffering the consequences of bankruptcy. Debt Negotiation is an excellent alternative to a Chapter 13 bankruptcy in many cases. In some cases, the Debt Negotiation program can cost less than Chapter 13, and in other cases, it could cost more. We are not a law firm, and we do not provide legal advice. We have a special arrangement with a very experienced Texas bankruptcy law firm to provide statewide bankruptcy services. The law firm can help you obtain an honest comparison of bankruptcy to non-bankruptcy options, such as our Texas Debt Relief program.

When should I obtain expert help to resolve my debt?

Many of our clients have accumulated tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of high-interest unsecured debt such as credit cards or personal loans. Some were barely able to cover the minimum payments or have already fallen behind. The financial hardship can be caused by income loss, divorce, high-interest rates, the Pandemic, or simply due to inflation. If you are making your minimum payments but have no savings, investments, or retirement because of never-ending debt payments, talk to one of our Texas Debt Specialists today. If you haven’t made payments in months and perhaps even face lawsuits from your creditors, we can also provide affordable help. Your Texas Debt Specialist will learn about your unique situation and discuss multiple options to resolve your debt as quickly and affordably as possible.

Do you lend money to pay debt?

Affordable Debt Consolidation is not a lender. We offer an affiliate platform to shop dozens of lenders who provide credit card Debt Consolidation Loans to qualified Texas residents. This is separate from our Texas Debt Relief services. Shopping multiple lenders with our affiliate platform is free, and it will give you an advantage over applying with an individual lender. Another benefit is that reviewing the offers from many lenders will not impact your credit score. If you have been previously unable to qualify for a Debt Consolidation Loan, speak to one of our Texas Debt Specialists about our affiliate platform or about options to resolve debt without the need for any new loans. Our Texas Debt Relief programs often provide a monthly program payment of less than half compared to high-interest minimum payments, or a credit counseling program could reduce interest rates without a new loan.

Will I owe taxes on my forgiven debt balances?

A creditor may send you a 1099-C for the amount of debt forgiven.  The IRS could consider forgiven debt as taxable income.  IRS Form 982, Reduction of Tax Attributes Due to Discharge of Indebtedness, may exempt you from owing any taxes on debt that has been forgiven.  According to IRS.gov “A taxpayer is insolvent when his or her total liabilities exceed his or her total assets.  The forgiven debt may be excluded as income under the ‘insolvency’ exclusion.  Normally, a taxpayer is not required to include forgiven debts in their income reporting to the extent that the taxpayer is insolvent.”  You may want to speak with your tax advisor if you receive a 1099-C.  In the very worst-case scenario, paying some income tax on a debt balance forgiven is trivial compared to paying high-interest rates month after month and year after year for potentially decades.

Debt Consolidation Texas, Credit Counseling Texas, and Debt Relief Texas Consultations are Free of Charge with no obligation. Affordable Debt Consolidation is not a lender but offers a platform to receive offers from participating lenders.  Credit counseling clients generally obtain an interest rate between 6% and 11%.  Debt negotiation clients who make their scheduled monthly program payments generally experience approximately a 45% reduction of their enrolled balance before fees over a 24-48 month period, not including any optional and separate services such as legal services provided by a law firm.  Our settlement fees are 15% of the enrolled balance compared to 25% charged by most competitors. Individual results vary based on the ability to fund the program, and the creditors enrolled. Statements made are examples of past performance and are not intended to guarantee that your balances will be reduced by a specific amount or that you will resolve debt within a specific time period. Settlement fees are not charged until a debt is reduced and payment has been made to the creditor. We do not assume consumer debt, make monthly payments, or provide tax or legal advice. We are not a credit repair firm. Please contact a tax professional to discuss any possible tax consequences of paying less than the total balance. Debt Relief programs are exclusively offered to Texas residents. Logos used are property of their respective owners.

Privacy Policy | © Copyright Affordable Debt Consolidation Texas 2024 | All Rights Reserved | Sitemap