FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How long does it take to complete the Credit Card Relief program?
The length of time in the program is determined by you and your underwriting specialist during the enrollment process. Success is determined by the individual or family sticking to their commitments
made during enrollment, including their discussions with the legal staff.
Does everybody who joins the program graduate?
Unfortunately they don't. During times of high unemployment and great economic challenges family situations change and so does their ability to keep up with financial commitments. There are dropouts and cancellations, but for those who can make their monthly payments to the Enrolled Members Trust for the future benefit of their creditors do very well in our program as evidenced by the over $150 million dollars in unsecured debt settled.
What is an Attorney Driven Program?
Unlike debt settlement companies or consumer credit counseling companies, Credit Card Relief is an attorney driven debt compromise program. Admission to the program requires the approval of Local Participating Program Attorney reviewing and approving your file before you are admitted to the program. All debts are compromised, or settled, by a national mediation law firm. Clients have access to the legal staff by telephone, email or fax Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Please contact our Professional Services Department for any questions you may have.
I get up to ten collection calls a day. How can I stop these calls? Can you help?
Unfortunately collection calls are part of the process of debt collection. By not paying regularly on your account, federal and most state laws allow creditors to call you to collect these debts. However, they do not have the right to be abusive, threatening, or call you at work when you have specifically advised them that you are not able to take calls at work.
We have been successful in limiting collection calls from the work place by informing the creditor that you are not allowed to take calls at work. In addition if you should get threatening or abusive calls, contact the national mediation law firm immediately. Telephone harassment, threats and other scare tactics are prohibited by federal law.
If you find yourself simply unable to take the collection calls, please call your Professional Services Department so they can work out a possible solution with you and involve the law firm if necessary.
The good news is the calls eventually stop. And if you follow the program guidelines and make your timely payments to the Enrolled Members Trust, your debts will be settled at a discount in months instead of years saving your thousands of dollars.
For additional help, please listen to the podcast on How to Handle Collection Calls and please don't hesitate to call us for help.
I've been threatened with a law suit by one of my creditors. If I join your program will you be able to help me?
Although it is the exception and not the rule, occasionally our clients will be sued by creditors or third party collectors (collection agencies). If you receive a letter from a law firm representing a creditor on one of the debts you enrolled in the program, please call the mediation law firm immediately. Time is very important as there is only a certain amount of time allowed by law. Although we can not accompany you to court, your law firm will contact the law firm who wrote to you or filed a complaint (law suit) against you and try to make a settlement with that law firm before you go to court. We will do everything we can under the terms of our limited engagement to try and prevent a judgment, garnishment, or lien on any property you might own.
Remember, lawsuits are the exception and not the rule, but when you do receive a notice, send us a copy via fax, mail, or e-mail and then contact us immediately so we can assist you.
Getting Started
Podcasts
- Welcome to Credit Card Relief
- Collection Calls and How to Handle Them
- Family Budgets Made Fun & Easy
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