Debt settlement firms expect you to have at least $10,000 in credit card debt. They expect you to pay them $1500-2000 or more of that $10,000 in fees before they settle your debt. They also expect you to stop paying your credit card and give those monthly payments to them for their fees and your eventual lump-sum settlement.

These days, there are many consumers who simply cannot pay the high monthly minimum payments on their credit card debts. Their guilt about that will make their likely encounter with credit card debt collectors all the worse.

Telephone calls have no legal weight since there is no record of what was said on a call. Knowing this, credit card debt collectors will say threatening things on the phone and get away with telling their lies. That is why consumer debt collectors choose to use the phone over mail. Debt collectors lose their power when communications are reduced to writing.

Too many, in fact most consumers do not respond to a court summons for credit card debt. Collection attorneys have become accustomed to filing a summons, winning be default and collecting money with the court’s help.

Is there a legal basis to settle credit card debt?

Most people would simply rather pay their credit card debts than deal with collection phone calls and collection attorney letters. But, what about those who cannot afford to make monthly minimum payments on their credit card debt? Many fall prey to the debt collection industry. Some, however, become educated consumers and use the law to force debt collectors to spend their time with other, less knowledgeable consumers.