What do you do if you cannot afford to pay your creditors back in full, but it also doesn’t make sense to file bankruptcy? For example, if you owe $2,000 to a creditor, but you can’t afford to pay them in full – what do you do? In that situation, it really wouldn’t make sense to file bankruptcy, but that $2,000 debt is still out there and you need to figure out a plan so you can move forward with your life.
In that case, you are most likely going to need to negotiate with the creditor. Many times people are so overwhelmed by their debts (especially when they know they cannot afford to pay them in full), that they try to put off dealing with them. That is very understandable; especially when you have tried to contact your creditors on your own and the creditors aren’t willing to work with you. It can also be difficult to negotiate with a creditor once they’ve started garnishing your wages. Some creditors will refuse to negotiate once they have a wage garnishment in place. It can also be difficult to negotiate with a creditor on your own, because unfortunately many creditors and collections agencies can be quite intimidating when you are talking with them on the phone about your own debts.
If you are in a situation where you think it makes sense to consider negotiating with your creditors, it might make sense to consult with an attorney about your options, so you can figure out a plan to deal with your debts and move forward with your life. You will also want to talk with your “tax person” (your accountant or CPA) about what impact negotiating with your creditors may have on your tax liability.
Elizabeth Rosar Chermack is a Burnsville Attorney, and can discuss your options with you in regards to negotiating with your creditors. Call (952) 491-0390 or send an email to liz@chermacklaw.com to schedule a consultation with Liz.
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