“Dear Steve,
I have quite a bit of debt outside of my mortgage about $60,000 and it is causing us much stress and it just seems to keep going up rather then diminishing at all so I have been trying to figure out ways to pay it down this is how I came across the company I have a question about.
I have been in contact and have dealt with a gentleman named Randy at the Law Office of Cockburn & Associate, LLP, 7111 Syntex Drive 3rd Floor Mississauga ON L5N 8C3. They are offering a Debt Settlement program and “almost” guaranteeing that I will only pay less then 45% of my debt.
It sounds too good to be true but when I went through the program with him tonight for the first year the majority of my money will be going to fees and that had me worried. I think you are based in the US but I am hoping you might know a little about the companies in Canada as well.
Your website is very informative and I wish I had found it a long time ago!!!
Georgia”
Dear Georgia,
The sales pitch sounds familiar to the same promises and claims many have uttered.
I think rather than make assumptions about the company you should be a smart detective and check them out.
While they are in Canada, the same basic steps apply to researching who it is you plan to work with and if their claims are true using my US guides.
For me, the biggest concern I have is over the claim you will only pay 45% of your debt. That statement has so many more questions before we can believe the number.
For example, is that after settlement and including their fees?
How many other consumers have settled all their debt for 45% or less including fees?
What is the success rate of the program? What percentage of people settle none or only part of their debt and drop out?
If the sales person can’t tell you these numbers and put them in writing, then you’ll have to question if the company has the track record to deliver what they are selling.
When you go in to buy a new car I think we all know the salesperson is going to hype the car up as the best. But there are disclosures on the window or places we can check for things like what kind of gas mileage the car actually gets.
Think about these questions to ask as the research to figure out the gas mileage for your debt settlement program.
In general, I think advance fee programs set people up for failure. Taking the fees up front only extends the time to settlement, causes the fees and penalties on the cards to accrue, and only best serves the company rather than you.
In the U.S. the majority of debt settlement companies are now required to not get paid until they actually settle a debt or arrange a payment plan with the creditor. That is a much fairer arrangement for both the debt settlement company and the consumer.
I’m not telling you to stay away from Cockburn & Associate. I’m suggesting that an educated consumer make a better shopper.
If you check out the company further, let me know what conclusions you come up with.
I would recommend that anyone considering using such a company should read the following free guides.
- The Ultimate Consumer Guide to Checking Out a Debt Relief Company Before You Sign On the Line
- 10 Must Do Steps to Find the Best Credit Counseling or Debt Settlement Company for You
- How to Check Out a Business or Company to Avoid Getting Scammed or Ripped Off
Please post your responses and follow-up messages to me on this in the comments section below.
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