Can Credit Counselling Help with Collections?

Dear Jeff,

I have several credit cards with balances that are now showing as closed because I missed several payments due to my bank account being compromised. How do I start paying down the balance even though the account is closed? I want to use a debt management program, but will consolidation help in this matter since the accounts are already charged off and some are with outside collectors?

GJ Anderson
Winnipeg, Manitoba

GJ,

Keep in mind that your creditors have to agree to your enrollment in a debt management program and the monthly payment schedule you develop with your credit counsellor – even if those accounts are still current. If a creditor won’t sign off on the inclusion of that particular debt in the program, then you can still enroll but that debt would be left off. You could still enroll with your other debts, but you’d have to work out other arrangements for that specific account if the creditor doesn’t agree to the terms of your program.

By and large, most of the major credit card issuers and banks have standing relationships with BBB-accredited national credit counselling agencies like Consolidated Credit Canada. So for the most part, plans are negotiated and approved because it’s in the best interest of everyone (including your creditors) to see you get back on the right financial path.

On the other hand, collections are a little different because the creditor’s already written you and your account off as a loss. If the account is still with the original creditor, then they’re likely to agree to include the debt in the program just to ensure they get paid back.

However, this isn’t necessarily true with third-party collectors – primarily because your credit counselling agency may not have a standing relationship with that company. So negotiations may not work out every time if the collector prefers to pursue repayment directly or through other means.

Another thing to note is what was mentioned in the video about “not getting the full benefit of the program” with debts that are already in collections. This is due to a lack of new interest and penalties getting applied to an account in charge-off status. By law, once a debt is written off as a loss in charge-off, no new penalties or interest can be applied to that debt.

Two of the main benefits of a debt management program are interest rate reduction and the stoppage of new penalties and fees. Essentially when you enroll in the program your credit counsellor negotiates lower interest rates with your creditors. In addition, future penalties and fees are eliminated because you and the creditor are agreeing to a plan to repay the debt.

Since collection accounts have no interest charges or new fees and penalties that can be added, you lose that part of the benefit in enrollment. However, that doesn’t mean you should keep those accounts out. Enrolling and including them in the program still means that you’ll pay off those debts and eliminate the stress of having those accounts in collections. So in the end, it’s usually worth it to enroll as many debts as possible so you don’t have anything else to worry about once you’re enrolled.

I’d like to simply say YES here, because credit counselling is such a powerful weapon against debt. But the answer depends on three factors.

A debt management program is probably my favorite way to get Canadians out of debt. But before you enroll what we call a DMP, your creditors have to agree to it. Thankfully, most major credit card issuers do. Why? Because they’ve worked with agencies like Consolidated Credit before, and they trust us. But if they don’t want to participate, then you have to figure out another way.

Not many people realize that their debts are often sold to third-party debt collectors. These collectors don’t always have a working relationship with agencies like Consolidated Credit.

Credit counselling is an excellent way of stepping back and figuring out your entire financial picture. Once you do that, you might find other tactics for paying off stubborn debts and even saving money. The bottom line is, there’s no one answer for everyone’s individual debt problems. But a short phone call with an expert can make all the difference. Give us a call and we can show you how!