I read about the services of these groups via the internet. I contacted them and was told they could negotiate my credit card balance at 50% of the balance. When asked how that would affect my credit scores, they said..."sure, it would take a small hit, but would bounce back in a few months."
So, I began making my payments to Legal Network of America.in 5 months I paid a total of $4,356.91 to them, and made no payments to Chase.in the sixth month, I got a call from a debt collector advising me that Chase would not negotiate with any debt collection company! I am sure that New Vista and Legal Network knew this up front, but never advised me at all. I called them and told them I wanted to cancel their services, and in the end after all their hidden costs, and penalties, I got a refund of $1500 back! They took $2850 of my money, and I got royally ripped off. All they did was get money from my bank account every month on automatic withdrawl! What did they do to earn the $2850? Nothing.
In the end, I negotiated with the debt collection agent and got 50% off anyway... Thanks to my own negotiation skills. And here's the final kicker... At the end of the year, Chase sent me a W-2 form for the amount they wrote off! I ended up paying $10,000 taxes on the $25,000 they wrote off! A lesson to be learned for any of us gullible persons out there. Take heed!
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