F.A.Q.
ON THE DEBT FREEDOM PROGRAM
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1.
Will I receive a copy of my credit report?
Unfortunately no. Our obligations with the credit bureau prohibits us from sending you a copy directly.
2.
What effect does your program have on my credit report?
Using a credit
counseling service and having this service reported on your credit
report does not have a negative impact on your FICO score. This
fact is based on first-hand information given to TPFC from the creators
of the FICO score, Fair, Issac & Company. This program is not
what impacts your score or your ability to get credit in the future.
However, the
actions you take based on the recommendations of a credit counselor
may sometimes affect your score. For example, choosing to make partial
payments or agreeing to settle for less than the full amount on
accounts may be regarded negatively. Additionally, any late payments
occurring either before or after you began the plan may also be
regarded negatively.
If your credit
file includes other indications of delinquency that happened either
before of after you entered the counseling service, these indications
will be considered in the FICO score calculation.
3.
What are my responsibilities to ensure my Debt Freedom Program is
successful?
This is a very
important question, as you play a HUGE role in your program's success,
both as your program begins and during the length of your program.
After processing
is completed by us, you will receive a TPFC Program Update. It contains
10 critical aspects of your program that you need to review. This
will not take a lot of time, and it will help to ensure your program's
success.
Your creditors
may take up to 90 days to give final approval to your program. In
the meantime, there may be small adjustments to your program that
need to be made to meet their requirements. Please stay patient
during this time, as this is the normal for all programs, and it
is how the credit counseling industry works. Rest assured that things
are moving forward, payments are being made to your creditors.
4.
Who actually pays my creditors?
When the TPFC
Administration Department completes your program processing work,
your program file is sent to our credit office, Harbour Credit Counseling.
They are experts at working with creditors and provide you with
the necessary operations to make your program successful.
Harbour provides
several aspects of your Debt Freedom Program, including:
a. the automated
withdrawal from your bank account to their trust account.
b. sending your program proposal letters to your creditors for
their approval.
c. making the payment of your funds to all your creditors.
d. providing you with a monthly summary statement of their work
for you.
5.
I am still getting calls from my creditors. What should I do?
Advise them
that you are on a debt management program and give them Harbour's
toll free number at 800-887-2389.
Please be patient,
as certain creditors may take up to 90 days after they accept your
program proposal to stop collection calls. This is due to that creditor
wanting to see a consistent payment pattern on your account.
6.
Will I be notified when Harbour gets my program?
Yes. Harbour
will send you a welcome letter and a program update shortly after
you join the program. You may also contact them by phone at 800-887-2389
or by email at www.40debts.com.
7.
Will I have a contact at Harbour Credit?
Once Harbour
Credit has received your program you will be assigned a representative.
You may also go to their website and check on your program at anytime.
Harbour's website is www.40debts.com.
To log on as
a first-time user, please follow these steps:
a. Locate
the "Customer Service" tab at the top of the web site.
b. Go to the dropdown under "Customer Service" entitled
"New User" and click.
c. Follow the steps to fill in the required information. Please
note: your Client ID# is your Social Security Number.
d. You can create your own Password. You may have to enter it
twice.
e. Your account will appear on the screen after a short pause.
8.
What if a creditor does not accept my Debt Management Program proposal?
It is very seldom
that a creditor refuses a proposal through our program. When that
does happen, it is due to one or both of the following reasons:
a. the creditor
may need more information or clarify data on the account, or
b. the creditor requires a slight increase in the monthly payment
to meet their standards for the account.
In either case,
your payment is being made by Harbour and your program is moving
forward as planned.
9.
Can I increase my payment if I have additional funds available?
Of course! You
can always increase your monthly payment. The more you pay, the
faster you accounts will be paid off. And that is a desire of us
all!
To increase
your payment, you must contact Harbour Credit and inform them that
you wish to pay more. They will counsel you on the best way of increasing
your payments. Please DO NOT send additional payments directly to
your creditors. This can cause your program to be dropped by your
creditor.
10.
Do I continue to work with my creditors?
Yes, the debt
you owe your creditors is still your debt. You are still the client
of the creditor. As a Debt Freedom Program, we are acting as your
agent by providing a service to help you become debt free.
However, DO
NOT make additional payment arrangements with your creditors. This
can cause a conflict with your program. Call Harbour at 800-887-2389
or have your creditor call Harbour if they request additional funds.
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