Thursday, October 7, 2010

Harvey Z. Warren, author of the just released, Drop Debt: Surviving Credit Card Hell without Bankruptcy, has gleaned the five top lessons from his book for Ask Doctor Debt, the consumer information site sponsored by the foundation outreach arm of the Association of Credit and Collection Professional, International (ACA). Consumers who are overwhelmed by the collection process and collection calls are being referred to these tips for help. A long-time consumer debt relief consultant and industry innovator, Warren is in the midst of a national campaign promoting his book and his mission to assist millions of consumers currently struggling with excessive credit card debt. Warren's common sense approach caught the attention of ACA and its foundation arm worked with Warren to create the tips to provide consumer assistance on Ask Doctor Debt.

Drop Debt was written to help consumers understand and manage the confusing and often turbulent collection process. Warren's non-adversarial approach benefits consumers and collectors by focusing on the financial facts of the debtor. It also encourages the debtor stop struggling with the collection process work with the collection agents in a fair, honest and respectful manner. Warren believes that taking the fear factor out of the process for the consumer is the first step to getting the matter resolved. Knowing what to do and what to say is the first step to stopping the fear.

Ask Doctor Debt was created by the ACA International Education Foundation to provide free and unbiased answers to consumers' debt questions. The ACA International Education Foundation's primary mission is to serve consumers who are challenged by debt by improving their financial literacy and providing them with tools and resources.

Warren, who has worked closely in the writing of his book with debt settlement companies, credit counseling agencies, debt buyers, banks, collection agents and collection attorneys is convinced that consumers who understand their rights and responsibilities when it comes to the credit and debt collection process have much better chance of resolving their debt issues without bankruptcy.

In addition, dealing with debt and credit issues can be an emotional and sometimes intimidating process. It doesn't need to be. If you know your rights, fully understand the situation you're in and what options are available, you can avoid unnecessary stress while making the best decision for you and your family's long-term financial well being.

Mr. Warren is an ardent advocate and promoter of the idea that consumers in trouble really want to do the right thing—they just do not know how. Although he provides five tips for Ask Doctor Debt he says the key tip is to take action. "When all the talking is done, your wallet is going to have the last word. You can only pay what you can afford. The collector you are talking to may want more than the funds you have available, but he knows one thing, you can't get blood from a stone.

The collector knows it. And now you know he knows it, too. Take action and tell the collector your situation. As Capital One says in its commercials, "What's in Your Wallet?" Even when the answer is, "Not enough to pay you back" you are on the road to putting your trouble behind you when you return those persistent calls."

Harvey Z. Warren is actively fostering a powerful national coalition of consumer advocates, lawyers, banking and collection leadership to establish guidelines for non-adversarial debt relief through non-profit credit counseling. A graduate of Ithaca College with a Master of Science degree from Syracuse University, Warren has worked with tens of thousands of debt-crushed consumers and appears frequently on radio and television commenting on the consumer debt crisis in America.

www.askdoctordebt.com--Consumer Resources/Facts/Tips for Working with a Debt Collector

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