Debt settlement is a tool consumers with debt can use to negotiate a more favorable payment plan with the debtors. It’s a viable option when other avenues, like bankruptcy, are not.
Debt settlement can also be an effective tool in improving one’s credit score and long-term financial viability.
Learn how Century Support Services negotiates with creditors to help you achieve your goals.
Century Support Services At-a-Glance
Since 2003, Century Support Services has been settling debt. This service is a four-step program to eliminate a consumer’s debt and improve their financial stability. Century Support Services negotiates between creditors and debtors, as they serve to mediate agreements to re-establish the terms of the debt.
Century Support Services strives to renegotiate the creditor’s debt amount that they are expected to repay, the interest rate associated with that debt, the duration of the repayment time, and the monthly payment amount. Century Support Services’ primary goal is to work an agreement out for the creditor that achieves forgiveness of a large part of their debt.
What Kinds of Debts Qualify?
Century Support Services can qualify any unsecured debt for debt settlement. Unsecured debt is any financial loan that does not depend on the debtor forfeiting an asset if they default or fail to repay their loan. A mortgage or an auto loan are not typically debts that qualify for debt settlement.
Student loans, business or self-employment debt, and tax debt also do not qualify for debt relief. Unsecured debts, or obligations that do not depend on a collateral asset, are typically loans that qualify for debt settlement.
Here’s a list of debt types that qualify for debt settlement with Century Support Services:
- Credit card debt
- Credit card debt from a specific store credit card
- Personal loans
- Home improvement loans not secured by the home
- Medical debt
Who Is Debt Settlement Best For?
Century Support Services works best for borrowers who have exhausted most, if not all, of their other options to alleviate their debt. It should be a last resort for debt relief, as it can have some severe consequences or “side effects.” People with more significant debt and a high debt-to-income ratio will benefit the most from debt settlement.
If credit counseling, courses for education on debt, and other means of intervention have not been effective or are not available to you, debt settlement is likely the next step.
Another type of person for whom debt settlement could be a possibility for is someone who does not have bankruptcy as a viable option. While bankruptcy is never ideal, if bankruptcy is totally out of the question, debt settlement is likely the next step.
Top Features of the Century Support Services
Here are some of the top features offered by Century Support Services and how they work:
Negotiations on Your Behalf
Century Support Services negotiates with your creditors to develop a settlement agreement that best represents your interests and caters to your debt needs. This is one of their most appealing features, as this might be important for people who are not comfortable doing that or are not knowledgeable about debt relief and settlement.
Reduction in Total Debt Paid Back
Century Support Services states that their debt settlement program can lower your total debt owed, and occasionally, the total amount you are expected to repay can be reduced considerably.
Debt Consolidation
Because Century Support Services serves as a middleman between the debtor and the creditor, you make your payments directly to Century Support Services, who then pays that amount to your creditors. This debt consolidation allows you to make one simple monthly payment, allowing Century Support Services to communicate and negotiate with your creditor.
Initial Free Assessment
The Century Support Services assessment requires you to provide basic personal information and your estimated total debt amount. Century Support Services team members can assess the debt settlement service’s value to you. This streamlines your debt settlement search process and shows how much you will benefit from the program.
One-Time Fee
After Century Support Services has negotiated between the debtor and the creditor and the first payment is made to the creditor, Century Support Services assesses a one-time fee. You don’t have to make multiple or monthly payments to Century Support Services, meaning this program could be a cheaper avenue to achieve debt settlement.
How to Get Started
Century Support Services advertises a four-step debt settlement plan. After your free initial assessment establishing whether Century Support Services would work for your finances and debt, you can decide to enroll in their debt settlement program.
To enroll, you’ll provide personal information, including full legal name, age, address, social security number, email, and phone number. You’ll need to have your debt information available, as you must provide the specifics. You will be required to provide creditor information for each of your debts, the amount the initial debt costs, how much you owe each creditor, the interest rate associated with each debt, and any other pertinent information about your debt.
After submitting your enrollment information, a reserve account is established in your name. You will pay into the reserve account until you reach a certain amount, determined based on your current income, financial state, and the total debt you disclosed for settlement negotiations. Once you get the money in your Century Support Services reserve account, Century Support Services will begin negotiating directly with your creditors. From then on, your debt settlement negotiations are in the hands of Century Support Services.
Century Support Services waits to begin negotiations until there are funds in the reserve account so they can make an initial payment and pay off potential fees from your creditors, as this makes your creditor more likely to be open to negotiations.
After Century Support Services establishes an agreement with your creditors to settle your debt, you continue to put money into the reserve account, and Century Support Services will make monthly payments to your creditors until your debt is paid off.
Rating the Features
Knowing the specifics of Century Support Services’s features, components, and benefits can help you make the most informed, well-rounded decision.
Sign Up Process
Century Support Services’ programs are seemingly user-friendly and accessible. The enrollment process requires the disclosure of a great deal of information, but the information is not complex to obtain in most cases. After the enrollment questions and information disclosure, the debtor’s only obligation is to pay into the reserve account.
Fees
Century Support Services will assess a fee for every account you have enrolled with their debt settlement service. If you have multiple debts enrolled for debt settlement, whenever an agreement is made with each of the individual creditors and the first payment is sent, Century Support Services will assess a fee. Century Support Services does not assess late or origination fees.
Rates
Century Support Services’ fees vary from account to account based on how much you deposit monthly into the reserve account, the number of creditors you have enrolled, and the current balance of each account.
Customer Support
The Century Support Services website discloses helpful information about their processes and protocols, giving insight into what users can expect and that can provide practical guidance. The website offers a hefty FAQ section that answers many questions, including the timeline of Century Support Services’ program, the reserve account, and how Century Support Services negotiates with creditors.
Century Support Services also offers multiple ways to contact them.
- Phone: 855-417-6648
- Email: customercare@centuryss.com
- Address: 2000 Commerce Loop, Suite 211, North Huntingdon, PA 15642
- Fax: 888-524-4218
- The Century Support Services website has a form you can fill out to ask specific questions or ask for help.
Access
Century Support Services serves every state except North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. There is only one physical branch in North Huntingdon, PA, with business hours Monday through Friday, 9 am to 8 pm (EST). Any customer outside North Huntingdon, PA, can access all Century Support Services resources through Century Support Services’s website. They do not offer a mobile app.
Pros and Cons of the Century Support Services’ Debt Settlement Program
Pros
- Get more manageable payments for your debt.
- Debt collection efforts for the debts you have on the program stop.
- Accessible customer service.
- The robust website is an excellent resource.
- Most of the U.S. can use the service.
- No significant recurring fees.
Cons
- Debt settlement can negatively impact your credit. Creditors can, and most likely will, report your debt to the three major credit bureaus.
- You cannot add any new debt after your initial disclosure.
- You may be required to pay taxes on forgiven debt.
- The program is not available for secured debts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Once you have deposited the agreed-upon amount into your reserve account, Century Support Services will begin negotiations with your creditor or creditors.
This amount depends on what your creditors are willing to agree to and how much of your debt they can eliminate. This number varies because of the cost of your debt and your previous track record with the creditor, but anywhere from 10% to 50% can be forgiven.
Yes, you can. However, this does not necessarily mean that you should. Some creditors won’t even negotiate directly with a debtor. If you are not knowledgeable about debt settlement or do not have great negotiation skills, negotiating your own debt could be detrimental to your debt settlement journey.
Bottom Line
Enrolling in a debt settlement program can mean taking on a certain level of risk, as debt settlement programs can negatively impact your credit score and financial future.
Century Support Services’ program can be the much-needed financial help to someone who has exhausted all their options.
It is essential to know the ins and outs of programs like this to know if incurring the risks of debt settlement will be worth the result.
Debt settlement is a last resort to debt. However, Century Support Services offers a sound, consistent program.
