What will happen to my credit score after a successful debt settlement?
The effect that a successful debt settlement will have on your credit score in Pennsylvania can vary. Generally, however, it can have a negative effect on your credit score. When you negotiate a debt settlement, the creditor is agreeing to accept less than what you owe them. This means that the account will be reported to the credit bureaus as “settled for less than the full amount” or “account paid, less than the full amount”. This will usually have a negative impact on your credit score, as it tells potential creditors that you could not afford to pay the full balance. The amount that your credit score will decrease depends on various factors, including how much of the debt you settle and how much of the total credit you have outstanding. On average, a successful debt settlement could result in a decrease in your credit score of up to 100 points. In some cases, you may be able to negotiate with your creditor to have the account reported to the credit bureaus as “paid as agreed” instead of “settled for less than the full amount”. This could help minimize the damage to your credit score. It is important to keep in mind that even if a successful debt settlement negatively impacts your credit score in the short term, it may help you in the long term. Paying off a large amount of debt will help you to get your finances back on track and will likely improve your credit score over time.
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