Question 1

What is professional debt mediation?

Accepted Answer

Professional debt mediation is the process of reaching a settlement between a debtor (the party who owes the debt) and a creditor (the party attempting to recover the debt) after negotiating a resolution. A mediator, or a neutral third-party representative, helps to arrive at these resolutions, which include payment plans, timelines, deadlines, and chunking the sum of money that is owed.

Question 2

Does debt mediation affect your credit score?

Accepted Answer

Yes, debt mediation may cause your credit score to drop, as it indicates prior negligence to pay off one’s debt in its entirety. This suggests that the debtor has not fulfilled their financial obligations; in other words, they still owe money, which makes their credit score prone to drop some points.

Question 3

Is mediation binding?

Accepted Answer

While the act of receiving professional debt mediation is not legally binding itself, the actual settlement to which both parties have agreed becomes binding once it is signed. This means it is enforceable by law, which makes debt mediation a risky, yet worthwhile process.

Question 4

Is it better to dispute or settle debt?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the situation. It is important to first understand where the debt is coming from or why it is owed. Once this is determined, debtors can make their decision. For one, if a debtor is certain that they do not owe a specific amount of money, disputing it may be their best option. If they do owe the money, however, coming to a settlement may be their best option so as to avoid racking up an even larger number.

Question 5

What is the role of mediation in debt collection?

Accepted Answer

Mediation plays a significant role in debt collection, as a mediator is legally obligated to act impartially when it comes to settling this debt between a debtor and a creditor. The creditor will typically assign or hire debt collection to recover the debt or make plans to strategically recover it. If debt collection does not work, debt mediation is the next step, giving debtors an opportunity to arrive at a settlement by working with a mediator to find debt solutions.

Question 6

Which methods of debt collection are effective?

Accepted Answer

While there are many different methods that work in debt collection, several of them tend to work better than others. For one, giving debtors incentives, such as reduced payments or earlier deadlines, will persuade them to act more swiftly in paying the debt off. Additionally, pursuing legal action may lead to immediate regulatory compliance among debtors who fear an unfavorable court settlement. Lastly, ensuring unambiguous communication with debtors is crucial, with information that is clear and detailed, leaving zero room for misinterpreting deadlines or money amounts.

Question 7

What are the five steps of mediation?

Accepted Answer

There are five steps of professional debt mediation, including:

 	introduction: assessing whether mediation is a good option or not by introducing both parties to each other and assessing whether the procedure is affordable and favorable to either. 
 	evaluation: assessing whether mediation is an affordable option based on the debtor’s general financial status.
 	strategy of negotiation: looking at the facts of the situation and figuring out what the real issue is and why the debt has not been paid. From here, mediators can go about planning a negotiation, especially as it benefits both parties. 
 	negotiation: the actual negotiation is then offered as a means of reaching a settlement between the parties. It is meant to influence each party towards reaching an agreement. 
 	settlement: reaching an agreement about the financial objective towards which both parties can actively work.

Question 8

Is debt mediation better than court?

Accepted Answer

Generally, debt mediation is considered to be better than taking matters of debt to court. This is because it is quicker, simpler, more efficient, more flexible, less time-consuming, and less formal. There is far less pressure to pay off debt at such a large sum with so little time.

Question 9

How long does mediation take?

Accepted Answer

Because mediation can only be executed in progressive steps and relies on multiple factors, it can take anywhere from six months to five years. This is based on how much money is still owed, how willing a creditor is to utilize the mediation process, and how quickly the debt can be paid.

Category: Mediation

Category: Mediation