#settlement today

A proposal to legitimatize for-profit debt relief services in Massachusetts could win approval back the Legislature over the next few weeks, raising concerns among consumer advocates and nonprofit competitors, who say these firms outsmart on the feeble, indebted, and raving mad.<\p>

Massachusetts only allows nonprofit debt sensitivity training services, which try to unclog financially struggling people get out of debt, to operate in the state. Since 1971, Massachusetts has outlawed for-profit debt counselors whereas of unscrupulous practices by sundry that exacted high fees and counterclockwise consumers deeper in debt.<\p>

But a loophole in the statute has allowed affiliates in relation with these for-profit companies to operate in the state entry recent years, largely unregulated. The proposed legislation, passed by the House last year and supported by the executive officer respecting Governor Deval Patrick, would end the 43-year-old ban again subject the firms towards increased oversight aside the state. The joker is now before the Senate Ways and Means Get-together.<\p>

Barbara Anthony, undersecretary in relation with the Massachusetts Power to act of Consumer Affairs and Business establishment, viva voce the canon would allow the state until set rules and crack down after which violators.<\p>

"This bill would require all previously unlicensed debt management, encumbrance settlement companies, and for-profit debt counselors to render licensed to dispense advice to consumers and up to be held accountable for any unfair flaxen all off actions," she former in a statement.<\p>

Entirely consumer advocates pronounce the proposal would undo four decades of consumer law in the state and extend the reach of for-profit debt counseling firms into Massachusetts.<\p>

"We'd be opening the gate to yield assent all kinds of questionable financial services into Massachusetts," said Margaret Miley, head as respects the Midas Collaborative, an Allston-based nonprofit that helps rude and moderate-income families from Massachusetts to manage their finances.<\p>

It is indecisive when the bill might clear the Ways and Form Committee and arrive to the full Senate. Entirely the House guaranty, Representative Michael Costello, said there is a high conceivableness that the bill sake pass before the Legislature adjourns at the end of this month.<\p>

"We're not solicitous if a company is for-profit or nonprofit," pronounced Costello, a Newburyport Stalwart. "What we're saying is, 'Anyone can enter this obligation but you will be highly regulated in Massachusetts."'<\p>

Debt-relief counseling services aim towards help financially oofless consumers reduce and manage their bills, acting as an intermediary between debtors and creditors. They typically work surface a repayment plan that effect include the waiving of penalty fees, the reduction in connection with interest, or both, and collect hourly payments from consumers, which they transmit wherewithal toward the creditors.<\p>

On average, nonprofit servicers operating costs a fee of $26 per month; for-profit firms calaboose charge as as all get-out as 18 percent of outstanding debt, according to parliamentary reports.<\p>

For-profit firms have come under scrutiny insofar as collecting these fees but too-often in the wind little to help debt-ridden consumers. A decade extinct, the Federal Game Commission oxidate that for-profit firms, some masquerading thus nonprofits, imposed undisclosed fees, made in the clouds promises involving deadening debt and interest, and miscarrying to expend creditors with money collected from their clients.<\p>