FreeKitty Posted July 6, 2007 Report Share Posted July 6, 2007 Hi,I'm buried in serious debts... I'm thinking to enter into debt settlement program. Despite the fact that there are some negative comments about these type of companies, I don't think I can handle on my own.Recently, I came across this company "Donaldson Williams". Do any of you know about it?I appreciate any input and advise.thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHateCAs Posted July 6, 2007 Report Share Posted July 6, 2007 If you want a legit debt settlement program, go speak with a bankruptcy attorney. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philm Posted April 26, 2009 Report Share Posted April 26, 2009 Freekitty, I have been using Donaldson Williams for over a year now. They've helped me take care of two credit card debts so far, and I've have been happy with their services. I've got a few more to go, so we'll see what happens. The only thing I'm worried about is how long it will take for my credit rating to be restored to a good rating. Anyway, I would recommend them. --Philm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astiman Posted April 27, 2009 Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 In 30 years of experience in the banking, financial and collection world I have NEVER seen a legitimate debt settlement or debt fixer organization.If you are not willing to do it yourself as explained on thi site, you should consult a BK atty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
admin Posted April 27, 2009 Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 Philm - do you work for this company? Seems like spam to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zuggy333 Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 Just wanted to let you know that philm does NOT work for Donaldson Williams; I happen to own this company, and resent the implication that we would stoop to such a level of deceit. We're not an unethical debt settlement company, and we have a perfect BBB rating. So, yes, ethical debt settlement companies DO exist. Please don't ever again imply that we would pretend to be a customer just to attract business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astiman Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 All debt settlement companies are scams in that you are paying someone to do something that you can do for yourself for FREE.Whether one owns or just uses a given company, that fact remains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zuggy333 Posted August 3, 2009 Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 Sorry Astiman, you're absolutely incorrect about this. MOST debt settlement companies are a ripoff. We have an excellent BBB rating and extremely satisfied clients. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astiman Posted August 4, 2009 Report Share Posted August 4, 2009 Sorry, "Zuggy", in 35 years in the financial and banking world, I haven't seen even ONE that's legitimate.You, at the very least, collect money from folks to "negotiate" settlements that they could have arranged themselves.Sorry, not buying it....and I'd advise others not to, either.Please note these are only MY experiences and opinions, and no one elses.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astiman Posted August 4, 2009 Report Share Posted August 4, 2009 As for the perfect BBB rating, keep in mind that many collection agencies have perfect ratings also, along with a large group of complaints.Just saying what I know to be true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zuggy333 Posted August 9, 2009 Report Share Posted August 9, 2009 astiman - did you know that we do NOT collect fees from our clients prior to obtaining results for them. Did you also know that many of our clients DID attempt to negotiate their debt on their own - to no avail. Sorry, but most creditors do respect us, and we work quite well with these creditors, as well as collection agencies and law firms. Additionally, our fees are the lowest in the industry, and during our initial conversation with prospective clients we make it very clear that paying their creditors off is the number one priority, and if our fees have to wait, so be it - the creditors come first! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newryman Posted August 10, 2009 Report Share Posted August 10, 2009 What a load of bovine excrement. You are legally NOT ALLOWED to collect anything before etc etc. so you overstated claims of altruism do not hold water.Now what about the 15% or so you collect form the creditors as commission what do you do with that give it back to your clients in full? DO you even disclose it to them at all?Fees What are these fees for exactly, oh that's right doing for the consumer that which he could do for himself but for free. Your professional qualification to be in the industry is what? Oh right there is none needed.If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and says quack quack, guess what ? its a damned duck Business must be real slow when you have troll forums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astiman Posted August 10, 2009 Report Share Posted August 10, 2009 Quack Quack.....It IS a duck.....If ya charge a fee fer what someone can do on their own, then it's a scam.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philm Posted December 18, 2009 Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 In reply to the moderator, no I am not employed by Donaldson Williams. I'm a customer, and as I said before, I have been completely satisfied with their services so far. Are they legitimate? I don't know what that means. As someone else noted, you don't have to have a license, so I guess that means that legitimate/illegitimate doesn't apply. Do they charge a fee? Of course they do. That shouldn't be surprising. They're providing a service--negotiating for you. Could I have settled my credit card debts myself? Well, I tried with one bank, but they didn't go for it. If you have the knowledge, skills, and time to settle yourself then I suppose you don't need a debt settlement agency. Anyway, I periodically Google Donaldson Williams to see if anyone has had a bad experience with them, and that's how I came across this thread. If I do run into trouble with them, you can bet that I will say so here. But so far so good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willingtocope Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 NOTICE: zuggy...You are welcome to join the community, but, be warned that solicitation of debt fixer business either via PM or in open forum is strictly forbidden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ahart04 Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 (edited) To most: You think that because a company is providing a service that you can do on your own it is a scam??? Are you all serious??What about an oil change shop? What about a painter? Decorator? A chef? A dog trainer? What about a negotiator with industry connections and experience? What a half brained argument that is.If you told someone that you could cut their 40k in credit card debt to 25k, fee included, would you think that is unreasonable? Sure, you could attempt to negotiate yourself. You could also attempt to represent yourself in a murder trial but is that a wise decision? Sure, debt settlement companies have had nasty reputations in the past, but this was mostly due to no federal regulation. Now, however, since October 2010, there ARE federal regulations, and most of the larger organizations that made it through in tact did so because of legitimacy and compliance.I'd love to see the look on your mechanics face when you call him a scam! As he throws his wrench down and says "fine, you do it."I'm sure there are scams still out there, but wow some of you people are nuts. Creditors would love for you to continue paying 10% of your principal while the rest goes to interest as you make your monthly minimum payments. The mechanic will charge you a fee, because he also has to put food on his table. He will also feel good at night if he can provide a solution to another human's problems. How can you fault him for that? How can you fault any company for doing a similar act? What jobs do you hold? Can your customers do what you do on their own? Does that make you a scam? Do you introduce yourself as such? "hi, I'm the new IT guy, but I'm a scam because you could technically fix it yourself."Seriously people, get real, not everyone is out to get you. If you don't want to be a part of it, then stay in debt for the rest of your lives, then pass it along to your family when you're gone. I guess some of you think that's a better option. Edited March 22, 2012 by Ahart04 Typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJT Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 To most: You think that because a company is providing a service that you can do on your own it is a scam??? Are you all serious??What about an oil change shop? What about a painter? Decorator? A chef? A dog trainer? What about a negotiator with industry connections and experience? What a half brained argument that is.If you told someone that you could cut their 40k in credit card debt to 25k, fee included, would you think that is unreasonable? Sure, you could attempt to negotiate yourself. You could also attempt to represent yourself in a murder trial but is that a wise decision? Sure, debt settlement companies have had nasty reputations in the past, but this was mostly due to no federal regulation. Now, however, since October 2010, there ARE federal regulations, and most of the larger organizations that made it through in tact did so because of legitimacy and compliance.I'd love to see the look on your mechanics face when you call him a scam! As he throws his wrench down and says "fine, you do it."I'm sure there are scams still out there, but wow some of you people are nuts. Creditors would love for you to continue paying 10% of your principal while the rest goes to interest as you make your monthly minimum payments. The mechanic will charge you a fee, because he also has to put food on his table. He will also feel good at night if he can provide a solution to another human's problems. How can you fault him for that? How can you fault any company for doing a similar act? What jobs do you hold? Can your customers do what you do on their own? Does that make you a scam? Do you introduce yourself as such? "hi, I'm the new IT guy, but I'm a scam because you could technically fix it yourself."Seriously people, get real, not everyone is out to get you. If you don't want to be a part of it, then stay in debt for the rest of your lives, then pass it along to your family when you're gone. I guess some of you think that's a better option.Lawyers and mechanics both have specific, identifiable, difficult to obtain knolwedge that enables them to charge money for what they do. What knowledge does any debt settlement company have that is not available to me through a google search? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ioalot Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 Debt settlement is definitely something almost everyone can do themselves.I did it and spent countless hours scouring the internet for info, hey, Im unemployed and had the time.There are those who don't have the time or negotiating skills, or are just too scared to attempt this or even know this can be done, so a company who will perform this for them is a reasonable route.As far as scams go, tell me you have never heard of say a contractor taking someones money and not completing the job... a doctor misdiagnosing a disease.There are people who make a business out of picking up dog crap from peoples homes, not much knowledge there, yet people still hire them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
options Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 (edited) ioalot is right. You can easily bake your own pizza, but I still pay others to bake mine every now and then. Just because there's no formal academy-level studies of debt settlement does not mean everyone has the negotiation skills or the possibility of delving into industry practices enough to get the same results as someone who does this for a living. I've chosen to do it myself but I can certainly understand those who choose not to. Edited March 23, 2012 by options Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJT Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 As far as scams go, tell me you have never heard of say a contractor taking someones money and not completing the job... a doctor misdiagnosing a disease.There are people who make a business out of picking up dog crap from peoples homes, not much knowledge there, yet people still hire them.Sure, I would call it a ripoff instead of a scam. I don't think the business should be outlawed, I just think its a waste of money, like the lottery or scented candles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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