FAQ

Q. When does F.I.R.E. begin settling my debt?
A. Once you have retained our services, Cease-and-Desist letters & Power of Attorney will be sent to your creditors notifying them that you are being represented by us. F.I.R.E. will then begin negotiations. However, we can only settle each debt once the settlement funds are available. This usually takes approximately six (6) to nine (9) months on your first account.

Q. If I miss a monthly payment to F.I.R.E. will I be canceled from the program?
A. Not necessarily. Simply call our Customer Service Department and we can make alternative arrangements with you.

Q. How do I find out the progress of my settlements?
A. You can call us at (866) 767-3473, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time to speak with a Customer Service Representative.

Q. Are my creditors going to continue to call me?
A. They may, however, included in your Welcome Package are Cease-and-Desist letters that are sent to your creditors via certified mail requesting them to stop contacting you. Most creditors honor these requests, but some aggressive creditors may not. Just remember, if a creditor calls you, you are not to engage in any conversations with them, but only refer them to our Call Center at (866) 767-3473, then hang up. If you talk to your creditors, they will try and deceive you and intimidate you into making a payment. When you try and negotiate with your creditors this impairs our negotiation strategy. If a collector calls you after the receive a Cease-and-Desist letter, they are in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and will be liable for a one thousand dollar ($1,000) fine.

Q. Will my creditors call me at work?
A. Your creditors may attempt to contact you at work; however, once you verbally asked them to stop from calling you at work, they are obligated to stop. If a creditor continues to call, we will refer you to the State Attorney General’s Office and to the Federal Trade Commission.

Q. Will my creditors continued to contact me by mail?
A. Your creditors may also attempt to correspond with you by mail - this is allowed. If you receive any correspondence from your creditors, please forward it to F.I.R.E. Keep in mind that your creditors are also sending copies of correspondence and statements to our office as well.

Q. Will this program have a negative effect on my credit?
A. All debt management programs, such as, Consumer Credit Counseling, Debt Consolidation as well as Debt Settlement may have a negative effect on your credit. However, with our program, once your individual accounts are negotiated and settled, we request your creditors to report these accounts satisfied and in good standing. Furthermore, we at F.I.R.E. offer a Credit Correction Program to dispute all the negative information on your credit reports.

Q. Why should I use F.I.R.E to settle my debt instead of handling it myself?
A. Our team of negotiators has extensive experience and knowledge in negotiating debt. We have an impeccable relationship with creditors and collection agencies, which are usually unwavering in negotiating with the consumer directly. Furthermore, we have knowledge of both the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to assist protecting your rights under these laws.

Q. Who do I call if I have a question about the program or a problem with a creditor?
A. You can contact our Customer Service Department directly at (866) 767-3473 – any representative will have access to your file.

Q. Do I have to include all of my creditors into the program for settlement?
A. No. We recommend that you keep open at least one credit card for emergency purposes. Any accounts that are included in the program will have to be closed immediately. Creditors will not settle accounts that are still open. You should keep one credit card open for emergency use only. Please be sure that the card you keep out of the program does not have the same issuing banks as any included in the program. (This may negatively affect our negotiating power on that particular account.)

Q. How long will it take me to become debt-free?
A. It typically takes about 18 - 30 months. However, it could be much sooner depending on each individual situation.

Q. What if my creditors will not settle?
A. Creditors know that if they don't settle even for a fraction of the debt, they will most likely get nothing. Creditors know that at a certain point, they have to take what they can get! Most creditors are willing to settle very quickly. In the rare event that a creditor will not settle with our offer, they will return with a counter offer that will still be favorable to you. Creditors know that if you choose bankruptcy, then they will receive absolutely nothing, and that is what your creditors are trying to avoid.

Q. Will F.I.R.E. stop late/over-the- limit fees and interest from accruing on my accounts?
A. We cannot stop a creditor from adding interest or late/over-the-limit fees to an account. However, your individual program will reflect those fees and/or interest, and is incorporated into the settlement. Because we often negotiate the debt down to a fraction of what you owe, your savings are usually far greater than any interest or late fees that can accrue.