We all like to deal with likeminded people when it comes to life. It helps us feel understood and allows us to better trust the people we’re dealing with. The same goes for debt management companies. If you’re a Christian that’s dealing with debt, you may have been pleasantly surprised to learn that there are a number of Christian debt consolidation companies out there promising to make you debt free.
The fact that this company has ‘Christian’ in its title may make it seem trustworthy and dedicated to helping you get out of the weeds of debt. But beware, unfortunately lots of these companies turn out to be scammers who prey on vulnerable people who appreciate the fact that they are ‘Christian-based’.
As the saying goes, never fully believe what you read on the internet. Instead, do your homework and make sure that the company you’re dealing with is legitimate and honest. If you’re interested in finding out more about Christian debt consolidation pros and cons, keep reading on.
Why You Should Be Careful
Debt is a scary thing to deal with, so it pays to have someone you trust on your side when trying to become debt free. Unfortunately, some predatory companies take advantage of this and set up bogus companies with ‘Christian’ in the title in order to lure vulnerable people in.
The sad truth is that not all of these companies are on your side. Lots of them aren’t even Christian at all! They are simply con artists working to swindle innocent people out of hard earned money. It’s important to remember that anyone or any company can claim that they are Christian without it being true. Don’t rely just on company reviews when researching a Christian debt consolidation company, make sure you’ve looked at multiple corners of the internet before even agreeing to speak with them.
How Do I Know It’s a Scam?
While there are lots of debt consolidation scams out there, some are legitimate with the ultimate goal of helping you in the long run. But how can you tell what quantifies as suspicious behavior? These are typical signs of companies running a scam:
- They guarantee your creditors will forgive your debt. One thing that bogus companies prey on is giving people false promises that fill them with hope. A common lie that many suspicious companies tell people is that they will be able to get all of your debt forgiven if you decide to work with them. This is impossible! While it may happen if you’re lucky, not a single debt relief company can guarantee this for you. It can be tempting to believe such news as it leaves you feeling hopeful and on the path to becoming debt free, but it’s likely a scam that will end up hurting you in the long run.
- They ask for payment upfront. If one of these so called ‘Christian’ debt consolidation companies is requesting you to pay before providing any services, this is most likely a scam as this is an illegal practice. Don’t be fooled by complicated language and false promises – this is illegal and you shouldn’t do it!
- They tell you to ignore the companies you owe money to. This is a common tactic scam artists use to swindle people out of money. They tell you to avoid speaking with the original companies you owe money to as it could damage the ongoing debt relief process. In fact, when it comes to Christian debt consolidation pros and cons, as you can see, there are far more cons in the game than professionals.
- The company refuses to provide you with information about who they are. This is a huge red flag! If a company won’t share further details about them and how they operate until you send them over your credit card information or and balances, this is likely a scam. Most reputable companies are happy to provide you with extensive information about their company and how they operate before proceeding with a debt consolidation consultation.
- They tell you they can get your monthly payments lowered. Similar to promising that your debt will be forgiven, no agency in the whole of the United States has the ability to guarantee a lower monthly bill. While this can be achieved through expert negotiation and planning in the long run, it’s never a sure bet in the beginning. Trustworthy companies will be up front with you about this before agreeing to work with you, scam artists won’t.
Read The Reviews
The internet can be difficult to navigate. It’s hard to know what’s real and what’s fake, but there are steps you can take to find out some truths about a company. If you decide to work with a Christian debt consolidation company, make sure you look up their reviews on multiple platforms before agreeing to work with them. The important thing to look for are multiple 1 star reviews that detail how the company is a scam. Don’t be fooled by lots of 5 star reviews either. A member of the suspicious company can easily fabricate these in order to drown out the negative reviews that oust them for being a scam.
If you’re still feeling lost after looking high and low on the internet, it can be a good idea to check in with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Still, it’s important to note that the reviews on the BBB website have not been verified by them and have been provided by a third-party. It can be difficult knowing whom you can trust nowadays!
Stay Safe
Unfortunately suspicious companies pretending to be sympathetic Christians tend to prey on the most vulnerable of people. These can often times be people who are going through a financial hardship who are strong in their faith or elderly people who are confused about who they can trust and who can’t. For this reason, it’s important to keep you and your loved ones safe.
If you have friends or family members that could fall victim to this type of scam, it’s important to have a conversation with them about ways to stay safe. Make sure you point out obvious signs of a scam and encourage them to seek help through someone they can trust in order to find out whether the company is legitimate or not. The last thing anyone wants is for them or their loved ones to fall victim to such a horrid act.
Think Again About Christian Debt Consolidation
While there are lots of Christian debt consolidation companies out there who can be trusted to help you become debt-free, there are also lots of suspicious companies operated by scam artists who use the ‘Christian’ element to lure vulnerable people in. Make sure you do your homework about the company you’re going to work with, lookout for signs of suspicious behavior and always make sure to validate the company with further information about them before pursuing debt consolidation. There is much to consider when thinking about Christian debt consolidation pros and cons, but if you’re careful and do your homework, you won’t have much to worry about.
