Can I get my credit card debt written off? (2024)

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms.

MoneyWatch: Managing Your Money

Can I get my credit card debt written off? (2)

Credit card debt is a common problemnationwide. The level of credit card debt consumers face recently reached record highs, according to theU.S. Government Accountability Office, and Americans now owe more than $1 trillion to credit card companies.

"Many Americans today are faced with weathering increased costs from higher-than-average inflation over the past two years, while living on an income that is just not keeping up with those inflation rates," says Patrick Yono, founder of Sure Life Financial. "As a result, individuals and families are facing more personal debt than many have ever seen in their lifetime."

So what can you do if you're struggling to find a way to pay off your debt? Do you have to deal with high-interest credit card debt for the foreseeable future or is there a way out?

Get in touch with a debt relief expert to help eliminate your credit card debt today.

Can I get my credit card debt written off?

The simple answer to this question is yes, you can get your credit card debt written off — at least in certain cases. But as you may imagine, there's nothing simple about that process, which often includes negotiations with credit card companies and debt collection agencies. In some cases, it could even include a visit to your local courthouse.

That said, it's not impossible. Here's how you can do it.

How to get your credit card debt written off

Although it may be possible for you to get your credit card debt written off on your own, you'll likely find it difficult to do so. As such, it's best to reach out to a debt relief service to assist you in the process. There are two ways debt relief services can help get rid of your credit card debt:

Debt settlement service

Debt settlement services may not be able to get 100% of your debt written off, but they're often able to wipe out a substantial portion of it. Here's how the process works:

  • Payments: You immediately stop paying your creditors when you sign up for a debt settlement program. Instead, you send your payments to the debt settlement company. The debt settlement company will store your payments in a special-purpose savings account until you have enough money to settle your debts.
  • Settlement negotiations: The debt settlement company starts negotiations with your lenders as soon as your special purpose savings account has enough of a balance to pay the settlements they reach. Although lenders are under no obligation to accept a settlement offer, they often do.
  • The write-off: The debt settlement company pays the lender the settled amount, clearing the debt. The lender then writes off the balance that wasn't paid for as part of the settlement offer. Keep in mind that the amount of money the lender writes off is considered income for tax purposes. So, you'll need to report your settled debts to the IRS.

Debt settlement offers relief in many ways. Not only does it typically result in the reduction of your credit card balances, it often leads to more affordable payments. Moreover, you'll likely pay your debts off far faster than you would if you were to continue making minimum payments.

On the other hand, debt settlement involves foregoing payments to your lenders for several months, if not years. When your debt is settled, it will be reported as such to the credit reporting agencies. So, debt settlement will likely have a detrimental impact on your credit score.

Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy is another way to get your credit card debt written off. Although this is an effective option, you should only use it as a last resort. After all, bankruptcy comes with a significantly negative impact to your credit score that will likely take several years to recover from.

Learn more about your debt relief options here now.

Consider debt consolidation

If you want to get out of debt as quickly as possible, but don't want to deal with the significant credit implications associated with having your debt written off, consider debt consolidation. There are two common ways to consolidate debts:

  • Debt consolidation loan: You could take out a loan to consolidate high interest credit card debt. If you do, be sure the new loan's interest is lower than the interest you pay on your credit cards.
  • Debt consolidation service: Debt consolidation services typically negotiate lower interest rates and fixed payment plans with your lenders on your behalf. You send a monthly payment to the consolidation service and they send individual payments to your lenders until your debt is paid in full.

The bottom line

If you're struggling with debt, "it is always a good idea to seek the advice of a financial professional," says Yono. An expert "may even offer you alternate solutions that are more beneficial once they get to know you and your specific circ*mstances." Get in touch with a debt relief expert today to learn more about your options.

Joshua Rodriguez

Joshua Rodriguez is a personal finance and investing writer with a passion for his craft. When he's not working, he enjoys time with his wife, two kids, two dogs and two ducks.

Can I get my credit card debt written off? (2024)

FAQs

Can I get my credit card debt written off? ›

There are multiple debt solutions that can allow you to write credit card debt off, including: Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) Debt Relief Order (DRO) Bankruptcy.

Can you really write off credit card debt? ›

If you fail to make payments on your credit card, the credit card company may declare your debt uncollectable. This process is referred to as a credit card debt "write-off" (also called a credit card "charge-off"). Writing off a debt allows a credit card company to report it as a loss and reduce its tax liability.

Can you ask for forgiveness on credit card debt? ›

Credit card companies rarely forgive your entire debt. But you might be able to settle the debt for less and get a portion forgiven. Most credit card companies won't provide forgiveness for all of your credit card debt. But they will occasionally accept a smaller amount to settle the balance due and forgive the rest.

How to get out of $40,000 credit card debt? ›

Options For Paying Off Substantial Credit Card Debt. There are a number of strategies to pay off large amounts of credit card debt. They include personal loans, 0% APR balance transfer cards, debt settlement, bankruptcy, credit counseling and debt management plans. You may be able to use more than one of these options.

How can I get my credit card debt cleared? ›

Outside of bankruptcy or debt settlement, there are really no other ways to completely wipe away credit card debt without paying. Making minimum payments and slowly chipping away at the balance is the norm for most people in debt, and that may be the best option in many situations.

How can I legally get rid of credit card debt? ›

Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy wipes out unsecured debt such as credit cards, while Chapter 13 bankruptcy lets you restructure debts into a payment plan over 3 to 5 years and may be best if you have assets you want to retain.

Does credit card debt ever get written off? ›

Generally, writing off some or all of your credit card debt is done through a debt solution. There are multiple debt solutions that can allow you to write credit card debt off, including: Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) Debt Relief Order (DRO)

What percentage will credit card companies settle for? ›

What percentage will credit card companies settle for? Creditors often accept 20% to 100% of the outstanding balance. The actual amount they are willing to settle for depends on individual circ*mstances and negotiation skills.

How do you legally forgive debt? ›

Debts may be canceled in a variety of ways, including through negotiations between the creditor and the debtor, debt relief programs, and personal bankruptcy. Debts forgiven by a creditor are generally considered taxable income.

Is the government helping with credit card debt? ›

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a government-sponsored program for credit card debt relief.

How do I legally discharge my credit card debt? ›

Chapter 7 bankruptcy: This fairly quick legal process can wipe out your unsecured debts through what's called a “discharge.” Chapter 13 bankruptcy: Chapter 13 can also result in a discharge, but typically only after you complete a 3-5 year repayment plan.

What happens if someone dies with a lot of credit card debt? ›

When someone dies, their debts are generally paid out of the money or property left in the estate. If the estate can't pay it and there's no one who shared responsibility for the debt, it may go unpaid. Generally, when a person dies, their money and property will go towards repaying their debt.

How many people have $50,000 in credit card debt? ›

Running up $50,000 in credit card debt is not impossible. About two million Americans do it every year. Paying off that bill?

Is there such a thing as debt forgiveness? ›

Debt forgiveness is a process where a creditor pardons a debtor from part or all of their outstanding debt. Various types of debt may qualify for forgiveness. Debt forgiveness can offer relief from overwhelming financial burdens, but it does have downsides. There are alternative options for managing debt.

How to settle a written off credit card? ›

To remove a write-off in CIBIL, you need to pay back the total outstanding amount. After repayment, contact your lender to update this information with CIBIL. If such a status persists erroneously, raise a dispute with CIBIL to have it rectified.

Is writing off debt a good idea? ›

Getting a write-off on your debt is likely to have a negative impact on your ability to get credit in the future for up to six years. See our Credit reference agencies fact sheet and credit reports for more information.

Do you get a tax break for paying off credit card debt? ›

If you've racked up some credit card debt and are paying interest each month, you might be looking for ways to offset your debt with deductions come tax season. However, while the IRS once considered credit card interest tax-deductible, that's no longer the case.

Is the credit card debt relief program legit? ›

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a government-sponsored program for credit card debt relief.

Can you really get debt written off? ›

Creditors can agree to a reduced payment over a limited period, with the rest of the balance written off in some circ*mstances. This is often done using legal procedures but might be agreed by an individual creditor on your request.

Is there a program to write off credit card debt? ›

There aren't any government-backed credit card relief programs, so any claims otherwise are likely scams. While you are unlikely to have the debt completely forgiven, it may be possible to work out a lower payment plan, have the company write off a portion of the debt or lower your interest rate for a set period.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: The Hon. Margery Christiansen

Last Updated:

Views: 6227

Rating: 5 / 5 (50 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: The Hon. Margery Christiansen

Birthday: 2000-07-07

Address: 5050 Breitenberg Knoll, New Robert, MI 45409

Phone: +2556892639372

Job: Investor Mining Engineer

Hobby: Sketching, Cosplaying, Glassblowing, Genealogy, Crocheting, Archery, Skateboarding

Introduction: My name is The Hon. Margery Christiansen, I am a bright, adorable, precious, inexpensive, gorgeous, comfortable, happy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.