How to Get Debt Relief in Oregon

Dena Standley | October 19, 2022

Legal Expert, Paralegal
Dena Standley, BA

Dena Standley is a seasoned paralegal with more than 20 years of experience in legal research and writing, having received a certification as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal from Southern Technical College.

Edited by Hannah Locklear

Editor at SoloSuit
Hannah Locklear, BA

Hannah Locklear is SoloSuit’s Marketing and Impact Manager. With an educational background in Linguistics, Spanish, and International Development from Brigham Young University, Hannah has also worked as a legal support specialist for several years.

SoloSuit is on its way to rescue you from debt

Summary: If you're struggling with debt in Oregon, SoloSuit can help you find the relief you need.

Owing debt can quickly snowball out of control, especially when you encounter life changes such as a sudden medical expense, the loss of a job, or the dissolution of a marriage or partnership. Credit cards, medical bills, payday loans, and other forms of credit can create what feels like an avalanche of debt.

Fortunately, individuals who reside in Oregon have numerous options when it comes to debt relief. Many companies promote themselves as debt relief or debt consolidation specialists. Oregon law has taken steps to protect consumers from predatory practices by debt relief companies.

Oregon law and debt relief

Oregon law establishes maximum fees debt management companies can charge depending on the service they provide to consumers. This includes:

A maximum initial counseling fee that does not exceed $50
A maximum fee of $50 for initial consumer education
If the company is able to reduce the amount of debt a consumer owes, it can charge a maximum of 7.5 percent of the total amount of the reduction after the debt is paid.

Such laws help protect consumers, allowing them to work with debt management companies that can provide education about responsible debt management without taking advantage of consumers who are already under duress due to debt.

Oregon law also establishes a statute of limitations on most debt. For most types of debt in Oregon, debt collectors have up to six years to bring a suit against you. After that period expires, no collection activity can continue. The statute of limitations applies to debts such as credit cards, mortgage debts, medical debts, and contract debts. Some types of debts, such as state taxes, have no statute of limitations.

Oregon Statute of Limitations on Debt
Debt Type	Deadline
Rent	1 years
Written	6 years
Oral	6 years
Judgments	10 years
Source: Findlaw

Learn about these debt relief options

There are various forms of debt relief available to consumers, but it's not all sunshine and roses. There are consequences to utilizing debt relief tools, and some debt relief companies want to tout their success while glossing over the negative side of debt relief.

Use a debt management plan

Debt management plans allow you to repay your unsecured debts, such as credit cards, often at reduced interest rates and reduced or waived fees. A credit counseling agency will work with your creditors to negotiate reduced fees, and you make a single monthly payment to the agency. The agency then pays your creditors.

In most instances, your accounts will be closed, and you will surrender your access to credit cards until the plan is complete. Closing accounts often results in a lower credit score, and these plans have a low rate of success. If you decide that such a debt management plan is the right course for you, make sure the company you choose to work with is accredited.

Consider debt settlement

Debt settlement, using a third party, can be a slippery alternative to bankruptcy or a debt management plan. Debt settlement revolves around getting your creditors to accept less money than you owe. The damage to your credit can rival that of bankruptcy, but if you are missing payments on debt, you are probably already living the consequences of bad credit.

Debt settlement is something you can do without a third party. Solosuit can help decide if debt management or debt settlement is right for you. The following video discusses debt settlement and its impact on your credit score.

File for bankruptcy as a last resort

Bankruptcy is one extreme form of debt relief, which can leave a lasting scar on your credit score. While it is the right solution for some people, bankruptcy should be a last resort. When you have exhausted all other forms of debt relief, one of the two types of personal bankruptcy might be right for you.

The two most common types of bankruptcy are Chapter 13 and Chapter 7. Both are filed in federal bankruptcy court. Filing fees and attorney fees can make bankruptcy an expensive option. For more information about fees, visit this website.

When to seek debt relief

Debt management, debt settlement, or even bankruptcy may be the right choice for you if you fall into the following categories:

You recognize there is little hope of repaying the unsecured debt you owe. Examples include credit cars, personal loans, payday loans, and medical bills.
The total of the unsecured debt you owe equals half or more of your gross income.

While repayment is technically possible, it will be a long, difficult journey to repay the debt you owe if it is more than half your gross income.

However, if you don't fall into one of the two categories above, but are struggling to pay your unsecured debts, consider a do-it-yourself plan. Crafting such a plan gives you the option to combine debt settlement and debt management into a workable solution for both yourself and your creditors.

Beware of promises that sound too good to be true

In 2020, Oregon ranked #42 in average credit card debt per person. That is a list where you want to find yourself at the bottom. However, the average Oregonian still carries $4,681.00 in credit card debt. This number is expected to rise as consumers continue a post-pandemic spending spree.

If credit card debt has forced you into considering a debt relief option, know you are not alone. Millions of Americans owe substantial credit card debt, and many of them are facing the same fears and concerns about repaying the debt.

Unfortunately, there are always those willing to prey on people in vulnerable positions. If you are being harassed by creditors, struggling with money, and burdened by debt, then a company promising to reduce or erase your debt sounds like the answer you need. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns consumers to be aware of the potential scams in the debt relief arena. Warning signs include:

An attempt to charge fees upfront before providing a service
Offers a guarantee that it reduces unsecured debt
Claims the ability to stop all debt collection attempts
Touts a “new government program” to do away with personal credit card debt
Guarantees that unsecured debts will be paid off for pennies on the dollar

Legitimate debt consolidation and debt relief companies know not to rely on fake promises. Reputable companies have a working relationship with most credit card companies and have established programs to help consumers reduce their unsecured debt.

Whether you decide to work with a debt management company in Oregon or create your own debt management plan, you should know the pros and cons of the plan before you get started. SoloSuit offers a variety of blogs and informational videos to help you determine what path is right for you.

What is SoloSuit?

SoloSuit makes it easy to fight debt collectors.

You can use SoloSuit to respond to a debt lawsuit, to send letters to collectors, and even to settle a debt.

SoloSuit's Answer service is a step-by-step web-app that asks you all the necessary questions to complete your Answer. Upon completion, we'll have an attorney review your document and we'll file it for you.

Respond with SoloSuit

"First time getting sued by a debt collector and I was searching all over YouTube and ran across SoloSuit, so I decided to buy their services with their attorney reviewed documentation which cost extra but it was well worth it! SoloSuit sent the documentation to the parties and to the court which saved me time from having to go to court and in a few weeks the case got dismissed!" – James

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>>Read the FastCompany article: Debt Lawsuits Are Complicated: This Website Makes Them Simpler To Navigate