About the I.A.P.D.A.

 

 

 

Membership in the IAPDA provides training, certification, debt settlement industry knowledge, legistlative updates and important peer credibility to our members.

 

The International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators grew from the commitment of its members to the establishment and maintenance of the highest standards of ethics, professional conduct, and responsible trading, for members operating in the Debt Settlement industry. The evolution of the services provided, and the rapid deployment of Internet and related technology, has meant that this sector of the market has grown in size and range of services. This Professional Third Party Debt Arbitration/Settlement sector now handles a much greater depth of services than at any other time in history.

 

A commitment to our Code of Ethics has helped to build the IAPDA to be a primary, specialist voice for the Debt Arbitration/Settlement industry in North America. That voice is important to the Debt Arbitration profession. We provide a resource focused on ensuring fairness, equity and professionalism in the conduct of our members. The IAPDA provides a point of contact for legislators, community and consumer interest groups and industry.

 

The IAPDA seeks to differentiate our members and to provide some guarantees to users and all businesses that, as a group of professionals representing this sector in the North American market, we are committed to our Code of Ethics and to maintaining the highest standards of professional conduct.

 

IAPDA Certified Debt Specialists are respected professionals in the Debt Settlement industry. Clients, creditors/collectors and collection attorneys all recognize the commitment of our members to training, certification and membership in the IAPDA. Leading Debt Settlement professionals fully understand the value and the return received for their initial business investment in training, certification and membership.

 

IAPDA membership is comprised of individuals with firms of all sizes from small (1-4 members) to many of North America's leading and largest Debt Arbitration & Settlement firms. We are the only Certification program focused on Certifying individual Debt Professionals rather than the Debt Settlement company. See our Member Links page for firms with IAPDA Certified members.

 

We hope that users of the services our members provide, will support the individuals and organizations that meet the tests for membership of the IAPDA. These members share a commitment to professionalism, business ethics and community values.

 

>> Learn More About The Professional Debt Arbitration Training Program

(the training course Table of Contents)
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Our Featured Question & Answer of the Day For Tuesday

 

Q. Is Debt Settlement like Bankruptcy?

 

A: There is a major difference between Debt Settlement and Bankruptcy in many areas. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy remains on your credit report for a minimum of 10 years, whereas your charged-off accounts (the derogatory accounts) may remain on your credit file for only 7 years. Sometimes, these may be removed by a competent credit repair firm earlier. But be advised that most credit repair companies will just take your money and not deliver the promised results.

 

Never enter a Debt Settlement program, under the assumption that you will get the negative accounts removed in less than 7 years. To be safe, base your decision on the 7 year rule, then, if you are successful in removing negative accounts earlier, it will just be frosting on the cake. 

 

Bankruptcy reporting on your credit file may also affect other areas of your life. Bankruptcy is a PUBLIC RECORD. Most counties report recent bankruptcies in the newspaper every month or every quarter. The is also a publication that most lenders subscribe to the provide them all the recent filings. Bankruptcies filings can be found at the county registry as it is considered public information.

 

So its important to understand that a bankruptcy is not easy to hide from and is considered public information.Most employers pull credit files on potential candidates. It is likely that the candidate without bankruptcy will have a better chance at the position. Additionally, some employers will not hire an individual with a bankruptcy on their credit file, period. Lastly, some positions will absolutely exclude a candidate with a bankruptcy. This is especially true for security jobs, high level management jobs, jobs at banks and financial institution and many other types of positions.

 

Bankruptcy can also cause issues with renting. Many landlords will not rent to individuals with a bankruptcy file. While, landlords cannot discriminate, they may legally not rent to someone based on their credit profile.

 

Bankruptcy can also exclude you from loans in the future. While its true that some creditors will grant credit after a person files bankruptcy, (although there is typically a waiting period) some creditors will not grant a loan to anyone with a bankruptcy on their credit file. Most loan applications ask if you have filed bankruptcy in the past 10 years, and some actually ask if you have ever filed for bankruptcy. Although the question – have you ever filed for bankruptcy may not be a lawful question, nonetheless, if you do not answer it, it will raise a red flag and if you answer “no” you will not be truthful.

 

No matter how you cut it, bankruptcy can affect many areas of your life and should be avoided at all cost. It should be your last resort. You should not file bankruptcy until all your options have been exhausted or at the very least explored. Unless you have come to the decision that you have no other viable options.