IAPDA - International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators - The Industry Leading Professional Debt Arbitration & Debt Settlement Certification Training Program

Listed below are several links that will be of interest to IAPDA members and prospective members.

To start, we’d like to mention that Debt Settlement is a true alternative to bankruptcy, and the Debt Settlement industry is very different in its scope of services than Consumer Credit Counseling or Debt Consolidation Programs. What we do is settle debt, not consolidate it – this is often a much more attractive route for consumers to take.

The Debt Settlement industry is one of the fastest growing segments of the financial services sector. This is largely due to the many benefits and advantages afforded to debtor clients that are not found with other debt relief options.

Legislation and Legal Compliance

A version of the Uniform Debt-Management Services Act (UDMSA) is in effect in a number of states, is under consideration in many other state legislatures and is proposed for enactment in all 50 States. IAPDA certification is approved or awaiting approval in all states with a Uniform Debt Management Services Act (UDMSA).

**Note: Selecting the right cases to take on is an important component of a successful debt settlement practice, our members operate in all 50 States and 10 Provinces.

We provide IAPDA members with direction to access the most current information available regarding legal compliance for debt settlement companies.

We also recommend to IAPDA members who are also company owners and/or company managers that their company joins one or both of the industry trade associations (noted below).

The IAPDA supports the excellent and ongoing work of the following two Debt Settlement industry trade associations on the complicated and changing landscape of legislation and legal compliance on both state and federal levels.

We strongly recommend to our IAPDA members who are also company owners and/or management that their company joins one or both of these trade associations.

» United States Organizations for Bankruptcy Alternatives

USOBA was founded by leading members in the debt negotiation industry seeking representation outside of credit counseling and bankruptcy law. USOBA brings individual representation together as a united front to protect the debt negotiation industry and to secure its future.

» The Association of Settlement Companies

TASC’s™ goals are to promote good practice in the debt settlement industry, protect the interests of consumer debtors, and lobby on behalf of debt settlement companies on the federal and state level.

*New August '09 »

Settlement Research

Academic study shows consumer benefits of debt settlement

*New September '09 »

Settlement Study

Read how debt settlement may help heal the U.S. economy

The MSTARS marketing and compliancy focused virtual debt settlement sales training sessions and workshops cover everything from entry level sales training, advanced agent sales training, professional communications development, compliant sales training regarding the marketing of a debt settlement program and are designed for all debt settlement industry professionals. Compliant debt settlement sales training takes the known laws regarding the marketing of a debt settlement program and teaches debt settlement professionals how to not misrepresent the facets of their program. The MSTARS virtual training sessions and workshops are recommended for IAPDA members as additional and ongoing industry specific education.