Century Negotiations executives say results from a Consumer Reports survey indicate some progress concerning how credit card companies treat their customers; but debt collection complaints may hit another record high.

North Huntington, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/22/2011 -- Executives at Century Negotiations, Inc. are applauding the CARD Act after a Consumer Reports survey revealed signs of progress for credit card customers.

The improved consumer experiences are a result of The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act (CARD Act) which took effect February 2010. The act was created to ensure fairness and transparency by prohibiting abusive practices and making credit card agreements and terms easier for consumers to understand.

Consumers are paying down their balances and facing fewer penalties such as higher rates, late payment fees, and canceled cards, according to the Consumer Reports National Research Center. Some of the results include the following:

- Median debt level on credit cards was $3,414 (down from $3,793 in 2010).
- 39 percent of cardholders have revolving balances (down from 42 percent in 2010).
- 51 percent were highly satisfied with the service they receive from their credit cards (up from 45 percent in 2010).
- 12 percent said credit card companies treated them unfairly (down from 15 percent in 2010).

Credit card companies are also making it easier for consumers to borrow. Only 14 percent were denied a credit card in 2011, down from 24 percent in 2010. Additional research from Mintel Comperemedia indicates that 23 percent of credit card offers included cash incentives this year, up from one percent in 2007.

"This report reveals some much needed and welcome news from the credit card industry—which is hopefully the beginning of a real change in behavior from credit card companies; but consumer should be wary of easy credit and attractive credit card offers," warned Century Negotiations President Amy Michalo-Rojas. "Many will offer bonuses and low rates, but the fine print may tell a different story."

Instead, she said, consumers should concentrate on avoiding new credit card debt entirely. Credit cards remain one of the "lowest rated services ever analyzed by the Consumer Reports National Research Center," according to a statement from the group.

Moreover, credit card holders who cannot meet their payment obligations will have to deal with the debt collection industry, which continues to receive more complaints than any other industry, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC's annual FDCPA (Fair Debt Collections Practices Act) report tracks complaints and lawsuits. While the 2011 report is not due out for several months, FDCPA lawsuits are already poised to exceed last year's numbers.

"Our hope is that the continually record-breaking FDCPA complaints and lawsuits are a result of more consumers understanding the law and standing up to unscrupulous debt collection agencies," said Michalo-Rojas. "However these numbers are entirely too high, and consumers should do what they can to avoid adding new debt."

She added that while many struggling consumers strive to meet their financial obligations, let alone avoid new debt, it is sometimes not possible. Unemployment, medical problems, and divorce are common occurrences that push households and individuals over the financial tipping point. She encourages these consumers to learn about debt settlement and Century Negotiations, a debt resolution company serving consumers struggling to repay credit card bills and other debts, by visiting http://www.CenturyNI.com.

About Century Negotiations, Inc.
Century Negotiations, Inc. (CNI) is a company dedicated to helping individuals and families rid their lives of unsecured debt. CNI specializes in negotiation, and has negotiated settlements on thousands of accounts. Last year we settled over $100 million of debt not only for our own clients, but also for clients of other debt settlement companies. For more information call 1-888-913-8784 or visit http://www.CenturyNI.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Century Negotiations General Council Wesley Young speaks at Asian American Bar Association panel with executives from Travelocity.com, TIAA-CREF and others.

North Huntington, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/13/2011 -- Century Negotiations, Inc.'s General Counsel Wesley Young was a speaker on a panel to discuss how to become in-house counsel and grow a career.

The panel, entitled "Getting Over the In-House Hump: Specific Counsel on Becoming General Counsel or Climbing to the Next Step," took place September 21, 2011 at the offices of Haynes & Boone, LLP in Dallas, Texas and was hosted by the Dallas Asian American Bar Association.

Panel members shared what experiences helped them most in their career, how to deal with corporate executives, and differences between working at small and large companies. In attendance were both attorneys looking to make the jump to in-house counsel and those already in-house looking to grow their careers.

"I was pleased with the turn-out for the event," said Young, "And I'm sure my fellow-speakers would agree that the diversity of our experiences helped those in attendance understand the variety of potential challenges, as well as the rewards of this career path.

Other speakers on the panel with Young included:

Richard Cheng, General Counsel for Senior Care Centers;

Caren Lock, Regional VP and Associate General Counsel for TIAA-CREF Financial Services;

Jonathan Perkel, Senior VP and General Counsel for Travelocity.com;

and Joyce T. Roth, Vice President of Legal Affairs for AmeriSphere.

John Ansbach, Chief Legal Officer at Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) was scheduled but unable to attend the event.

Young is past president of the Dallas Asian American Bar Association (DAABA) and chair of the Foundation Committee of DAABA. He also serves on the Executive Board of the American Fair Credit Council.

"It's an honor being able to assist attorneys with interests similar to my own," said Young. "I have often benefited from the guidance of others, which is why I look for opportunities to return the favor. Whether it's enhancing professional knowledge for attorneys or expanding personal finance understanding for struggling consumers, I enjoy the chance to share my experiences and advice.."

Young is general counsel for Century Negotiations, a debt resolution company serving consumers struggling to repay credit card bills and other debts. Learn more by visiting http://www.CenturyNI.com.

About Century Negotiations, Inc.
Century Negotiations, Inc. (CNI) is a company dedicated to helping individuals and families rid their lives of unsecured debt. CNI specializes in negotiation, and has negotiated settlements on thousands of accounts. Last year we settled over $100 million not only for our own clients, but also for clients of other debt settlement companies.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Century Negotiations alerts customers and the general public to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's recently launched website (ConsumerFinancial.org) and specifically its credit card complaint web-form.

North Huntington, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/01/2011 -- Century Negotiations, Inc. (CNI) executives are applauding a new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) resource for consumers to file complaints against their credit card companies.

The CFPB website, which launched for the first time this summer, includes an online credit card complaint form, as well as other resources such as mortgage information for people struggling with house payments, veteran and service member resources, and more.

The credit card complaint form requests basic information about the incident, and even offers consumers the opportunity to indicate what they would consider a fair outcome.

"We applaud the CFPB's attention to consumers who feel they have been wronged by credit issues," said CNI President Amy Michalo-Rojas. She explained that credit card companies have a reputation for obscuring credit card terms, which can easily lead consumers to agree to terms they don't entirely understand, unknowingly violate terms, or simply stay in the dark about a seemingly unfair incident with no resolution in sight.

"Credit card companies are not always in the wrong," Michalo-Rojas explained. "But hiding behind legalese is not fair to the individuals and families who are trying to do the right thing when it comes to their finances."

Elizabeth Warren, who came up with the idea for the CFPB, has explained how often she could not understand her own credit card agreement--despite teaching contract law at Harvard University--because most of the agreements are not designed to be understood. She questioned how the average credit card customer could stand a chance against credit issuers if she could not decipher the actual terms. In response to this and similar transparency problems within the financial industries, the CFPB is focused on clear and concise consumer information. As a result, the credit card complaint form is simple and straightforward while also offering consumers the chance to tell their stories.

"Transparency and accountability should not be optional when it comes to the lender-borrower relationship," said Michalo-Rojas. "Credit card consumers deserve to understand not only their credit card contracts, but where to turn when they encounter problems. Because creditors have not been forthcoming in the past, consumers have a new option designed specifically to meet their needs."

To learn more about the CFPB and to check out the credit card complain form, visit ConsumerFinancial.org. To learn how CNI may be able to help with overwhelming credit card debt, visit CenturyNI.com.

About Century Negotiations, Inc.
Century Negotiations, Inc. (CNI) is a company dedicated to helping individuals and families rid their lives of unsecured debt. CNI specializes in negotiation, and has negotiated settlements on thousands of accounts. Last year we settled over $100 million not only for our own clients, but also for clients of other debt settlement companies. For more information call 1-888-913-8784 or visit http://www.CenturyNI.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

ADMA Solutions executive informs consumers about important economic statistics and what they may reveal about American consumers.

North Huntington, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/04/2011 -- Executives at ADMA Solutions, a Pennsylvania-based debt resolution company are alerting consumers to the declining bankruptcy rates, despite high unemployment.

According to the American Bankruptcy Institute, consumer bankruptcy filings fell eight percent in the first half of 2011.

"While the economy may take years to fully recover, it is important to track trends and figures," explained ADMA Solutions President Amy Michalo-Rojas. "And no matter how you look at it, a declining consumer bankruptcy rate is definitely a good sign."

Consumer bankruptcy filings for the first six months of 2011 totaled 709,303, compared to 770,117 bankruptcy filings during the same period in 2010. June 2011 filings totaled 119,768, a 5% decrease from the 126,270 filings in June 2010.

Michalo-Rojas emphasized that declining bankruptcy rates may not indicate a recovering economy, especially considering continued unemployment. Unemployment actually rose slightly to 9.2 percent in June, and almost half of the 14 million jobless Americans have now sought work for six months or longer, according to the Department of Labor.

"These seemingly contradictory statistics reveal that struggling Americans may be finding relief in bankruptcy alternatives, such as debt settlement," she explained. "Debt settlement has become an increasingly established alternative to bankruptcy at a time when Americans need the most help."

Debt resolution services have grown in popularity over the years, which has led to an increase in regulation of the debt settlement industry, a step welcomed by companies like ADMA Solutions.

To learn more about how ADMA Solutions visit ADMAdebt.com.

About ADMA Solutions, LLC
ADMA Solutions, LLC, is a debt resolution company providing credit card debt relief and debt settlement services to consumers who have significant financial or personal hardships.

For more information call 1-888-499-ADMA (2362) or visit http://www.ADMAdebt.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Century Negotiations applauds rule as much-needed step toward creditor transparency, but warns consumers against over-dependency on credit score.

North Huntington, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/20/2011 -- Century Negotiations, Inc. (CNI) executives are applauding a new amendment going into effect July 21, 2011, requiring that creditors provide consumers more information about setting or adjusting credit terms.

As a result of a rule issued by the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Trade Commission, creditors must disclose a "risk-based pricing" notice to consumers when their credit score is used for "risk-based pricing," or the practice of determining credit terms and prices based on a consumer's creditworthiness.

Creditors now must provide consumers with their credit scores—in addition to the "risk-based pricing" notice and other credit information—when their credit history will negatively affect current terms. This amendment is a result of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

Alternatively, creditors can provide a free credit score to all applicants.

"This legislation will let consumers know when they are being charged more as a result of negative marks on their credit reports, which is a much-needed step toward transparency on the part of credit card companies," explained CNI President Amy Michalo-Rojas. "It is especially important for so-called 'risk-based' consumers—or those individuals who may have struggled in the past—to understand when they are being charged more."

Moreover, this will make sure consumers do not needlessly pay for mistakes on their credit reports by giving them the option to check the accuracy of their reports for free.

While supportive of the new amendments, Michalo-Rojas and other Century Negotiations executives say that these rules illustrate how successfully the lending industry has elevated the importance of credit worthiness in the eyes of American consumers.

"There is no doubt that a good credit score can significantly help consumers get better interest rates on credit cards and mortgages," said Michalo-Rojas. "But that really just means that it's easier to take out more loans and borrow more money, which is not what most individuals and families should be doing in this economy."

To learn more about the Dodd-Frank amendments to the risk-based pricing rule, visit the FTC website at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2011/07/riskbased.shtm.

About Century Negotiations, Inc.
Century Negotiations, Inc. (CNI) is a company dedicated to helping individuals and families rid their lives of unsecured debt. CNI specializes in negotiation, and has negotiated settlements on thousands of accounts. Last year we settled over $100 million not only for our own clients, but also for clients of other debt settlement companies. For more information call 1-888-913-8784 or visit http://www.centuryni.com/

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm