AADR - American Association for Debt Resolution

The early bird gets … the best chance to network, so join AADR’s 2024 Annual Conference one day early for extra time to meet with debt resolution industry colleagues. On Sept. 22, we will gather for a golf outing and informal reception to get a jump on exchanging ideas and sharing best practices about how to serve clients who are trying hard to regain their financial freedom. And in this time of economic uncertainty, we have a deal for you. Register five or more people from your firm and get a 10 percent discount on sign up fees. Plus non-members get $200 off by registering before Aug. 17!! There is simply no excuse. Join us Sept. 22-25, 2024 at the Four Season Las Vegas. Sign up now: https://lnkd.in/e3F5mPzv #debtresolution #debtrelief

Our community is growing! The AADR welcomed two new member companies in the second quarter - Citizen Debt Services is an experienced debt settlement company that provides debt relief and debt counseling to thousands of Americans looking to restart their financial lives. With more than a decade of professional consumer debt relief experience, the company works to ensure its clients shed their debt bit by bit through a stress-free process. - Debt Busters, whose highly trained personal financial analysts find and create personalized balance and payment reduction programs. These powerful, accredited attorneys or debt resolution firms consolidate debts from unsecured creditors into one payment, avoid bankruptcy, lower monthly payments, and reduce repayment periods. What can your company gain from being a part of AADR? Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/e7UYtNXk. #DebtResolution #debtrelief #debtsettlement #financialfreedom

Registration for AADR’s 2024 Conference is officially open! We can’t wait to welcome you to Las Vegas in September. Here are just a few reasons we think you should attend Your Customers Need You Now More Than Ever Rates of unsecured debt are rising fast and so are associated interest rates. We’ve built in networking opportunities throughout the agenda (and even before the conference officially starts) so you can share the practices and innovations that help your company help Americans struggling with unsecured debt. Foster Financial Literacy At a time earnings are stagnant and interest rates our high, our industry needs to do our part to enhance Americans’ financial literacy. Once again, we will lend a hand with the Council for Economic Education (CEE) at a local school “Family Night” event. If you can’t make it, please donate to CEE on the site so we can bring this type of programming to more schools! Sharpen The Tools In Your Toolbox  At our Exhibitor Showcase, you’ll be able to get the latest intel from the companies that support our industry. You’ll have plenty of time to visit representatives from the companies during built-in session breaks. Beautiful Accommodations That Fit A Budget   Our discounted room block with the Four Seasons Resort Las Vegas is open for registered attendees. Please note: the room block is limited, so don't wait until the last minute to register. Once the block is sold, rooms will only be available at the prevailing rate. Ready to join? Click here to register: https://lnkd.in/e3F5mPzv #debtresolution #debtrelief #creditcarddebt #medicaldebt #unsecureddebt

In a new blog post, our CEO Denise Dunckel Morse reminds readers that consumers have few options to recapture financial freedom. Most Americans who seek the help of a debt resolution company have fallen on hard times due to no fault of their own. They are taking care of a loved one, out of work, or dealing with a major illness and just could not keep their budgets in balance, much less save. By the time a consumer reaches out to a debt resolution provider, they are typically delinquent on at least one, and, frequently, most, of their credit cards. They owe tens of thousands of dollars to multiple unsecured creditors, including credit card issuers, medical debt servicers, and private student loan providers. Importantly, AADR members’ clients are not looking for an easy way to skip their bills. In the midst of significant financial hardship, they are committed to resolving their obligations in whatever way they can. Debt resolution offers a way of meeting what many regard as a moral obligation: the opportunity to pay something, if not everything, in a dignified and economically reasonable manner. These Americans deserve help and a path back to financial freedom. Unfortunately, there are few options available to them. Bankruptcy is one path, of course, but the long-term financial consequences of filing bankruptcy are significant and can substantially limit the future economic opportunities of the filer for up to a decade. And there is another problem, too: Many consumers cannot meet the means test of the bankruptcy code. Bankruptcy may be appropriate for a certain set of families who are in acute financial hardship and credit counseling may be appropriate for others, but it is not right for everyone. For Americans whom it is not, debt resolution can provide a path back to financial freedom — and it is a path where they are always in control. Learn more by reading Denise’s full post: https://lnkd.in/gQwhivg7 #debtresolution #debtsettlement #financialfreedom

The AADR Standards Committee periodically reviews existing AADR standards, policies, forms, and accreditation requirements and may recommend to the AADR Executive Board enhancements or amendments it believes are appropriate in order to do what is right for consumers, adhere to sound business practices, and conform to the current legal and regulatory environments. With this mandate in mind, the committee reviewed, and the Executive Board approved, an updated AADR Uniform Disclosure Statement (UDS), which is central to a consumer’s understanding of the commitment they are about to make when entering a debt resolution program. The updated UDS is streamlined and more consumer-friendly, and the changes will ensure it continues to serve as a cornerstone of the commitment debt resolution companies make when they lead the industry with consumers in mind. AADR member companies have 90 days, until September 24, 2024, to implement the updated UDS. For our members, AADR is making this important statement available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese and providing several tools that will help with implementation, including approved audio files and a script for members to use during the consultation experience. Also, there are written clear implementation guidelines that will help member companies understand AADR’s expectations and smoothly transition to using this updated UDS. The updated documents and supporting materials can be downloaded by signing onto the AADR member portal, “The Hub,” and going to the Compliance and Accreditation section: https://lnkd.in/eQTrAQ-U #debtresolution #debtrelief #consumerprotection

SAVE THE DATE! AADR will open registration for its 2024 Annual Conference the week of July 8. Stay tuned for details, but here are a few things to help you prepare so you can be ready to register in a two weeks: - WHEN: September 23-25, 2024 - WHERE: Las Vegas, Nevada - WHY REGISTER ON JULY 8: Because we are offering a great discount! Five or more participants from the same company will be discounted by 10 PERCENT!! Interested in sponsoring? Get in touch with karin@aa4dr.org. Here are just a few reasons we think you should ACT QUICKLY to join us THIS SEPTEMBER: Better Serve Your Customers Rates of unsecured debt are at record levels and credit card interest rates are topping 20%. Families are struggling. Come to share the BEST PRACTICES that help your company help Americans struggling with unsecured debt. Learn About New Tools And Innovations At our EXHIBITOR SHOWCASE, you’ll be able to get the latest intel from the companies that support our industry. You’ll have plenty of time to visit representatives from the companies during built-in session breaks. Get The Latest Industry Intelligence One of the most important reasons for attending the AADR Annual Conference is to get the latest updates affecting the debt resolution industry from panelists, policy experts, and professional speakers. Our agenda will be PACKED! Bookmark this link and watch your inbox for registration information: https://lnkd.in/ehcdEPYF #debtresolution #debtrelief #debtsettlement

We are excited to announce that the @AADR relaunch has been selected as a finalist for the Ragan Communications and PR Daily Social Media and Digital Award for Website Redesign! We are grateful for this distinction and eagerly await the final results!

Why is debt resolution important? Consider this: the people and families who typically finds themselves in need of the services AADR members provide, are typically delinquent on at least one – and, frequently, most – of their credit cards or other unsecured debts, and owe, on average, about $30,000 spread across seven or more different creditors. These consumers have been robbing Peter to pay Paul for months or even years – paying late or becoming delinquent on some debts to keep on top of others, charging medical debt on credit cards to put an end to aggressive collections efforts – and have reached a point at which they are no longer able to continue juggling their high-interest, unsecured debt burdens. Independent studies published since the promulgation of the FTC rules have found that debt resolution, on average, saves consumers between 30 and 35 percent of their total enrolled debt levels – including fees. And, importantly, under the Federal Trade Commission rules, debt resolution customers have the right to reject any proposed settlement at any time, for any reason. Need help? Learn more and find a providers on our site: https://aa4dr.org #debtresolution #debtrelief #unsecureddebt

Looking for AADR’s new Marketing and Advertising Standards? Want the latest on key advocacy efforts? Or just want to know how to become more involved in AADR? You can find all that information, and more, on AADR’s members-only portal, “The Hub.” If you are an employee at a member company, you should have received an email with your unique login credentials. Reach out to info@aadr.org if you need it, or if you would like to add people to the list for access. Located under the “Membership and Accreditation” tab on our website, “The Hub” is an exclusive gateway to AADR resources, efforts, and insights once you create your account. We would also love your feedback. What is “The Hub” missing? Like the layout and content, or is it confusing? Tell us! “The Hub” is a dedicated space for you — AADR members — to access valuable resources and stay informed about industry developments. Your feedback will ensure your team gets maximum value out of this tool. We look forward to hearing from you! Log on to view “The Hub” and get in touch: https://aa4dr.org/members/ #debtresolution #debtrelief #debtsettlement

Marketing matters. It sets a company���s persona and is central to how firms connect with consumers. World famous management guru Peter Drucker even proclaimed marketing is “the distinguishing, unique function of the business.” Talk to consumers and lawmakers, though, and you will likely get a very different impression of the marketing profession. Some conjure the slick (and depraved) ad men in the drama Mad Men or recall predatory marketing campaigns that have manipulated vulnerable people into buying products they do not want or need, or even have harmed them. At the AADR, we understand both the importance of marketing, and the skepticism. That is why, for our corporate members — members who are debt resolution service providers — we have set strict marketing and advertising standards that build trust by providing truthfulness, transparency, and totality. Issued this spring, the standards build upon the best practices the AADR previously offered member companies. Those best practices were robust, yet it was time to transform guidelines into expectations companies would need to adhere to as a condition of membership in the AADR. Through these standards, we can restore a sense of calm for Americans in financial distress. We help individuals know that while they may be suffering hardship at the moment, with an AADR accredited debt resolution provider as their partner, they can feel secure about their path out of debt. Read more in a new blog post: https://lnkd.in/eXdSKck7 #debtresolution #debtrelief #marketingstandards #marketing #advertising