Many people have lost their jobs and the problem with the credit crunch has made it harder for people to get more credit. If you have this problem financially, you may have to ask for some help with your debt. By using negotiation, you may be able to help yourself to get out of this debt problem.

There are lots of ways to negotiate a lower rate for your credit card debt. If your debt has be already been moved to one of the third party collection companies because of lack of payments, it will be easier to negotiate with them. The reason it is easier for you is they have less money to lose, because they probably bought your debt for pennies on the dollar. You will have to call them to explain your problem and once they realize your are willing to pay them something , they will be a bit nicer to you. You may be able to reduce a balance of $3,000 to $1,500 with a lump sum payment. I know $1,500 can be a lot money, but negotiating debt down takes lump sum payments.

The most important thing for you to remember, is to be talking to the person whom is authorized to do this. Make sure of this before starting your negotiation. The first person who answers the phone will not be authorized to make the deal with you. You will have to ask for the manager or the account supervisor. Keep insisting on this no matter what they tell you. If you should strike a deal, ask for the offer in writing and tell them once you receive the offer, you will send them the payment by register mail.

If the above route is too much for you, I have something else. These credit card companies and collection companies will negotiate the fees they charge. Even debt consolidation services will make phone calls to ask for the late fees to be waived. Look at this this way, even if they say no, so what? These companies will waive fees if you just ask them to. Interest rates are lowered if you just ask, sometimes it is just a point or two. That reduced in interest allows you to pay more money to the principle balance instead. You can even ask for you minimum payments to be smaller. Just remember that once you renegotiate something, you have to keep up with whatever deal you made or chances are, it will revert back to a much higher rate and payment.

So lets recap what we have just read. Third party collection companies my be easier to negotiate with, because they bought your debt for pennies on the dollar. When you are trying to strike a deal make sure you are speaking with someone who is authorized to do so. Even if you can not negotiate your debt down, the fees would probably be easier to renegotiate than the balance owed. Once you make a deal, do not break it or everything may revert back to higher rates and fees.

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Manufacturers have made some tremendous improvements, when it comes to creating presentation boxes. These experts are more of fancies and special designs that can create a lasting impression in the minds of the recipients. Before you make up your mind, concerning the styling of your presentation boxes, you should be very conscious about the theme that you choose for your packaging design. The appearance of these boxes, should go in accordance with the event they are meant for. Take for instance, if you want to present gifts to your colleagues in a business meeting, you should make sure that your presentation boxes are specially customized to look professional and elegant. If they are also to be given away on a musical concert or a movie theatre, you can provide a style that is hip and somehow funky.

Professional printing companies are very informed when it comes to making suggestions, concerning the design of these boxes. They know the type of design that will match your gift items, as well as how to customize it to suit your events. If you are having your birthday party coming up, this is a special way to make your event unique and fantastic. You can customize it to any desired shape, size or add special lettering to make them catchy peculiar to that event. The presentation boxes are very cost-effective but yet have great value and use. Get experts that knows what it is to make every gift that you present to someone count, and you will be glad you did.

Negotiations fail, stall or breakdown for various reasons. Don’t let these seven high frequency negotiation killers strike down your strategic alliance opportunity, stall your long range planning, or budgeting process.

The good news is that just like most aspects of business, particularly if it’s market facing, the actions during a negotiation are easy to recognize and categorize if you know what to look for.

I wanted to expand the conversation beyond my business development and financial planning experiences so I consulted with those that are shoulder deep in it day-in and day-out (all by choice because they love it). The number one negotiation lockup was unanimous, one party chooses not to negotiate. They take a stance that is non-negotiable in their mind and then just decide not to negotiate at all.

Sound all to familiar? It should if you have, or have had, young children. The classic example that I refer to when describing this phenomenon is that of you trying to get them to share a toy. In a two year old’s mind once something is out of their grasp it will never come back and the value (fun) has been lost. Their hand grasps the toy tight and 100% of their focus is on making you stop. Despite facing a significantly less than desirable, or available, outcome they cannot get beyond ‘toy must be in hand’. What they are unable to recognize is that by sharing it provides an opportunity to focus on other toys (value substitution) and include someone that might make playing even more fun (incremental value).

Think about it, when you don’t engage the other side there is no negotiation, just standoff.

The 7 Kill Zones
Want other reasons why negotiations stall? Here are six other most common reasons:

1. one party chooses not to negotiate
2. Misunderstanding the others’ points of view, not hearing what’s being said.
3. One or both sides do not understand the problem and try to resolve the conflict by resolving the wrong problem. This without fail leads to arguments.
4. One or both parties don’t plan out what they need or even know what they need. That leads to false signals, misunderstandings, weak arguments, confusion.
5. Negotiating with a person who is not a decision maker, or the subject matter is “out of bounds”.
6. One party just haggles on one issue; price, time, etc. This is not a negotiation and it may lead to both sides being disappointed by just having a bit of what they really want.
7. Neither party makes a proposal.

Be True to Self

How can you avoid this dilemma? Answer the following questions before you engage the other party.

• Why do I want what I want?
• Do we both have something to gain?
• If the negotiations end without agreement what’s the cost?
• Will it help to give them convincing arguments as to why my proposal is fair for them?
• Am I likely to be defensive or antagonistic with this person?

And lastly, remember that you have two ears and eyes while you only have one mouth. Listen and observe twice as much as you speak. Actively and empathetically digest whatever they say.