Hi sir, My age is 32 I felt in debt trap. I got loans from loan apps and the outstanding is 700000 and personal loans 350000 and auto loans 1200000, credit cards 300000. Total around 25 laks and my salary is 50000 monthly I am paying emi of around 1,20,000. Till now I anyhow arranged the money and paid. Here after I don't want to take any new loans and how can I come over this situation. I tried my self with the lenders for emi restructuring. But they got rejected. Can I move over settlement or not. If yes can I try myself or by lawyer panels. If myself how can I do it. Kindly give me a solution
Ans: You are going through a very heavy phase. Anyone in your position will feel pressure, fear, and confusion. But you are reaching out, and that is the first and strongest step toward fixing this.
1. First, understand your situation clearly
Your salary: Rs 50,000
Your EMI burden: Rs 1,20,000
This means your EMI is more than 2 times your income, which is impossible to sustain.
You cannot continue like this. It will break your finances and mental health.
You MUST take corrective action immediately.
2. Why you feel trapped
– Loans from loan apps usually have very high interest
– Personal loans + auto loans + credit cards create multi-layer pressure
– Multiple EMIs → different due dates → late fees → more stress
– Mental pressure pushes you to borrow more → cycle becomes endless
This is a classic debt spiral, but the good news is that there are structured ways out.
3. Should you go for settlement?
Settlement is possible, but you must understand the pros and cons:
Pros
– EMI pressure reduces
– You close loans at a lower amount
– You get relief and can rebuild your life
Cons
– Your CIBIL score will drop
– For 3–7 years, you may struggle to get new loans
– Banks will mark your account as “settled” instead of “closed”
– You must negotiate carefully
But in your case, settlement is a practical option, because continuing payments is impossible.
4. Should you do settlement yourself or through a lawyer/agency?
Option A: Do it yourself
You CAN negotiate yourself.
Most lenders accept settlement offers when:
– You have overdue payments
– You show financial difficulty
– You speak politely and consistently
– You give a reasonable lump-sum offer
But: You should know how to talk, how much to offer, what to sign, and what not to sign.
Option B: Lawyer panels / debt advisors
They take fees, but they:
– Negotiate on your behalf
– Handle calls and pressure
– Know the legal terms
– Know how lenders behave
– Protect you from harassment
If you feel mentally stressed, a lawyer panel is better.
5. If you want to negotiate yourself, here is the exact step-by-step script
Step 1: Stop paying all loans temporarily
This sounds scary, but you are already unable to pay.
Missing EMIs will:
– Show lenders you are in real financial hardship
– Make them more open to settlement
Step 2: Wait for 60–90 days of overdue
This is when lenders are most flexible for negotiation.
Step 3: Start settlement conversations
Call or wait for their collection department to call you.
You can say:
“Sir, I am unable to manage my EMIs. My salary is only Rs 50,000.
I want to close this loan. I cannot pay full amount.
If you give a settlement offer, I can arrange some money and close it.”
Be calm. Don’t argue.
Step 4: Decide your offer
Typical settlement percentage:
– Credit cards: 40%–60%
– Personal loans: 40%–70%
– Loan apps: 30%–50%
– Auto loans: Depends on vehicle recovery
You can start with a low offer (30–40%) because lenders will negotiate up.
Step 5: Get “Settlement Letter” before paying
NEVER pay without getting:
– Settlement letter
– Amount confirmation
– Payment breakup
– Timeline
– Mode of payment
This letter protects you legally.
Step 6: Pay only through bank transfer
Never UPI to field agents.
Never give cash.
Step 7: Keep all documents safely
This protects you if lenders try to collect again in future.
6. Should you continue paying now or stop immediately?
With your EMI at Rs 1,20,000 and income at Rs 50,000:
You MUST stop immediately.
Continuing payments will destroy your finances and mental stability.
You are already exhausted. You need a reset.
Missing EMIs will push your accounts into “delinquency”, after which lenders become flexible.
This is a strategy, not failure.
7. How to avoid legal trouble during settlement
– Stay polite and responsive
– Don’t block lender calls
– Don’t avoid communication
– Keep records of all conversations
– Ask for written confirmation
– Never sign anything without reading
– Keep calm; 99% of cases do not go to court
Legal action is extremely rare in small retail loans unless you ignore them for years.
8. How to manage loan apps
Loan apps behave aggressively.
Here is what to do:
– Don’t get scared by threats
– They cannot visit your home legally
– They cannot call your contacts legally
– They cannot harass you legally
– You can complain to RBI if needed
They usually settle at lower amounts because they know their interest rates are unreasonable.
9. Auto loan strategy
You have Rs 12 lakh auto loan.
If EMI is too big, consider:
– Voluntary surrender of vehicle
– Lender sells it
– You pay only the balance after sale
This reduces a huge burden.
This is better than getting it seized later.
10. Your first 60-day action plan
Day 1–30
– Stop all EMIs
– Track calls
– Start talking to lenders calmly
Day 30–60
– Begin settlement negotiation
– Target highest-interest loans first (loan apps, credit cards)
– Avoid personal loans till later
– Keep weekly communication
Day 60–90
– Finalise settlement
– Pay only after getting settlement letter
11. After settlement, rebuilding your life
Once loans are settled:
Step 1: Build emergency fund
Step 2: Stop using credit cards
Step 3: Start budgeting
Step 4: Start small savings
Step 5: Slowly rebuild CIBIL
Within 2–3 years, your credit will recover.
12. The most important point
You are NOT alone.
Millions face this situation.
Most come out.
You can also come out.
Debt traps feel final, but they are fixable.
You need a structured plan and calm execution.
And you have already taken the most important step—you asked for help.
You will come out of this.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment