I've heard or aired their jingled spots on different Christian stations for 20 years now. Does that mean they're any good? Are they charging anything, and are they any better than other debt reduction services? I am looking for professional help to continue scratching and clawing out of debt. Thanks for sharing your experience and recommendations.
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Trinity Debt Management
- Thread starter MyCatKnight
- Start date
I used Trinity more than 10 years ago, so I don't remember what terms and conditions there were.
I was working in Christian radio, and unfortunately, a lot of my paychecks were either late or bouncing. That, in turn, was making me late with some payments.
I do remember that the monthly payment was something like $264. If my check was late (as in "hold onto that last check until I let you know when you'll be able to cash it") or bounced, I'd have to get funds from my family to make the Trinity payment.
Trinity did help me get rid of around $4k in debt. I actually like Dave Ramsey's advice of cutting up your credit cards, which my wife and I did about three years ago. Her student loan debt is the last major one we have, and the remainder will be paid off within the next two years.
I did pay my house (mobile home) off in 2001 with a 12 year mortgage. The payments were $181!!
Had all my paychecks been good I probably would not have needed Trinity. But as I remember they were pleasant to work with during a rough time in life. The radio job was something I loved, but that pay was the ONLY income I had, and it was not reliable. I thought that was a poor witness for a Christian station that WAS bringing in enough revenue to cover payroll.
I was working in Christian radio, and unfortunately, a lot of my paychecks were either late or bouncing. That, in turn, was making me late with some payments.
I do remember that the monthly payment was something like $264. If my check was late (as in "hold onto that last check until I let you know when you'll be able to cash it") or bounced, I'd have to get funds from my family to make the Trinity payment.
Trinity did help me get rid of around $4k in debt. I actually like Dave Ramsey's advice of cutting up your credit cards, which my wife and I did about three years ago. Her student loan debt is the last major one we have, and the remainder will be paid off within the next two years.
I did pay my house (mobile home) off in 2001 with a 12 year mortgage. The payments were $181!!
Had all my paychecks been good I probably would not have needed Trinity. But as I remember they were pleasant to work with during a rough time in life. The radio job was something I loved, but that pay was the ONLY income I had, and it was not reliable. I thought that was a poor witness for a Christian station that WAS bringing in enough revenue to cover payroll.
I may be wrong, but I'm kind of leery of Trinity. So many debt consolidation programs are scams, even some that claim to be Christian. Dave Ramsey's advice is pretty solid though. I can't say that I'm following his advice perfectly, but I'm working on getting the debt snowball rolling a little at a time.
Something that bugs me about some Christian stations are how they won't run ads for things like beer, gambling, etc. that most of their listeners find objectionable, but then they will run ads and infomercials for questionable junk, many times just because they claim to be Christian, which may be debatable.
Since Trinity was brought up, I'll ask about another ad I keep hearing on Christian radio. What in the world is the Three Step Plan?? It sounds like a multi-level marketing scheme to me that is aonther one that tries to hide behind claiming to be Christian. :
Something that bugs me about some Christian stations are how they won't run ads for things like beer, gambling, etc. that most of their listeners find objectionable, but then they will run ads and infomercials for questionable junk, many times just because they claim to be Christian, which may be debatable.
Since Trinity was brought up, I'll ask about another ad I keep hearing on Christian radio. What in the world is the Three Step Plan?? It sounds like a multi-level marketing scheme to me that is aonther one that tries to hide behind claiming to be Christian. :
anotherguy said:
We're straying from the topic of Trinity Debt's effectiveness, but I want to comment on this.
I have no experience with Three Step Plan, so I cannot say. I agree that some Christian stations ought to be more diligent in investigating what they air. At the same time, I realize that the resources to check out seemingly trustworthy sources are limited. For example, who would think that Enron and Bernie Madoff could fool so many educated people? I think the plug would have been pulled on Trinity Debt sometime in the last 20-ish years if the company wasn't at least somewhat competent.
I have heard that the FCC forces publicly-traded companies to air spots from anyone. Do any legal-types out there know if this is true?
About stations' choices on what to air, credit the Southern Baptist Convention for cancelling "Richard Land Live" for repeated plagiarism. And one of the big Christian commercial stations I worked for in NY specifically turned down money from an unscrupulous character. We got a memo not to speak to this party, but to direct all calls to the Business Manager.
Other times, things slip through like block program purchasers who get exposed for misrepresenting their credentials (or lack thereof). A music minister friend was glad to unload on me that ads aired on my previous station led to his family losing thousands to a failed greeting card "business."
Ideally, we protect our listeners as best we can with the resources and diligence we have and pray that God is honored.
Back to topic, if you (or anyone you know directly) has used Trinity Debt Management:
- Does it cost anything?
- Have you encoutered more effective services? I don't care if it's Christian or not, I just want to get my finances in order.
A radio station has the right to accept or reject any advertising. When it comes to political ads, if you choose to air them, any legal candidate can buy them at the lowest contract spot rate (see FCC Rules for guidance and specifics).
Sure, stations should be more careful about who they sell to but in reality I have yet to find the station that really has the liberty to reject advertisers. Most are just trying to meet their budget and keep the lights on or corporate's projections.
I worked one station that included a code of ethics for the business, a part of the advertising contract, since our sponsors were viewed as personally endorsed by the station in the eyes of the listener. I'd say it was more of a 'protection' for the station than the listener. I recall Shepherd's Guide has something along those lines in their advertising contract.
Sure, stations should be more careful about who they sell to but in reality I have yet to find the station that really has the liberty to reject advertisers. Most are just trying to meet their budget and keep the lights on or corporate's projections.
I worked one station that included a code of ethics for the business, a part of the advertising contract, since our sponsors were viewed as personally endorsed by the station in the eyes of the listener. I'd say it was more of a 'protection' for the station than the listener. I recall Shepherd's Guide has something along those lines in their advertising contract.
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