Hi, I'm James West. I've spent the last 23 years working inside the debt relief industry — on the front lines of how creditors, collectors, and debt settlement companies actually behave. I built WestDebt because I kept watching consumers pay large fees to traditional programs that, in my experience, often no longer deliver the value people expect.

My background

For more than two decades I worked within traditional debt settlement operations, negotiating with major banks, credit card issuers, debt buyers, and collection law firms. That experience is the foundation of the creditor-specific guidance WestDebt provides — which creditors tend to settle early, which tend to litigate, and where timing matters most.

A detailed, dated career timeline (employers, roles, and responsibilities) is being added to this page. If you are a journalist or fact-checker, you can contact me directly to verify credentials.

James is an IAPDA Certified Debt Negotiator — a credential issued by the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators, which trains and certifies professionals in debt settlement, negotiation, and consumer debt resolution.

Why I created WestDebt

The debt settlement landscape has changed. In my experience, when creditors learn a consumer is enrolled in a traditional fee-heavy program, settlement demands often rise — while the consumer is still paying the program's fee first. WestDebt flips that model: a low 5% fee spread over up to 24 months that is designed never to block an early settlement, plus the guidance, tools, and documents to negotiate yourself.

WestDebt does not negotiate on your behalf, does nothold your funds, and does not provide legal or tax advice. We help you prepare, plan, and stay in control.

How the guidance is sourced

• 23 years of direct, hands-on experience in debt relief operations.
• Real creditor and collector behavior observed across thousands of accounts.
• Primary regulatory sources — the CFPB, FTC, and IRS — cited where relevant.
• Settlement examples drawn from documented outcomes, presented with the caveat that every situation differs.