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Debt Consolidation Frequently Asked Questions You've Got Questions, We've Got Answers
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Do you need help with your unsecured debt? Then you've probably noticed the countless ads saying that your payments can be cut in half or more by working with a debt consolidation company.
First, you should understand that what is commonly referred to as 'debt consolidation' is actually 3 different products - debt management plans, debt settlement and debt consolidation loans.
The product that will work best for you depends on a number of factors starting with the amount of debt you have as well as your ability to manage it. Each product has its own set of terms, eligibility requirements and repercussions which can affect your credit both positively and negatively.
Make sure you understand the differences between the products and choose the right product for your situation. Many companies only provide one or two debt consolidation options and will sell you their product even if it is not right for you.
Many consumers have apprehensions about using the services of a credit counseling agency and with good reason. There are companies that call themselves credit counselors but promise more than they can produce. Reputable credit counseling agencies help people get out of debt every day by being up front about their capabilities and following best practices.
As with other service-related industries, you just have to do a little research to make sure you're working with the right people. The internet is a great place to start checking out the credentials of credit counseling agencies.
Debt consolidation entails taking out one loan to pay off many others. This is often done to secure a lower interest rate, secure a fixed interest rate or for the convenience of servicing only one loan.
Debt consolidation can simply be from a number of unsecured loans into another unsecured loan, but more often it involves a secured loan against an asset that serves as collateral, most commonly a house. In this case, a mortgage is secured against the house. The collateralization of the loan allows a lower interest rate than without it, because by collateralizing, the asset owner agrees to allow the forced sale (foreclosure) of the asset to pay back the loan. The risk to the lender is reduced so the interest rate offered is lower.
Sometimes, debt consolidation companies can discount the amount of the loan. When the debtor is in danger of bankruptcy, the debt consolidator will buy the loan at a discount. A prudent debtor can shop around for consolidators who will pass along some of the savings. Consolidation can affect the ability of the debtor to discharge debts in bankruptcy, so the decision to consolidate must be weighed carefully.
Debt consolidation is often advisable in theory when someone is paying credit card debt. Credit cards can carry a much larger interest rate than even an unsecured loan from a bank. Debtors with property such as a home or car may get a lower rate through a secured loan using their property as collateral. Then the total interest and the total cash flow paid towards the debt is lower allowing the debt to be paid off sooner, incurring less interest.
Because of the theoretical advantage that debt consolidation offers a consumer that has high interest debt balances, companies can take advantage of that benefit of refinancing to charge very high fees in the debt consolidation loan. Sometimes these fees are near the state maximum for mortgage fees. In addition, some unscrupulous companies will knowingly wait until a client has backed themselves into a corner and must FHA refinance in order to consolidate and pay off bills that they are behind on the payments. If the client does not refinance they may lose their house, so they are willing to pay any allowable fee to complete the debt consolidation. In some cases the situation is that the client does not have enough time to shop for another lender with lower fees and may not even be fully aware of them. This practice is known as predatory lending. Certainly many, if not most, debt consolidation transactions do not involve predatory lending
There are many different reasons that can lead to a drop in income or an increase in debt, and you may be caught completely unprepared. Common causes include illness or injury, divorce, losing your job, birth of a baby or retirement.
If cutting your budget hasn't done enough to ease the burden of debt repayment then you should begin to consider your other options. For those that have already fallen behind on making payments, the longer you wait the more your debt will mount as additional expenses like late fees are added on.
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Credit counseling is a straight forward process that is geared toward educating consumers on how to avoid incurring debts that they cannot pay back. Professional counselors, certified in credit counseling, are hired by credit counseling organizations to help consumers find ways to repay their credit card debt - through careful budgeting, financial education and management of money.
Credit counseling often involves negotiating with creditors to establish a debt management plan (DMP) for a consumer. A DMP may help the debtor repay his or her debt in a more timely fashion, by working out a repayment plan with the creditor. DMPs, set up by credit counselors, usually offer reduced payments (which make the monthly payments more manageable for the debtor), fees and interest rates to the client. Credit counselors refer to the terms dictated by the creditors to determine payments or interest reductions offered to consumers in a debt management plan.
In many cases enrolling in a credit counseling program can also benefit the client because various creditors view it as a move in the right direction – the debtor is making a serious effort to pay off their bills. As an added bonus, credit counseling agencies give clients valuable guidance on the proper way to use credit cards, generating a budget, paying bills on time, managing their personal finances to optimize financial health and, as stated earlier, a customized debt management plan so they can repay their lenders.
Consolidated Credit Counseling Services is one of many credit counseling agencies in the United States. Those who are in debt and believe they require assistance should carefully research the companies before doing business with them. Check out their website, speak with a counselor (and make sure that the counselors are certified credit counselors), ask for references and find out if they are with the Better Business Bureau.
After researching these organizations a client will then speak one-on-one with a credit counselor and supply them with pertinent information on earnings, expenses and debts. It is the credit counselor’s responsibility to then assess the information, discuss it with the client, aid them in creating a budget, and assist them in producing a comprehensive plan that is unique to their needs.
Learn more about Consolidated Credit Counseling Services
During the credit counseling session, the counselor may direct the client to educational material available on their website; suggest financial education classes in their area; or even advise them to seek other counsel if they are having problems with a relationship, which is causing them to go deeper into debt.
Ultimately, the credit counselor will speak with the client’s creditors and map out a debt management plan that works for all parties involved. With that being accomplished, the creditors will then be getting the money they are owed and the client will be stabilizing their financial future by ridding themselves of their debt.
Take the first steps to getting out of debt by taking our Free Budget and Debt Analysis, or call us to speak with a certified credit counselor at Consolidated Credit Counseling Services.
Debt Management is the program that consolidates your
unsecured debts into one monthly payment, which is sent directly to your
creditors by the Credit Counseling service.
Credit Counseling is the actual sessions you will have with a professional
counselor regarding debt management, budgeting and personal finances.
Consolidated Credit Counseling customizes a Credit Counseling & Debt
Management Program that fits your financial needs.
Our certified credit counselor’s review your financial information and then
work with your creditors to arrange reduced monthly payments, interest
charges and fees for your unsecured debt. You make a single monthly payment
to Consolidated and those funds are then disbursed to all creditors on a
monthly basis.
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For Yourself!
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Free Budget & Debt Analysis now and take your first
step towards achieving freedom from debt.
Credit Counseling: A process of offering education to consumers concerning ways to repay existing debts and avoid incurring additional debts. Credit counselors may negotiate with creditors to establish a debt management plan (DMP) for a consumer as a means of repaying existing unsecured debts. A DMP typically offers reduced payments, waived fees and interest concessions as dictated by the individual creditors.
For people seeking to consolidate debt, there are many options to choose from. Determining the right solution for each unique debt level can be intimidating. Understanding the differences between the various debt consolidation methods can help consumers choose more effectively for their situation. Below you will find a brief description of some common debt consolidation options:
I keep reading about unsecured versus secured debt, what’s the difference?
There are two types of debts secured and unsecured. Secured debts are debts in which your creditor has collateral or property attached too the type of debt you owe. A common example would be a car loan where your car serves as the collateral for the loan. If you choose not to pay these types of debts your creditor has a right to take or repossess the property. As such, secure debts are almost your highest priority.
Unsecured debts are debts with no collateral. Some examples of unsecured debts are credit cards, store & gas cards, medical bills and utility bills. It is usually hard for unsecured creditors to collect what is owed unless you voluntarily pay the creditor. Unsecured debt is type of debt that can be managed down and ultimately paid off through a debt management plan (DMP).
How will a debt management plan help me?
A debt management plan is a proven way to get you out of debt. It allows you to make a single monthly payment that is distributed to your creditors. This eliminates the need to make individual payments to each of your creditors. Many of the creditors who participate in the plan will allow you to reduce your monthly payment and, after you establish a payment history, may reduce or eliminate interest and late charges, and harassing collection calls should stop. That way, more of your payment goes to reducing your debt, getting you out of debt faster. A debt management plan also has no impact, positive or negative, on your credit rating.
How do I know which program is a good fit for my situation?
There are many factors that go into determining the right product for an individual. Much of this depends on the amount of debt, your ability to pay those debts, your creditor mix and even your lifestyle. Specific conditions can favor a one debt product, making it a better fit for an individual’s situation. For example, many people choose to enroll in a debt management plan to help them get out of debt. To get the most benefit out of this particular plan, most consumers should have at least $2,500 in unsecured debt and a minimum of two active credit accounts. Conversely, you may be a candidate for debt settlement if the amount of debt you owe is in excess of $7,500 and you are falling behind and/or unable to make your minimum monthly payment for your unsecured debt payments. If you are really unsure, you can get a Debt Consolidation professional to assist you in evaluating your options.
Debt Settlement: An aggressive form of debt relief which may be appropriate for individuals whose debts total in excess of $10,000. Under a debt settlement program, a settlement company will negotiate with creditors to lower the outstanding balance. This differs from debt management where the credit counseling agency negotiates lower interest rates. What this means for consumers is that if successful, you can walk away paying less than you owe to settle your debt. It is important to note that some creditors will never settle for an amount less than owed and do reserve the right to take legal action against the debtor.
Monthly payments made under a debt settlement program are placed in a settlement fund in anticipation of reaching a settlement with creditors. The funds are not distributed to creditors on a monthly basis as in debt management. You build up a settlement amount in monthly increments, which can be more affordable for the average consumer. One distinction with Debt Settlement is that all of your unsecured debts are eligible for a program, versus debt management, which relies on the established creditor relationships.
Debt consolidation is the process of taking multiple debts – unsecured debt -- such as a number of credit card debts, medical bills or lines of credit, and combining them into one single monthly payment. There are a number of companies that can do this for individuals in need, such as a credit counseling agency.
The usual benefits of debt consolidation are a lower monthly payment, lower fees, lower finance rates, and sometimes canceled fees or penalties that have accrued over the months because of tardy payments or missed payments. It can take from 36 to 60 months to pay off the unsecured debt but at least the individual is making progress, and creditors take that into consideration – in other words, they won’t be as nasty as they could be when making entries on credit reports.
The process of debt consolidation begins with research. A person in debt should research credit counseling agencies to make certain that they are honest and willing to work for them. The credit counseling agency should be a part of the Better Business Bureau and have referrals. They should be non-profit agencies with credit counselors that have been trained and certified. Once a person has chosen an credit counseling agency they simply make a phone call and discuss their personal finances with a credit counselor. They will have to answer a number of questions dealing with their personal unsecured debt and personal finances. Once that is done, the counselor contacts the creditors and negotiates a monthly price. The person then sends the monthly payment to the credit counseling agency, who in turn pays off the creditors.
The credit counseling agency should also offer educational resources on debt consolidation, paying bills on time, budgeting, money management, and other financial issues that will help the person in debt to learn how to better handle their money. These resources should be free and they may come in booklet form or could be available on the agencies website.
In the end, debt consolidation is a tool to assist a person who can no longer make the minimum payments on their unsecured debt. It is a method to help those from going bankrupt and completely ruining their credit. Before enrolling in a debt consolidation program here are a few questions to consider:
Are your interest rates rising at an alarming rate?
Are bill collectors calling you?
Are minimum monthly payments impossible to make?
Are your debts on your mind day and night?
If the answer is “yes” to any of these questions, a debt consolidation program should, at the very least, be a consideration. Individuals should also act fast, once the debt becomes completely out of control, a debt consolidation program cannot help.
Contact Consolidated Credit Counseling Services at 1-800-320-9929 to find out if a debt consolidation program would work for you. A certified credit counselor will ask you questions about your unsecured debt and personal finances and advise you what the next step is. You don’t have to do debt consolidation on your own. Consolidated Credit Counseling Services is here to help.
For many American’s, a debt crisis is imminent and adopting a stricter budget won’t be enough to lessen the current financial strain. There is a great need for more decisive and effective action; a real debt solution to ease some of the pressure from monthly bills.
It is not as easy to as used to be to tighten the family purse strings and weather the economic downturn. These days, Americans are feeling the impact of cost increases that pervade every aspect of their lifestyles. Take note of how much you are spending for just the simple things like your morning cup of coffee, the daily commute, or the gallon of milk you picked up on your way home. Our normal daily spending habits are bearing the brunt of price increases.
Dealing with price hikes that affect our day to day can really strain the average family, but families are facing added pressures like steep declines in retail sales, job growth and a floundering real estate market. The cumulative affect of these economic declines also directly impacts consumer finances. Families are being squeezed all sides.
Finding a way to relieve some of that pressure is a popular subject. It is now well known that credit card debt services and related debt solutions can ease the strain of monthly bills. Consumers are being bombarded with offers for debt settlement, loans, debt consolidation, credit counseling and more. Navigating this sea of debt relief is intimidating and confusing for most of us. Choosing a company that offers reputable debt solutions can appear impossible to those already overwhelmed by their debt.
In the form of a loan consolidation, this generally results in a
longer repayment term and thus a lower required monthly payment.
Interest rates in consolidation loans can vary based upon a number of
factors, including your credit history. Also important is if the debt
the type of debt is being changed by the consolidation. For example,
unsecured debt (credit cards and personal loans) being consolidated into
secured debt, such as home equity and
auto
loans would generally (but not always) result in a reduction in
interest rate. When consolidations include a mortgage, they are
frequently included in the refinancing of a first mortgage or the
establishment of a second mortgage or
home equity loan to allow a consumer, such as yourself, to take
advantage of the available equity in your home. Even though the you may
not actually receive any of the loan proceeds, this is commonly referred
to a cash-out loan, because you are paying off debt in addition to the
principal balance of your existing mortgage.
In the case of credit card debt consolidation or balance transfer
offers, they are often accompanied by some sort of promotional offer
with a lower interest rate for a shorter period of time (6 months to a
year... "teaser rate"). However,
credit card issuing banks offering lower interest rates on
balance transfers / debt consolidations that last for the “life of the
balance” are becoming increasingly more common.
One additional advantage of debt consolidation is the your ability
to consolidate smaller payments to many creditors to a single payment to
one creditor in order to make your personal finances easier to manage.
Having multiple credit cards with high balances and different due dates
can simply become overwhelming and very discouraging. Consolidating your
debts can help you get get a handle on the situation and ultimately get
you back on track to a secure financial future. Notice that it is
mentioned that it can help you.....
TIP / WARNING: Consolidating your debt will do absolutely no good
if you think the resulting lower payments are a license to go out and
shop. You will only make your financial situation worse. If you do
decide to consolidate your bills, use your new found breathing room to
create a safety net for yourself. Open a savings account at your local
bank (Find a
local bank
in our banking directory) and place money in it each week. When an
emergency comes up, or you feel that impulse buy coming on, keep the
credit card in your wallet. Use the money you have already saved! As
much as we like you to use the different debt solution companies on our
web site, we would prefer that you only use them once. Instead, come
back to the Debt Consolidation Loan Directory to shop for other
financial services and save even more money.
If cutting your budget hasn't done enough to ease the burden of debt repayment then you should begin to consider your other options. For those that have already fallen behind on making payments, the longer you wait the more your debt will mount as additional expenses like late fees are added on.
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If cutting your budget hasn't done enough to ease the burden of debt repayment then you should begin to consider your other options. For those that have already fallen behind on making payments, the longer you wait the more your debt will mount as additional expenses like late fees are added on.
Lower interest, lower credit card interest, debt consolidation .pay off debt, behind in payments, poor credit, raise credit score, consolidate debt, settle debt, behind in payments, debt settlement , debt lender.
Debt management, consolidation loan, consolidation loans, consolidation lender, debt loan, debt settlement, settle my debt, pay off credit cards, low credit card rates, bad credit, real fucking shitty credit,
Improve credit score, consolidate credit cards, pay off debt, lower my payments, lower interest rate, bad credit score, pay off debt, debt relief, credit card relief, poor credit loan. Poor credit loans, settle my debt,
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