Debt Consolidation – Credit Services That Add Up

Debt consolidation is a common alternative to paying back credit debts where balances are reduced faster by dropping the finance charges to lower fixed rates. This allows the average consumer to payback their debt at a lower, more affordable monthly payment and become debt free within 5 years instead of the ladder.

The ladder is a long and expensive climb. Paying off credit card debt the traditional way can cost you double the amount charged or more. Standard minimum monthly payments are designed to enable the average consumer to stay current with their payments at an affordable rate. Unfortunately theses minimum payments combined with the high interest rates do not get you out of debt.

Understanding the aforementioned is nice, but numbers talk. Seeing in black and white the comparable savings as to where you are and where you could be financially could really help you decide your best option for debt elimination.

Please note: The figures in this example are from a real client enrolling in a debt consolidation program. Names and locations have been changed to protect the identity of the consumer. For this lesson, we will call the consumer… Obama.

Obama has a credit card with an outstanding balance of $7,100.00

His current APR is 16.24 percent.

Obama’s current minimum monthly payment is $153.

At 16.24 percent on a balance of $7,100 Obama is paying around $96.00 in finance charges monthly.

- $1,152 annually -

Of $153.00 each month $96.00 is going to interest.

This leaves $57.00 to be applied to the outstanding balance of $7,100 with every $153 payment.

If Obama continues to make his minimum monthly payments at these rates he will be debt free in 124 months. That equals 10.3 YEARS of $153 payments to pay off $7,100 in credit card debt.

124 months X $153 monthly payments = $18,972.00 total to pay off $7,100 in credit debt.

This comes out to around $11,904.00 paid back in interest alone over the estimated term.

$18,900 to pay back $7,100 over 10.3 years. Well that sounds fair right?

Imagine if your APR was in the 20-s… or even 30-s… ouch…

Obama realized this was un-American! – And decided to consolidate his credit card.

After consolidating Obama noticed the APR dropped to a lower fixed rate and re-did the math.

Obama has a credit card consolidated with an outstanding balance of $7,100.00

His consolidated APR dropped to 2 percent. That’s T W O percent, correct.

Obama’s new monthly payment in the consolidation plan is $142.

At 2 percent on a balance of $7,100 Obama is paying around $12.00 in finance charges monthly.

- $144 annually -

Of $142.00 each month $12.00 is going to interest.

This leaves $130.00 to be applied to the outstanding balance of $7,100 with every $142 payment.

If Obama continues to make his minimum monthly payments at these rates he will be debt free in 55 months. That equals 4.6 YEARS of $142 payments to pay off $7,100 in credit card debt.

55 months X $142 monthly payments = $7,810 total to pay off $7,100 in credit debt.

This comes out to around $710.00 paid back in interest over the estimated term.

So Obama does not save much on his regular minimum monthly payment from $153 to $142.

Obama is saving $84.00 a month in finance charges, going from $96 to $12 from the interest reduction. In paying off the debt through a nonprofit credit counseling agency Obama will have saved around $11,000.00 in just interest alone.

Imagine the potential savings with multiple accounts.

Now of course, as the balance decreases so does the amount of the finance charges- but the minimum monthly payment required also decreases, which continues the cycle.

So ask yourself. Does debt consolidation add up for you? Are you willing to pay back double what you charged? If you are in a financial hardship can you truly afford to spend so much more in interest over time? Can you think of anything else you could have done with $11,000.00? I can.

In searching for a debt consolidation agency reputation is important. Be sure to check the company out online with the Better Business Bureau. Find client testimonials from people who have used their services in the past. Make sure the company is a true nonprofit and not some chop shop. Fees for service should be nominal. Enrollment fees should be less than $100. Monthly service fees over $50 a month start to take away from the interest savings by consolidating.

August 26th, 2010 by blythe100 in Uncategorized | No Comments

What Credit Card Debt Does to Your Credit Score

Credit card debt is known by most people as one form of bad debt. It’s really the type of debt that no one should have but in an emergency. A credit card is something that gets a very high interest rate, which is one reason to avoid this type of debt. Unlike a car loan, too, you aren’t steadily paying off a credit card. Instead, you can run up more and more debt until you reach your maximum limit. Then, you can just pay it down and start all over again.

Besides this, credit cards normally have very high payments. This is because they have ridiculously high interest rates. Even if your payments are high, though, making minimum payments can often land you in debt for literally years to come. Even if your original debt isn’t that large, credit card interest rates can cause your payments to drag on for months and months on end. Eventually, you can even end up paying twice as much as you originally put on your card all because of compounding interest!

Another reason to avoid credit card debt, though, is that it can also cause your credit score to suffer seriously. Because this is high risk debt, the credit reporting bureaus mark it very unfavorably on your report. Having a load of credit card debt is probably the surest way to get your score down other than making none of your monthly payments on time.

The main way that credit debt is scored isn’t necessarily, though, by how much total debt you have. You can have $10,000 of credit card balances and still have a great credit score. Mainly, the companies who make your score actually adjust it based on how much debt you have compared with how much credit you have available.

If you have $10,000 worth of debt but have a $100,000 credit limit, your score will still be really high. If you have $2,000 worth of debt and have only a $2,500 limit, your score will take a huge hit. The closer you come to maxing out your cards, the worse your credit sore suffers.

This is why the quickest way to repair your credit is to pay down on your current cards. As soon as you see that your score is starting to suffer, work on getting those balances down. You’d be surprised just how quickly this can turn your score around!

August 7th, 2010 by blythe100 in Uncategorized | No Comments

No Credit Check Debt Consolidation

Debt consolidation is the perfect way to reduce your debt and eliminate annoying calls from creditors. There are various ways to consolidate your debts. If you own a home or property, you may obtain a debt consolidation loan using your property as collateral. Of course, if you cannot repay the loan, your property is seized. Thus, you should exercise caution when applying for a debt consolidation loan.

Benefits of Debt Consolidation Personal Loan

Debt consolidation loans are beneficial for many reasons. When you consolidate your debts, all your bills are lumped into one loan. Thus, you eliminate making payments to several lenders each month. When you obtain a debt consolidation loan, the money received is used to payoff your creditors. Meanwhile, you make a single payment each month to pay the balance on your loan. Because these loans have a low interest rate, you are able to payoff your bills and save money at the same time.

Although debt consolidation loans appear to be a quick fix to debt problems, qualifying for these types of loans is not easy. In most cases, you must own a home or vehicle to obtain a loan. If you do not own a piece of property to secure the loan, banks will not grant you a debt consolidation loan.

Occasionally, loan applicants are able to obtain a “no-doc” loan approval. If approved for this type of loan, you are not required to show proof of employment or income. To qualify for this loan, you must have a high credit score. Still, lenders will review your credit prior to approving the loan application. Your credit report is a huge determining factor in the loan process. If your report is bad, consider a no credit check debt consolidation.

How to Eliminate Unsecured Debt with No Credit Check?

The easiest method for consolidating debts and bills without a credit check is through a debt management company. These companies are devoted to helping individuals with excessive debt reduce their unsecured credit card and consumer debts. These consolidations are not bank loans. Thus, they do not involve credit checks, and most people are approved.

If using a debt consolidation company, you must choose a company that best suits your needs. For example, some debt consolidation agencies have debt minimums. There are companies that require debtors to have at least $4000 in debt, whereas other companies require a debt amount of at least $10,000. After you have selected an agency, and submitted your information, the company will begin contacting your creditors to get your interest rates reduced or eliminated. This enables you to get out debt within a few years.

July 19th, 2010 by blythe100 in Uncategorized | No Comments

Does a Credit Card Debt Consolidation Company Lower Your Credit Score?

When you have so much credit card debt that you are considering the option of credit card debt consolidation loans, there is a very good chance that you have already damaged your credit score. One of the options available to you to help you out of the debt that you are in is credit card debt consolidation loan.

High balances and late payments can drag your credit score way down. If your cards are maxed out you can get in over your head quite quickly when the credit card companies begin to tack on the over limit fees. Add those to the late fees if you are unable to pay on time and even if you make your minimum payments monthly, you will still be getting deeper in debt even though you are making payments.

If you are approved for a consolidation loan, all of your outstanding credit card debt will be settled for a lesser amount or paid in full. Instead of having to make several small payments every month in order to try to keep up, the delinquent debts will be settled and you will make one simple payment each month to repay your consolidation loan.

Once the delinquent accounts have been paid, your credit score will begin to go up. This alone will not restore your credit rating. You will need to keep negative items off of your credit report and build up a good credit history. This can only be done with time. As you continue to keep your debt paid current, your credit score will continue to rise and your credit rating will continue to improve.

When you are looking for a good place to start repairing your damaged credit, a reputable credit card consolidation loan company can be a very good first step. Find the company that is the best fit for you and before you know it, you will be on your way to restoring your credit rating.

July 10th, 2010 by blythe100 in Uncategorized | No Comments

Atrocious Credit Debt Consolidation Can Avert Credit Score

For those who find themselves with a bonanza of diverse monthly payments may wind up paying their bills with every hard earned nickel they make. Thus leaving them with absolutely no money for emergencies or savings! Whether the situation occurred due to overspending, illness or unemployment debt happens and usually there is a way out. For those with bad credit debt consolidation loans may be hard to find, but they are available as long as they know what they are looking for.

People with atrocious credit are most likely already remitting some of the highest animated rates cumbered by credit card companies and other lenders, so there most likely will not be a monumental deviation in the allure rate cumbered on an inferior credit debt consolidation loan and the other outstanding obligations. The distinction will come in when the length of the loan is deliberated. Altogether, there is a great chance the total cost of the loan will be higher than if the individual continued remitting the monthly payments.

Albeit, there is a favoring side to this as by using a abominable credit debt consolidation loan, the monthly payment can be felled, which can also Hasten their credit score over time. Plentiful companies that breadth with distressing credit debt consolidation also report positive customer dealings on a monthly basis, the loans that you pay off with the loan will also show as being paid and the monthly payment will in all likelihood be less than all the little ones added together.

Long-standing Lenders May Not Always Collaborate

Fundamentally banks and other conventional lenders are not the elemental consideration for distressed credit debt consolidation loans and you will likely have to go through a non-conformable lender or finance company in order to evoke this type of loan. There is also the chance that an incidental loan origination fee may be tacked onto the loan amount, at large not requisite to be paid upfront, albeit included in the total amount borrowed.

When considering applying for an abhorrent credit debt consolidation loan, hold in mind that the higher captivate rate will attach to the entire amount borrowed, in addition to any deferred loan fees and while the monthly payment will be lower, the Broadly cost of borrowing the bundle could be greatly higher in the long run.

If remitting for an expanded period of time at an exaggerated rate of interest does not behoof you, debate contacting all of your creditors about minimizing your monthly payments. Once they empathize you can forego distressed credit debt consolidation loans and possibly save chips in the long run.

July 2nd, 2010 by blythe100 in Uncategorized | No Comments

How Do You Get a Debt Consolidation Loan For Bad Credit?

Nowadays, it seems that everybody has personal, credit card, mortgage and just about any other debt possible. It can be very hard paying them off especially in these recessionary times when money is tight. And so, you end up with a low to fair credit rating that does not help your reputation with lenders. Lets not forget that being neck-deep in debt can be very unsettling to your peace of mind.

Fortunately, there is the option of a bad credit debt consolidation loan. In simplest terms, you take out one loan to pay off virtually all of your pre-existing debts with the intention of securing a lower fixed interest rate and making payments towards just one loan.

Just like all forms of paying off multiple debts, taking out a debt consolidation loan has its pros and cons. On one hand, you can once again enjoy the benefits of a good credit rating as well as pay off just one loan instead of multiple loans, both of which are good for your financial standing and psychological health. On the other hand, you will be encouraged to continue your poor spending habits as well as fall victim to unscrupulous debt consolidation firms.

Thus, it is always important to choose carefully the bad credit debt consolidation loan company you will be applying in. You want to make sure that the interest rates you are paying on the debt consolidation loan is worth it, that your loan is not passed on to a third party and that the company will be in business until you have completely paid off your loan. Basically, do your research, ask family and friends and inquire of government agencies.

When you do decide to take out a bad credit debt consolidation loan, you have three basic options to choose from. First, you can take out an unsecured loan to pay off all your existing unsecured loans. Second, you can apply for a secured loan with collateral asset, preferably your house, to back it up and then pay all your present debts. Third, the debt consolidation company will purchase your existing loans from your creditors at a discount.

When choosing from among these options, do consider the pros and cons under each one. For example, buying your loans at a discount can affect your ability to discharge your debts in bankruptcy proceedings although you can avail of considerable savings.

When considering your options, you want a lower interest rate on the total debt consolidation loan, an amortization amount well within your expected budget and a sufficient payment period, among other desirable qualities. Also, it helps if the risk to your house being foreclosed is lessened by the acceptance of other collateral assets. You do not want to end up in a tent city when you were avoiding the cleaners with the debt consolidation loan in the first place – it’s still the same result.

June 26th, 2010 by blythe100 in Uncategorized | No Comments

Credit Rating Recovery After Debt Consolidation

When your finances have got out of hand and you’ve decided to restructure them with a debt consolidation loan, it’s usually recommended that you subsequently cancel all of your paid-off credit cards and close off your other lines of credit that have been repaid as part of the consolidation process. The reasoning behind this is that you need to remove the temptation to build up new unsecured debts on top of your new consolidation loan, leaving you in a worse position than ever.

This is indeed good advice in general, but you may be surprised to hear that in certain circumstances this might not be the ideal way to proceed. If, before consolidation, your finances were in such a state that your credit record became littered with missed and late payments, then closing off your credit lines will actually increase the length of time it takes to recover your previously high level of creditworthiness.

The reason for this is simple: under the UK credit reference system, whenever you close an account, its details are frozen on your file for a period of six years before being deleted. This means that the damage done by your late payments will still impact on your credit rating for all that time, even though you’ve completely satisfied the debt and seemingly put things right.

In contrast, open accounts record their data on a rolling system, where entries which reach the age of three years drop off your file, It’s plain to see that keeping your account open will halve the time it takes for your adverse credit information to be removed from your record, and so your credit rating will be restored correspondingly more rapidly than if you’d followed conventional wisdom and closed off your unused credit lines.

Of course, as with all things financial, things aren’t as simple as that. If your credit file shows that you already have access to a large amount of unused credit, this is in itself usually taken as a warning sign by potential lenders, and may reduce your ability to get credit – for example, you might find it more difficult to negotiate a new mortgage at a good rate during the three years it takes to restore your rating fully.

It really is a balancing act, but if you’re happy to sit out the three year period, this is the quickest way to restore your credit rating, so long as all defaults have been satisfied and other black marks removed whenever possible.

In any event, the spirit of the conventional advice still holds: there’s little point in going through the debt consolidation process if you then immediately start racking up new debts on your old cards and overdrafts etcetera. Even if you decide to keep your accounts open in the interests of speedier credit repair, then at least make it as difficult as possible for you to succumb to temptation. Physically destroy your credit cards so that you can’t use them, and store your account details in a safe place where it will take some effort to retrieve them so that you can’t use them on impulse without at least taking a moment’s pause for thought.

June 22nd, 2010 by blythe100 in Uncategorized | No Comments

Using Debt Consolidation For Unsecured Debt Even With Poor Credit

Credit ratings affect many aspects of modern life. The availability of future credit is determined largely by payment histories and credit ratings. Potential employers use FICO scores to qualify applicants. Insurance companies use credit ratings to evaluate risk and increase premiums. As a result, anyone who has poor credit experiences more difficulty in day-to-day living than people who have average scores. However, the effectiveness of debt consolidation is not diminished by a poor credit rating.

Debt consolidation does not necessarily require qualification for a new loan. Two types of plans are widely available for people with unsecured debts and poor credit. Monthly payments due on unsecured obligations are frequently reduced by 20% and up to 65% using these plans. In addition, credit ratings are relatively unimportant if considered at all.

Management plans are a type of debt consolidation that combines existing unsecured obligations under the administration of a third-party service. Once combined, one monthly payment is made into the plan that is later disbursed to lenders. Savings of 20% are easily achieved by negotiating discounts for monthly interest charges and potentially the forgiveness of a portion of late fees owed. In most situations, the full balance of all existing principal is repaid. To participate, each client must pay a small monthly administration fee that typically ranges from a low of $30 up to approximately $50. Plans that do not charge a setup fee are widely available.

Settlement plans also combine unsecured obligations under the administration of a third-party service. These plans however usually result in substantially larger payment reductions for unsecured obligations. The larger reductions result from more a more aggressive negotiation technique and usually include a partial waiver of principal. For example, credit card payments may decrease by 50% to 70% and repay all remaining balances ahead of schedule. Settlement plans also require participants to pay a small monthly administration fee and additionally include a substantial setup fee. The setup fee is intended to cover the cost of extensive investigation of a client’s financial condition and all required negotiations.

Once enrolling in a management or settlement plan, credit ratings typically drop initially. The decrease occurs because less than the total amount of all charges is repaid. Nevertheless, credit ratings begin a steady climb higher with each passing month so long as payments are made on time. Over two years, many participants receive a much higher credit rating because of a history of timely payments and the full payment of all unsecured obligations.

June 17th, 2010 by blythe100 in Uncategorized | No Comments

Risks of Credit Card Debt Consolidation and How to Deal With Them

When you consolidate debt, there is a risk that you will damage your credit. Really, it depends on a few specific details and if you do your research there is a good chance that you can avoid and disparaging marks on your credit report. Research and communication will help you to avoid these risks.

Why would consolidating debt case a problem with credit? First, in many cases when people opt to consolidate, they are already experiencing problems making ends meet financially. For this reason, their credit may have already begun to experience some problems. If not, this is wonderful news and perhaps any bad marks can be avoided.

In order to deal with the risk of lowering your credit score, when you opt to work with a debt relief agency, tell them your concerns. Express that you would like to avoid any risks to your credit rating. They can often make agreements with your creditors to eliminate negative reporting that has already occurred. If not, then they can at least keep you from getting additional negative comments and reporting. Communicating with your creditors and your debt specialist is the best way to deal with the risk of damaging your credit.

By marking your credit report with the accounts being consolidated noted as paid in full, your credit score will recover quickly from any negative reporting. Stress to your debt specialist that this is your major concern and emphasize that all negotiations should include these requirements.

There are other risks associated with credit card debt consolidation as well. The most obvious risk is giving out your identifying information to a stranger. In order to deal with this risk, one must be aware of the risk and familiar with anyone to whom they will give identifying or financial information. Keep this risk at the back of your mind. Researching any companies you might work with is the best way to prevent identity theft and the best way to deal with the risk of a stranger obtaining your information. Remember that no matter how much research you do, there are no guarantees.

Losing your access to your credit accounts is another risk. When you consolidate, your accounts are generally going to be closed as part of the agreement you establish with the debt relief agency. You will most likely be unable to open any new accounts for the length of your repayment contract. Ask this question before signing any agreements, if your foresee a problem. Sometimes, you will be allowed to keep one major credit card that may or may not be included in the consolidation loan. Again, the best way to deal with the risk of losing access to credit is to communicate with your debt specialist, who will be able to help you navigate the process.

Any time you are asked to provide identity information to a company, it is important to know who you are dealing with. This alone can help to keep you out of trouble when considering the option of credit card debt consolidation. If you take the steps above, and communicate with your creditors and debt relief agency, you will be better prepared to deal with the risks of credit card debt consolidation.

June 1st, 2010 by blythe100 in Uncategorized | No Comments

Behind Bankruptcy Credit Cards For Getting Back on Track With Your Finances

Bankruptcy is often the only “clean” way out of debt. For many people bankruptcy represents something not good, in fact it is so misunderstood that it is associated with hopelessness and desperation. But the truth of the matter is that bankruptcy is the only debt alternative that is provided for in law, therefore seeks for the best of your interests. This includes protecting your from debt collection harassment and giving you enough space to regroup your efforts and live a debt free life. Being debt free is not the end of the story. It also includes getting back the life you had before bankruptcy. One of the most important issues is the access of post bankruptcy credit cards. Is it possible to get back on track with credit and ALL its advantages even after bankruptcy?

The first thing you need to remember is that bankruptcy is not forever. Your case will be closed, your creditors paid up, your credit standing can go a nudge higher. These are all good things and through an optimistic outlook, you can slowly begin to rebuild whatever you have lost with bankruptcy. Legally, bankruptcy can follow your trail for about 10 years. Most of the bad part of bankruptcy however will be removed after your seventh year making you a more attractive prospect for banks and other financial institutions. This is a step forward from the first day after bankruptcy.

The second thing you need to remember is that to rebuild your credit life, you need to get back to using credit right after bankruptcy. It does not heal on its own. You have to pursue it again with the primary purpose of building a “name” that can be trusted again. Through acquiring credit and faithfully paying up, your credit score will go up gradually until such time that you get back to your original credit standing or even better than before.

The things you need to watch out for are the obvious traps in credit. After your bankruptcy there will be numerous credit card companies that will offer you pre-approved credit cards. These companies know you will have a hard time accessing easy credit with the bankruptcy overshadowing your credit standing. Be careful about signing up for these cards. They can bury you to debts that do not help you at all in improving your credit scores. These cards can fetch high annual fees, very high late fees and up to 30% in interest.

You can talk to your bank and get the best deal following bankruptcy credit cards options such as a secured card. Make sure to be patient and careful about your payments with the secured card. Gain favor with your bank and give your credit status a favor. Overtime this card can shift to being unsecured and the credit rebuilding process is initially complete.

May 24th, 2010 by blythe100 in Uncategorized | No Comments