Credit Card Debt: February 2010

Outstanding credit card consolidation help pay debts

By sabye |

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Posted in consolidation ,| Credit ,| Outstanding ,| purpose | 0 comments

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With credit card debt consolidation help, you can easily work your way towards reducing and then ultimately eliminating the large amount of card debts that you might have accumulated due to indiscriminate use of the plastic money and missed monthly payments. The most effective tool that can help you in this journey is consolidation of your loans. However, before implementing this tool you should understand all its implications and strategies.

How It Functions

Credit card debt consolidation help will set into motion the process of consolidation of your loans. The underlying principle of loans consolidation is that all the debts are replaced with a single consolidated loan that is procured at a lower rate of interest than the original debts. This can only be achieved with the debt help from the finance companies. The lower rate of interest of the consolidated loan automatically brings down the amount of the monthly payment.

With the lowering of the monthly payment amount, it becomes easier for you to make regular monthly payments and even have surplus money every month because you were making a higher monthly payment before the free credit card debt consolidation process started. This surplus money can be put to good use if you start paying off the principal amount of your consolidated loan so that you can reach the debt-free zone.

Debt help services can also enable you to sort out your various card dues before consolidating them. By analyzing your various debts you will be able to separate those debts that are currently at a lower rate of interest than the rate of the consolidated loan. It would be futile to include these debts in the basket of consolidated debts.

With this debt help you will have only one loan and one monthly payment to keep track of. It'll be easier for you to remember to make the monthly payment on time. Apart from reducing your debt burden, this will also improve your credit rating as you will be making regular payments. Moreover, consolidation of credit card dues will give you peace of mind and you can relax. An additional advantage of this process is that you will be spared the constant harassing calls of your creditors.

Credit card debt consolidation help will also advise you on making a proper budget for the future so that you can set out your spending limits based on your monthly income. You will also be advised regarding how to avoid misusing cards and about closing most of your credit card accounts.

You should, however, choose professional help that will give you the right advice at every stage. Moreover, you need to avoid those companies that operate in unscrupulous ways and you should try to read between the lines.

Outstanding credit card: how to manage

By sabye | Posted in Credit ,| manage ,| Outstanding | 0 comments

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A lot of people spend more money than they can afford to repay toward their credit card debts. To regain control over your finances and to manage your debt, here are some solutions you can try.

CREATE A SPENDING PLAN

In many cases, people design and then stick to a spending plan to get their debt under control. A spending plan is a guide for how much money you have and how much money you spend. Sticking to a realistic spending plan allows you to pay off your debts and save for the proverbial rainy day.

CREDIT COUNSELING

Many universities, military bases, credit unions and housing authorities operate nonprofit financial counseling programs. Even though some may be called non-profit, a fee may be charged for their services.

Creditors may be willing to accept reduced payments if you’re working with a reputable program to create a debt repayment plan. When you choose a credit counselor, be sure to ask about fees you will have to pay and what kind of counseling you’ll receive.

A credit counseling organization isn’t necessarily legitimate just because it says it’s nonprofit. You may want to check with the Better Business Bureau for any complaints against a counselor or counseling organization. DECLARING

BANKRUPTCY

Bankruptcy is considered as an extreme last resort credit solution. Unlike negative credit information that stays on a credit report for seven years, bankruptcies stay on a credit report for 10 years.

Bankruptcy can make it difficult to rent an apartment, buy a house or a condo, get some types of insurance, get additional credit, and, sometimes, get a job. In some cases, bankruptcy may not be an easily available option.

WHEN TO CONTACT CREDITORS

If you’re having trouble paying your bills, contact your creditors immediately. Tell them why it’s difficult for you, and try to work out a realistic modified plan that reduces your payments to a more manageable level.

Don’t wait until your accounts have been turned over to a debt collector. At this point, it may be too late. Take action immediately and keep a detailed record of your conversations and correspondence.

USE CAUTION WITH DEBT COUNSELING

Turning to a business that offers help in solving debt problems may seem like a reasonable solution when your bills become unmanageable.

Be cautious. Before you do business with any company, check it out with your local consumer protection agency or the Better Business Bureau in the company’s location. One rule to remember is that if a credit repair offer seems too easy or just too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true. And knowing your rights can help you steer clear of rip-offs.

As you try to take control of your credit card debt, be on the lookout for advertisements that offer quick fixes. While ads pitch the promise of debt relief, they rarely mention that this relief comes in the form of bankruptcy.

Because bankruptcy stays on your credit report for 10 years and hinders your ability to get credit, it’s important to ask for details before agreeing to any debt-relief services.It's a good idea to check the information found in your credit report at least once a year.

Since credit agencies report does not share your files, you need to contact each reporting agency to ensure that your information is correct. Three main credit reference agencies: Equifax (1-800-685-1111), Experian (1-888-397-3742), TransUnion (1-800) -888-4213.