Sunday, September 9, 2007

Debt Consolidation A Common Sense Solution to Your Financial Headaches

Debt consolidation loans might be the solution to your financial woes.

Do you have difficulties paying your bills on time? Can you barely cope with your increasing debt problems? Many people like you have credit problems and get help solving them. Securing a debt consolidation loan is often the perfect solution.

Don’t feel intimidated by the title; Debt consolidation is a fairly easy and simple process. When a consumer like you has become overwhelmed by bills, he or she decides to merge all debts into one single loan. People usually pay much less interest when they combine everything they owe onto one bill.

If your debt comes mostly from high interest credit card use, debt consolidation might be a good option for you. Many department store credit cards have interest rates of over 20%! Debt consolidation loans normally charge significantly lower interest.

Lower interest rates translates for most folks into lower payments. This has a positive snowball effect. You can begin to balance your budget, satisfy creditors, and begin to repair your credit standing. Here are some simple tips – beyond a debt consolidation loan -- to managing your debt.

First, organize your finances. Find out exactly what your monthly income and expenses are. This step, as tedious as it might seem, Although this can be a depressing and tedious work, you have to do it in order for you to construct a better budget. Your debt problems will not go away if you ignore them. Be completely honest with yourself so you can accurately analyze your financial picture. You will then be able to make the right economic decisions.

Second, after you organize your finances, check to see if your expenditures include non-essentials. Decide what you can live without, and apply the extra cash to paying down your debt.

Third, agree not to secure any more credit. Credit sounds positive, and your spending power will be temporarily enhanced. Unless you plan on leveraging the new line of credit on money-making opportunities, more credit will simply overload you more.

Fourth, build up your savings. It may be difficult to save money if you have debt problems. Try saving a little money out of each paycheck. Money in savings means you aren’t drowning in debt. You will have options for paying off your bills, and you will be working toward financial independence.

Consolidating high interest rate loans might be in your best, well, interest. Every loan payment has two parts. The first part is the principal amount and the other is the interest on the loan. Understand that paying minimum fees due will cause you to pay a lot more in the long run. In a debt consolidation loan, you can have lesser and lower interest rates and cut down quickly the principal. This means your overall indebtedness decreases quickly.

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Finding The Best Student Loan Consolidation Program

Many college graduates come out of school with several loans to pay off. This means that after the six month grace period there will be payments for each of your loans. Each of those loans will have their own interest rate which will make the loans themselves difficult to pay off completely. Finding the best student loan consolidation program can help you pay less each month and put an end date to those student loans as well.

The first priority will be to find the best student loan consolidation program. Each program will have its own perks and its own drawbacks. One of the most important details to the loan consolidation payback will be the interest rate that is charged each month. If you presently have two loans that charge 8% each you should consider the fact that each month you are paying 16% on your entire student loan. That means that you will be paying thousands on top of the thousands that you borrowed. When you consolidate those loans into one you’ll want to find the best interest rate which you will only be charged once each month.

When you’ve found the best interest rate, you’ll want to make sure that this loan also has the best terms for payback. In other words, be sure that the date set for the termination of the loan is reasonable. If you say that you’ll have your loan paid off in five years, be sure that this is feasible. Of course we can’t predict everything that will happen, but you should have a good idea of the amount that you’ll be able to afford over time. If ten years is more workable, find the best student loan consolidation program that has a good interest rate and the best payback terms.

A flexible loan payback program can be most helpful. There are those times in everyone’s life that money is tight. In those times it may be helpful to put your loan into forbearance. Be sure that the loan you decide to go back is willing to agree on a forbearance or restricted payback amount for a certain period of time while you get your finances back in order.

The loan’s interest rate should not be flexible however. The last thing you need is a large increase in your monthly payment because the interest rate fluctuated. Making sure the interest rate is fixed will also ensure that your payment will always be something that you can live with. When you know the payment that you’ll have to pay each month you’ll find that you can budget effectively.

If possible, make sure there is no penalty for making early payments or for paying the loan off early. If you get a windfall of cash from somewhere, you may want to pay off this student consolidation loan completely, so you want to make sure that is possible.

A consolidation loan can save you thousands. You will pay less each month yet your payment will be more effective. Your loans will have a definite paid date which is not ages into the future. Finding that loan may be easier than you think and certainly worth the trouble.

Debt Consolidation

Debt consolidation means combining all your several debts, usually unsecured debts into just one account resulting in one payment each month instead of several payments. This goes to the debt Consolidation Company who will disburse it among your creditors.

The debt Consolidation Company’s goal is to reach an agreement with your creditors in your behalf so the interest rates or any other late fees can be reduced or scrapped altogether, resulting in lower monthly payments. If your funds are very limited, your creditors may even agree to reduce the principal to an amount you can afford to pay.

The purpose of a debt consolidation company is to work out a program that will benefit both you and your creditors. Your creditors naturally want to see their money paid back and you want to be relieved of your debts in the most painless way possible. Of course, you can negotiate with your creditors yourself but creditors are generally more receptive to negotiating with professionals who are more likely to consider all angles of the situation.

The extent by which the interest rate or the principal amount of your debt is reduced is dependent on your capacity to pay. Before any agreement can be reached, your income and expenses are assessed by the debt Consolidation Company. The result of this assessment is submitted to your creditors as proof. This will become the basis for the terms of agreement.

A debt consolidation program will allow you to pay off your debts in a shorter period, say 4-6 years instead of 10 years, depending on how big your debt is. Another benefit is that your creditors will stop harassing you with telephone calls or letters demanding repayment for your debts. This will take some stress of you and will let you focus.

Common unsecured debts allowed in a debt consolidation program:
• Credit card debt – unpaid credit card balances
• Department store debt – unpaid balance on department store credit cards.
• Student loans – unpaid balance on loans used in pursuing college education.
• Tax debt – arrears on income taxes
• Medical or legal bills – unpaid balance incurred for medical or legal services.
• Personal loans – unpaid balance on personal bank loans or any other financial institutions
• Utility bills – unpaid bills from utility companies such as cable, telephone, gas, heating, electrical or home insurance services.
• Collection agencies – unpaid debt on bills that have been referred to a collection agency for repayment.

Choosing the right debt consolidation firm is important. Consolidating your debts will cost you money so find out what the fees are, whether you afford it with your current financial situation and any hidden or additional fees. Find out as much as you can so you do not end up with a dishonest company who does not have your best interest in mind.

When you enter a debt consolidation program, there are several conditions you have to adhere to, namely: to give the complete monthly payment on time every time until your debts are settled and to stop using your credit card or acquiring more debts.

Benefits of debt consolidation

• Lower monthly payments – this lessens the time you are required to pay your debt and ensure that you will be able to meet daily living expenses and still save for emergencies.

• Accrued interest on loans are reduced or eliminated altogether. For example, if you have been defaulting on paying a $2000 loan for a long time and your accrued interest and late fees amount to $1500, the Consolidation Company can negotiate for the interest and late charges to be written off so you only owe $2000. Therefore, you will be able to pay your debt easily and in a shorter timeframe, accelerating your debt-free life.

• Only one monthly payment. You only need to remember one payment date reducing the probability that you will miss paying it.

• Improve credit – unpaid or late payments can reflect badly on your credit report and lower your credit score. Once you start paying, your credit will gradually improve. After your debts are paid in full, it is possible to get your credit account reported in your favor.

• Avoid harassing telephone calls from creditors – your creditors will subsequently deal with the Consolidation Company instead of you.

• Budget tips – your new repayment plan generally includes budgeting tips to help you save for emergencies, in effect there will be no need for you to borrow money again and you can start building your finances again.

Debt consolidation is often confused with debt consolidation loan. The difference is that debt consolidation means rolling multiple debts into one resulting in a single monthly payment while debt consolidation loan means taking out a loan, usually secured on any valuable assets you may have, such as your home, to cover all your current debts.

Debt Consolidation Help - What You should Consider Prior to Filing Bankruptcy

Some people regard bankruptcy as a simple method to offload a killing debt problem, and it is sometimes the first system they reach for, well it might relieve the problem, however it is far from simple and had better be the very last action you use to achieve debt relief.

Whilst the law has made it relatively simple to actually file papers, the system like any other legal proceeding is far from effortless, you will still have to justify your filing, revealing all your financial history to a judge and opening it to objections by creditors, should you actually owe the cash, they are unlikely to settle easily for 10 or 15 cents or in many cases less, on the dollar.

Even if you are successful, there are multiple long term impacts that you will want to consider carefully before taking such a drastic step.

You may lose any credit cards that have remaining balances, and others could elect to close your accounts, you will also find it difficult to get a home loan or other considerable credit line , except possibly at the kind of ruinous interest rates that most probably led, in part to your current debt problem, also, not all debts are covered even by a bankruptcy filing, student loans, back taxes within the past three years and a range of other debts are typically exempt from bankruptcy protection.

This situation will persist for up to 10 years, during which time you may need to maintain a near perfect credit history in order to build your way back to an effective level of trust, potential creditors will regard any bankruptcy as the worst criterion on any credit report, even additionally to a low FICO total score, as well as the credit impact, you might genuinely be forced to forfeit real assets such as high-priced jewelery, a boat and other items depending on when they were acquired, most states offer an exception for the principal residence and your vehicle, nonetheless if you have secondary property, this might not be protected.

In conclusion, the bankruptcy action itself is not without cost the courts always have required charges and should you need to use an attorney this too will most likely cost you, which can add the last straw to an already very poor financial problem.

On a positive note, you will acquire relief from debt collection efforts, provided they obtain notification, your income can not be garnished and any foreclosure proceedings may be stopped, by participating in proceedings sooner rather than later, you may start to build a new credit history this more often than not better than the past one. Since you will not have access to new credit cards, this can genuinely be an advantage, there are some people who simply shouldn't have access to simple credit, until and unless he or she may find a method to change their habits.

Friday, September 7, 2007

Free Credit Card Consolidation Quotes

If you are drowning in credit card debt, a debt consolidation loan can keep you from filing for bankruptcy and having bad credit. A free online credit card debt consolidation quote can be obtained to get you going in the right direction.

Regaining Your Good Credit

Taking control of your credit now is important if you ever want to have anything in life. Having bad credit will make it hard for you to find a place to rent and will affect your chances of getting a loan, possibly for a much needed car. A debt consolidation company is a good choice for helping you out of financial ruins if you get the right company.

Look for a Company who Gives Free Quotes

Any reputable debt consolidation company will make a free online debt consolidation offer to you. Most good companies are more interested in showing you what they can do for you to gain you as a long term customer rather than charge you a fee upfront.

Do Your Research On Debt Consolidation Companies

Many companies offer a free online debt consolidation quote. Do your research before working with any company as some may require for you to put up some of your assets, like your house, up for collateral on the loan.

How to Choose the Right Consolidation Loan

Make sure you get your free debt consolidation quotes from at least 3 reputable companies to compare rates and terms they have offered you. Make sure to ask the companies the total monthly payment that would be required of you and for how long the repayment schedule is so that you can figure out which debt consolidation company is offering you the best deal.

Don’t pay an upfront fee to any debt consolidation company before they do a service for you. Most companies who require a fee will be trying to scam you out of your initial funds and never deliver a debt consolidation loan to help you out of your situation. Only pay after you have researched the company you are choosing carefully.

Secured Debt Consolidation Loan Will Remove Debts at Low Rate

To remove your debts, you will need some money so that you can pay off them completely. This money is available to you as a debt consolidation loan. To lower the rate, the best you can do is pledge collateral for it and borrow a secured debt consolidation loan.

A secured debt consolidation loan will help the borrowers in paying off their debts to the creditors and removing them completely. The debt worries of a borrower are all solved by taking up secured debt consolidation loan which is available at a low rate of interest.

To avail a secured debt consolidation loan, the borrower has to pledge any of his assets with the lender as collateral for the loan. The asset of the borrower should have a high equity in the market so that the borrower can get a lower rate of interest. The asset of the borrower is in safe hands of the lender of the secured debt consolidation loan. It just works as a security in case of non-repayment of the loan which is a very rare happening.

The secured debt consolidation loan will be equal in amount to all the debts totaled up. This loan will repay all the debts of the borrower and reduces his burden of multiple debts and lenders. Now to repay the secured debt consolidation loan, he just has to repay one monthly installment and that too at a lower rate of interest.

Bad credit borrowers can also borrow secured debt consolidation loan to remove their debts. It is in fact the best way to lower the rates of interest for bad credit borrowers. They can get suitable deals by proper research that is conducted for the secured debt consolidation loan.

Online research and application for secured debt consolidation loan can help the borrowers in availing low rates of interest. The processing is fast and the accessibility is also great.

Secured debt consolidation loan is a deal for the borrowers which can help solve all problems caused due to multiple debts and release him of all financial pressures.

Debt Consolidation Can Help You Repair Your Credit Score As Well

The apparent benefit of bad credit debt consolidation is that it helps you to manage your debts in a better way and to become debt free in some time.

Every individual has a credit rating and this rating decides the credit worthiness of that individual in the market. Your credit report is the most important document, which enables you to pay for expenses and make purchases in the market as well as secure loans, personal or commercial. It should be your greatest endeavor to keep it clean and high. A small remark, a missed payment or bouncing of a check can start the irrevocable process of bad credit which may lead you to a debt hole. When you are neck deep in debt, your credit score starts a southward journey. This could be very harmful for your future financial prospects. However, with many options of bad credit debt consolidation available, you can not only reduce the debt burden but also improve your credit score.

Take Help of A Debt Consolidation Company

A little maneuvering on your part can help you to mend your inability completely or at least start the process of credit repair with the help of an appropriate debt consolidation program.

You have to devise a step-by-step plan to start the process of credit restoration. All you need to do is to stick to your debt consolidation program as suggested by the credit counselors of the debt consolidation company.

Before you approach a credit repair or a debt consolidation company, do some homework. Try to go through your credit report reading every minute detail and report any misleading or wrong information to the credit bureaus immediately to recover lost ground. The bureaus will provide you all help in investigating and rectifying the error in the report. Beware of ID theft, as it can ruin your credit report within minutes. Report loss of card, or suspicion of fraud immediately, to the authorities concerned.

Another way of credit repair or improve your credit rating is to delete entries that are obsolete or delinquent and are still being shown on your credit report. Such entries spoil your rating unnecessarily by creating doubts and suspicion and hurt your credit score. You get all the services you need when you approach a debt consolidation company to devise a plan for you to pay off your creditors and come out with a single monthly payment plan for you.

When you are considering a debt consolidation program for credit repair, it pays to remember a few important points.

# Correct information cannot be removed from your credit report. If your credit report displays a report on bankruptcy then nobody can claim to remove it.
# You cannot open another credit file while one is already open. You cannot have two credit files or two social security numbers even if claimed to the contrary.
# Do not make any advance payments to the bad credit debt consolidation or credit Repair Company, as you have to pay only after the plan is over.
# Check your APR; it should be at least 50% lower than the average rate of interest you were paying earlier.
# The monthly installment and the term of the debt consolidation program should suit you and your current income after accommodating for your personal expenses every month.