Downside to debt consolidation

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How to reduce credit card debt
One of the easiest "things" that can happen in life is the ratcheting up of a large credit card debt. For whatever reason, making purchases with credit cards seems easier than spending cash to obtain a product or service.

Maintaining high levels of credit card debt is not prudent. The interest rates associated with most credit cards is high. In fact, many people have managed to rack the... Read debt consolidation 1 article



Bad credit and debt problems - Get help now
Do you have debt problems causing bad credit? Then seek help of services offered by debt management companies. Whether you need advice or supervision over your accounts, people can help.

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Even if you only have a few questions, credit counseling can steer you in the right direction. A certified counselor will confidentially go over your financial re... Read debt consolidation 1 article



Downside to debt consolidation
There's no doubt you'll have heard plenty about debt consolidation loans - our TV screens are full of adverts promising freedom from financial worry, and the internet is positively flooded with solicitations to lock in a low rate with a refinancing package.

If you're having difficulties keeping up with your bills and credit repayments, or even facing the prospect of recovery action on overdue installments, then the idea of debt consolidation can be very seductive. By combining all your current debts into one single loan, the theory goes, you'll be benefitting from both a reduction in your monthly repayment amount and a lifting of the stress caused by constantly having to juggle your finances.

But is debt consolidation really as simple as all that? Of course there are benefits to restructuring your financial life in this way, and the adverts aren't shy of pointing out the positive side, but before embarking on this course of action there are a few negative aspects you'd be well advised to consider. Only then can you make a fully informed decision on whether debt consolidation is right for you.

Firstly, in order to secure a lower monthly repayment you either have to get credit at a lower interest rate, or spread your payments over a longer period. Most consolidation packages rely on a combination of both, but it's almost certain that the deal will involve a lengthy loan term. This means that you'll be paying interest on your debt for longer, and the total amount of interest you'll be charged will in the long run be higher. You may feel that this is a price worth paying for reducing your monthly bills to a more manageable level, and you may indeed feel you have little other choice, but it's a point to bear in mind.

Another potential problem with consolidation is that, in a sense, you're giving yourself a fresh start financially. You're wiping out all those worrying debts and getting your finances back under control. This is of course a good thing - but you'll be left with all your old credit card accounts with a zero balance, and all the temptations to spend that that may provide. If you're not careful, you could end up in an even worse situation - having to pay back a large loan while running up new debts at the same time.

This pitfall can of course be avoided by canceling your card accounts at the same time as you clear the balances, and it is strongly advisable that you do this.

The final problem to bear in mind is that by consolidating you will probably be shifting unsecured debt into a secured loan using your home as collateral. This means that if, in the future, you fall behind with your payments, you could risk losing your home as your creditor calls in the debt through foreclosure. This is a serious drawback, and if most of your current debt is unsecured then you might wish to explore every other possibility before tying it up to your home.

So, is debt consolidation an altogether bad option for sorting out your finances? Not at all. It can be a very effective strategy for dealing with problem debts, but it shouldn't be entered into blindly, no matter how attractive the advertisements may appear.

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Three Worst Debt Consolidation Moves

You have unbearable debts and the debt consolidation might be your option for you debt problem. There are so many debt consolidation agencies around in the marketing with their "The Best" debt management program which will help you to resolve your debt problem. All the plans seem to very good and it is a hard decision for you to select the best for you.

While considering all the plans offers by debt consolidation agencies, there are at least 3 worst debt consolidation moves which you should avoid them. These 3 worst debt consolidation moves include:

1. The Hard-Money Loan

If you already miss a few months' repayment and your repayment sums are piling up and exceed your monthly financial capability; and you are tired of answering harassing call and mails from various creditors to urge you to make payment. Then, you probably need a loan urgently to eliminate the harassment from creditors and bring down your monthly repayment to affordable level.

The consolidator may entice you with promises of an easy-does-it loan, and end up charging you higher interest rates than you're paying now -- as high as 21% or 22%. "Your monthly payment may be lower" with one of these loans, "but you'll end up paying more". You should get a consolidator who will look for other alternatives besides offering you an easy loan with high interest rate, such as negotiate with your creditors for better repayment options.

2. Debt Consolidators Who Promise to Take Care of Everything

The debt consolidation companies may incur an up front fee of one easy payment to cover for everything, they will negotiate lower interest rates, reduce your monthly payments. & etc. These debt consolidation companies will promise you that they will take care everything for you and all you have to do is make "one Easy payment'

In reality, many debt consolidators build in a fee as part of the monthly payment you make to them. It's usually about 10% of the payment (i.e. about $50 on a $500 monthly payment). They pass along your payments to the creditor and get back a 10% to 15% from your creditors; normally this is part of the negotiation outcome with your creditors.

Here's another risk with consolidators you should know about: they have been known, in some cases, to make late payments or even miss payments, thus worsening your plight (and your credit record). Hence, it is good for you to follow up with the debt consolidation company or even your creditors to check you payment status.

3. The Balance Transfer Trap

Low-interest balance-transfer cards are a dime a dozen these days, but remember that those rates only last a few months. Most of the balance transfer plans offer you with a low interest for the first fee month normally 3, 6 or 9 months; after that period, the interest rate will get back to normal, worse still almost all the balance transfer plans will require you to pay for a process fee. After that "low-interest-rate" period, you may have to apply new card to balance transfer these amount again. The danger is that at some point all this activity begins to show up on your credit report, and you start to look like a bad risk.

If you think you can swing from the balance-transfer vines for a few months, just make sure you formally close all your accounts yourself, and then notify the credit-card company to mark the account "closed at customer's request". Otherwise, on your credit report, it will look like the creditor closed your account which will have a bad impact on you credit record.




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Downside to debt consolidation
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