Posts tagged ‘Creditors’

Who To Go To For Debt Advice?

By Admin, 13 January, 2011, No Comment

Personal debt is not only a very common problem in Western countries; it is a very difficult problem to prevent, or overcome, at an individual level. It is, indeed, very personal. For that reason, many people may want to keep quiet about it, and maybe not even tell close family that there is, or is about to be, a money problem. They would probably benefit from some help, but who do they go to for debt advice?

Prior to actually receiving debt advice, most people will go through three phases: Firstly, acceptance that there is a debt problem; Secondly, deciding whether to seek advice from a third party about the problem; and Thirdly finding out where to get advice and then seeking it.

Acceptance of a Debt Problem

Personal debt is something that many people may not even be aware of as a problem, even when it is. They may be in a revolving debt situation, whereby they keep borrowing more to make repayments on existing loans and credit card debts. As each facility reaches its maximum, they may seek another credit card, to add another creditor to their revolving debt cycle. Eventually, the debt roundabout stops, and creditors come after their money. If acceptance of the problem has not be there before, suddenly a person may be forced into acceptance.

Deciding Whether to Seek Debt Advice

Once the debt problem is accepted, or acknowledged, by an individual, they then have to decide if they need to seek advice.

Some people may be aware that they have a problem, and for a variety of reasons, may think that they can get by without any outside advice. They may think they do not need help as they can sort the problem out themselves. It is also quite common for some people to be too ashamed and embarrassed to admit that they have a debt problem, especially if they live in a country where being in debt has a social stigma attached to it, such as the UK. Others may just think that getting debt advice is either too expensive, or that they will be conned out of their money, or both.

Eventually, though, the weight of the debt burden forces most people to consider seeking advice on their debt situation. The pressures from creditors may become so overwhelming that even the most reluctant may seek some sort of expert debt advice or counseling.

Who Can Provide Debt Advice?

The next stage can be as difficult for many people as the earlier two: finding somebody appropriate, trustworthy and knowledgeable, who can be relied on to provide sound financial advice in a way that benefits you, and will help you extricate yourself from the burden of debt.

As with any problem, it is best to share with those close to you; indeed, with debt, they may well be affected anyway, so they should know. While you have been quietly suffering with debt worries and keeping it to yourself, your spouse or close friend may know somebody who can give free and useful advice, as well as share the emotional burden.

Should there be nobody in your close circle who is able to give you useful advice, which is normally the case, then you need to consider your local options.

The local options for debt counseling and advice will depend on where you live. The local laws may vary greatly, and it is important that you consult somebody who is aware of current regulations on consumer debt, and the treatment of debtors by creditors. That way, you may have your worries eased about your creditors coming to your house, and taking your possessions as a way of recovering their money. You will be aware of any legal protection you may have in your country or state, and act accordingly to protect yourself.

For those who live in the UK, there is a free option for debt advice: the Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB). The CAB have specially trained people who concentrate mainly on consumer credit counseling work. They will provide the advice you need on your rights, help you assess the debts, and then write to your creditors on your behalf. Having an advisor who will contact your creditors, and deal with them on your behalf, can reduce the personal pressure enormously.

In other countries, options will vary. What can discourage many from seeking advice about their debt problem is a fear that they will be cheated by an unscrupulous counsellor. Debt is an industry that, unfortunately, does attract some who prey on the unfortunate. They may lure customers with claims of being able to clear a bad credit record, when in fact it is not possible to do so. They may tempt people in bad debt with consolidation loans, demand a high up front payment, and then get a high commission on the loan as well.

Such sharks are quite easy to avoid if you shop around for the best counselling services at a reasonable cost. The following tips may help wherever you live:

1.Check with local and central government agencies to see if there are any free debt advice services. If not, ask if there is a licensing system for legitimate advisors, and stick to those.

2.Be wary of outrageous claims to clear your debt, and requests for large upfront payments.

3.If you decide a consolidation loan may help, shop around carefully, and select the lowest interest rate option, with no upfront charges.

Once you have found an advisor, be sure to take their advice, and co-operate in every way you can to allow them to improve your debt situation. It will be worthwhile in the long run.

When Your Debts Get Tougher

By Admin, 6 January, 2011, No Comment

Financial problems are ones of the most difficult to solve.

We cannot do away with them because there will be points of our lives when we need to ask somebody to lend us some amount: big or small. Inevitable situations like death of the breadwinner in a family, terrible sickness or any emergency for that matter and so many credit cards to pay for. These push someone to lend money.

You can lend money in the fastest way available now. With an advanced system of money lending today, you will really be tempt to give it a try. Borrow fast and pay slow or possibilities may not be favorable to you. Worst, you will have a hard time paying for them. This is where bankruptcy knocks on. Bankruptcy is fatal. Yes, it is a figurative way of telling how bankruptcy may bring the most negative effects to a person or to a home.

When one faces this so tough problem, the bankruptcy laws with a lawyers help may ease the burden. Your lawyer may give u good advice like talking to your creditor asking them to lower down a bit or ask them to give you more time to pay. Another option is to seek advice from a credit counseling service. Private or public, they will help you deal with this situation and may help you negotiate with your creditors. The last available option is debt consolidation.

US bankruptcy laws offer two options for bankruptcy. One can choose between liquidation plan and repayment plan. These have both advantages and disadvantages. Consider all the sides of the situation and choose what suits you best.

You start your move to survive against bankruptcy by bankruptcy proceedings. This is commenced by filing bankruptcy forms. One gives his or her personal information. This includes your list of assets and liabilities. A meeting with ones creditors will happen after a month. In most cases, creditors do not show up. This meeting aims to ask and confirm what one has written on the form. An interrogation will let you answer questions regarding your assets and liabilities. Ones lawyer is always there to help him or her out.

Under the bankruptcy laws, its will protect you from the harassment of your creditors before the proceeding starts It means you will not experience all those pressing calls forcing you to pay as soon as the next day. Creditors are not allowed to contact you during unreasonable hours. In addition, creditors must not leak your situation in your workplace. It will just modify the way your work image to your boss. Moreover, creditors are asked to cancel any means of hurrying you up to pay. Another important point is that your current employer is not allowed to use your bankruptcy as a reason for firing you out of a company.

A trustee appointed by the court will work with you after you have filed your bankruptcy forms. In the liquidation proceeding and repayment option, the trustee portrays different roles. He has the role to sell your assets and the money acquired will be distributed among your creditors. That is his role on the former. On the latter, he has the role of collecting payments from you and he will distribute them to your creditors. He also takes control in approving any of your new credit obligations.

After the bankruptcy proceedings, the court will end your accountability to dischargeable debts. For a span of ten years, all your bankruptcy proceeding records will be noted. Within this span of time, this record will be considered by any agency or person you wish to transact business with. The proceeding and all is not for free but one will not pay too much. An amount for the forms is the only thing to pay for. For a repayment option, one needs to pay like 10% of the amount you paid for the creditors. Lawyers fee may soar but the result will send one to greater heights.

Bankruptcy is inevitable. It may be the test of fate. But do not even let it test you.

What Are Debt Negotiation Programs?

By Admin, 16 December, 2010, No Comment

Debt negotiation is not the same thing as credit counseling or a Debt Management Plan (DMP). It can be very risky and have a long term negative impact on your credit report and, in turn, your ability to get credit. Thats why many states have laws regulating debt negotiation companies and the services they offer.

The Claims

Debt negotiation firms may claim theyre non-profit. They also may claim that they can arrange for your unsecured debt typically, credit card debt to be paid off for anywhere from 10 to 50 percent of the balance owed. For example, if you owe 10,000 on a credit card, a debt negotiation firm may claim it can arrange for you to pay off the debt with a lesser amount, say 4,000.

The firms often pitch their services as an alternative to bankruptcy. They may claim that using their services will have little or no negative impact on your ability to get credit in the future, or that any negative information can be removed from your credit report when you complete the debt negotiation program. The firms usually tell you to stop making payments to your creditors and instead, send your payments to the debt negotiation company. The firms may promise to hold your funds in a special account and pay the creditors on your behalf.

The Truth

Just because a debt negotiation company describes itself as a non-profit organization, theres no guarantee that the services they offer are legitimate. There also is no guarantee that a creditor will accept partial payment of a legitimate debt. In fact, if you stop making payments on a credit card, late fees and interest usually are added to the debt each month.

If you exceed your credit limit, additional fees and charges also can be added. All this can quickly cause a consumers original debt to double or triple. Whats more, most debt negotiation companies charge consumers substantial fees for their services, including a fee to establish the account with the debt negotiator, a monthly service fee, and a final fee of a percentage of the money youve supposedly saved.

While creditors have no obligation to agree to negotiate the amount a consumer owes, they have a legal obligation to provide accurate information to the credit reporting agencies, including your failure to make monthly payments. That can result in a negative entry on your credit report.

And in certain situations, creditors may have the right to sue you to recover the money you owe. In some instances, when creditors win a lawsuit, they have the right to garnish your wages or put a lien on your home. Finally, the Internal Revenue Service may consider any amount of forgiven debt to be taxable income.

Tip-offs to Rip-offs

Steer clear of debt negotiation companies that:

– guarantee they can remove your unsecured debt

– promise that unsecured debts can be paid off with pennies on the pound

– require substantial monthly service fees

– demand payment of a percentage of savings

– tell you to stop making payments to or communicating with your creditors

– require you to make monthly payments to them, rather than with your creditor

– claim that creditors never sue consumers for non-payment of unsecured debt

– promise that using their system will have no negative impact on your credit report

– claim that they can remove accurate negative information from your credit report.

If you decide to work with a debt negotiation company, be sure to check it out with your state Attorney General, local consumer protection agency, and the Better Business Bureau. They can tell you if any consumer complaints are on file about the firm youre considering doing business with. Also, ask your state Attorney General if the company is required to be licensed to work in your state and, if so, whether it is.

The Two Step Dance Too Facing Your Mountain Of Debt

By Admin, 9 December, 2010, No Comment

The Two Step Dance Too Facing Your Mountain Of Debt Rather Than Running Scared

If you find yourself in the situation where it is not possible to repay your debts, consider the following two steps to recovery:

Step 1: In spite of avoiding your situation you’d be way better off by taking some aggressive steps to solve it. If you have already reached the point where you cannot keep up with repayments, it is VITAL that you inform your creditor about it and explain what’s going on. This is your first step to freedom and if you contact your creditors first before they contact you, you’ll reassure them you are taking your situation seriously and have taken responsibility.

Don’t delay, contact your creditors early and never ignore letters from your creditors; this kind of action can make them furious. They may even try to take you to court early before you can file a bankruptcy case. Always remember that they do not want to take any legal action, unless your lack of communication and action force them to do so! Talk seriously with them as your creditors will only be considering a court case as a final option. All court actions are time consuming, unpredictable and costly; therefore it is only the last option for them.

Step 2: Repayment is a question of mathematics and a very simple commercial decision for your creditors. You see, they know it’s better for them to take their money back with mutual commitments (lower interest rates) rather than going through court procedures. Legal procedures usually benefit nobody, except accountants and lawyers. And most lenders realize this! If they are offered a small payment schedule over a longer period, most lenders will gladly accept this option. In this case they can get their money back rather than the option of bankruptcy. There are many brokers out there who will help with situations like this and begin the negotiations.

Prepare a budget, and confirm how much you can afford to pay towards your debts each month, than contact your lenders and offer them your idea – either on your own or with the help of a credit card debt consolidation expert. If you decide you’d like help simply compile a list of all your debts and give one of your local debt consolidation experts a ring. They have their fees but will already know who to call and will save you a pile of time since they do credit card debt management all the time. They will know the fastest and best way to eliminate credit card debt and get you back into a situation you can afford.

Your attitude towards your debts and your fiscal situation can take off some unneeded pressure. Be honest with yourself and your creditors – as it will be your advantage in such cases. Never choose the option of bankruptcy, as it always has undesirable legal restrictions that could come back to bite you down the road. Above all try to have fun, 2 step a bunch, smile more than normal and no matter how big the mountain of debt just know you can beat it with small bites, one at a time!

The Tax Implications of Debt Settlement and Why Chances Are

By Admin, 2 December, 2010, No Comment

The Tax Implications of Debt Settlement and Why Chances Are You Shouldnt Care

(The author of this article is not a tax attorney, CPA, or enrolled agent, and this is not to be considered tax advice. If you need tax advice, you should consult someone who is certified in this arena.

Did you hear about Bill Gates? He decided to give away all his shares of Microsoft and start working at a car wash in Seattle. When Larry King asked him why he decided to do it, Gates admitted that he was losing too much money on the taxes. You see—by making 7 an hour, he would be in the lowest tax bracket, and if he could manage to make less than 19,000 a year, then he would not have to pay any taxes at all! Back when he was making a 1 billion annually, he was left with 500 million after taxes every year. So Gates thinks he can make more money this way.

As preposterous as the above example sounds, its exactly the same logic employed by consumers who fear the tax implications of debt settlement. For one, most people enrolled in debt negotiation programs dont have to pay taxes on their savings as is (more on this later). Secondly, why in the world would it ever even deter you from enrolling in a debt settlement program anyway? Its literally the equivalent of someone turning down a million pound salary for minimum wages because of the favorable tax implications. Consider the following scenario.

Frank owed 20,000 at 19% interest when he enrolled in a debt settlement program. When it was all said and done, Frank was able to reduce his debt down by 45% and in the process he saved 9000 off the balance alone. Unfortunately, each of his creditors reported his savings to the IRS and he was forced to tack on 9000 to his 40,000 annual income. So he was taxed like he made 49,000, which put him in the 30% tax bracket and meant he had to come up with 2700 on April 15th. Regrettably, Frank did not have the money, so he got on a payment plan with the IRS, who charged him their current interest rate, which happens to be 8 percent annually. In the end, Frank paid off the IRS in 1 year for 2916. This means that Frank in actuality only saved about 6,000 off the balance. So would Frank have been better off continuing to pay the minimums instead of settling his debts? Lets see. He saved 6,000 off the balance alone and roughly 40,000 in interest charges, which brings his net savings to 46,000. Its pretty clear that it was still in Franks best interests financially to do debt settlement.

It does not end here. Most debt settlement candidates never have to pay taxes on the debt anyway. The IRS exempts anyone who was technically insolvent at the time their debt was settled from having to pay taxes on the savings. So the next question is, what does it mean to be insolvent? According the IRS, someone is insolvent when their assets (what you own) exceed their liabilities (what you owe), and it should come as no surprise that when someone is at the point when theyre seeking debt relief, theyre probably in debt up to their eye balls and therefore are insolvent. If you owe more than the value of your assets, then all you have to do is fill out IRS form 982 along with your tax return illustrating this fact. All told it will probably take you a couple hours to do this, and if you saved 46,000 like Frank in our example, then its the equivalent of making 23,000 an hour. Unless youre Bill Gates, its probably worth it.

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act And You

By Admin, 7 October, 2010, No Comment

If you fall behind in repaying your creditors, or an error is made on your accounts, you may be contacted by a “debt collector.”

You should know that in either situation, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act requires that debt collectors treat you fairly and prohibits certain methods of debt collection. Of course, the law does not erase any legitimate debt you owe.

This article answers commonly asked questions about your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

What debts are covered?

Personal, family, and household debts are covered under the Act. This includes money owed for the purchase of an automobile, for medical care, or for charge accounts.

Who is a debt collector?

A debt collector is any person who regularly collects debts owed to others. This includes attorneys who collect debts on a regular basis.

How may a debt collector contact you?

A collector may contact you in person, by mail, telephone, telegram, or fax. However, a debt collector may not contact you at inconvenient times or places, such as before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., unless you agree. A debt collector also may not contact you at work if the collector knows that your employer disapproves of such contacts.

Can you stop a debt collector from contacting you?

You can stop a debt collector from contacting you by writing a letter to the collector telling them to stop. Once the collector receives your letter, they may not contact you again except to say there will be no further contact or to notify you that the debt collector or the creditor intends to take some specific action. Please note, however, that sending such a letter to a collector does not make the debt go away if you actually owe it. You could still be sued by the debt collector or your original creditor.

May a debt collector contact anyone else about your debt?

If you have an attorney, the debt collector must contact the attorney, rather than you. If you do not have an attorney, a collector may contact other people, but only to find out where you live, what your phone number is, and where you work. Collectors usually are prohibited from contacting such third parties more than once. In most cases, the collector may not tell anyone other than you and your attorney that you owe money.

What must the debt collector tell you about the debt?

Within five days after you are first contacted, the collector must send you a written notice telling you the amount of money you owe; the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money; and what action to take if you believe you do not owe the money.

May a debt collector continue to contact you if you believe you do not owe money?

A collector may not contact you if, within 30 days after you receive the written notice, you send the collection agency a letter stating you do not owe money. However, a collector can renew collection activities if you are sent proof of the debt, such as a copy of a bill for the amount owed.

What types of debt collection practices are prohibited?

Harassment. Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you or any third parties they contact.

For example, debt collectors may not:
– use threats of violence or harm;
– publish a list of consumers who refuse to pay their debts (except to a credit bureau);
– use obscene or profane language; or repeatedly use the telephone to annoy someone.

False statements. Debt collectors may not use any false or misleading statements when collecting a debt. For example, debt collectors may not:
– falsely imply that they are attorneys or government representatives;
– falsely imply that you have committed a crime;
– falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit bureau;
– misrepresent the amount of your debt;
– indicate that papers being sent to you are legal forms when they are not; or
– indicate that papers being sent to you are not legal forms when they are.

Debt collectors also may not state that:

– you will be arrested if you do not pay your debt;
– they will seize, garnish, attach, or sell your property or wages, unless the collection agency or creditor intends to do so, and it is legal to do so; or
– actions, such as a lawsuit, will be taken against you, when such action legally may not be taken, or when they do not intend to take such action.

Debt collectors may not:

– give false credit information about you to anyone, including a credit bureau;
– send you anything that looks like an official document from a court or government agency when it is not; or
– use a false name.

Unfair practices. Debt collectors may not engage in unfair practices when they try to collect a debt. For example, collectors may not:

– collect any amount greater than your debt, unless your state law permits such
a charge;
– deposit a post-dated check prematurely;
– use deception to make you accept collect calls or pay for telegrams;
– take or threaten to take your property unless this can be done legally; or
– contact you by postcard.

What control do you have over payment of debts?

If you owe more than one debt, any payment you make must be applied to the debt you indicate. A debt collector may not apply a payment to any debt you believe you do not owe.

What can you do if you believe a debt collector violated the law?

You have the right to sue a collector in a state or federal court within one year from the date the law was violated. If you win, you may recover money for the damages you suffered plus an additional amount up to 1,000. Court costs and attorney’s fees also can be recovered. A group of people also may sue a debt collector and recover money for damages up to 500,000, or one percent of the collector’s net worth, whichever is less.

Where can you report a debt collector for an alleged violation?

Report any problems you have with a debt collector to your state Attorney General’s office and the Federal Trade Commission. Many states have their own debt collection laws, and your Attorney General’s office can help you determine your rights.

Eliminating Every Risk Unsecured Debt Consolidation Loan

By Admin, 23 September, 2010, No Comment

Getting into debts is sometimes like getting stuck in a quagmire, the more you try to come out of it the deeper you go into it. This trend has been seen and noticed in many countries around the world. So if you or anyone in your close relations finds himself in a similar situation then my advice will be to go in for unsecured debt consolidation loans.

What unsecured debt consolidation loans do is that they provide a single loan to a borrower to cover up for the other debts that the person may have accumulated over a period of time. A person can take the unsecured debt consolidation loans in two circumstances. The first one when he is not able to pay off his debts to all the creditors and the other when he just takes the loan to make it easier for himself to pay the other loans.

Unsecured debt consolidation loans as the name suggests are not secured loans i.e. to avail them it is not necessary to provide any sort of asset or collateral need not be pledged. This makes the loan highly accessible to large number of the UK population. This is because many of the local population has no collateral or do not want to offer any to the creditors.

Many people are of the opinion that the unsecured debt consolidation loans are the second best option after the secured loans. That though is only a delusion, unsecured debt consolidation loans offer the similar advantage to the borrowers that too without any obligation to provide a security. So, if we weigh all the options they might be a better bet then the secured loans as there is now nothing for borrowers to loose.

There are people who just stick to the same routine of paying the loans without considering what is going on around them without considering the advantages that they may get by taking the unsecured debt consolidation loans. One thing that can be inferred and seen from the experiences that the people have only enjoyed and went on achieve more with the help of the unsecured debt consolidation loans. Whereas, people who persisted with their multiple creditors had problems in future. So what the past experiences and the experts tell us is that debt consolidation loans are a option that every borrower should consider.

Applying for the unsecured debt consolidation is not a difficult task as well all the borrowers need to do is either apply to an online lender or a local lender and submit your case with him. If the profile matches loan will be approved in good time. Both statistics and experts tell us the same things so why not try the loans as in the best case scenario you will enjoy many benefits and in the worst case you will remain equal.

Eliminate The Burden Of Debts With Bad Debt Consolidation

By Admin, 9 September, 2010, No Comment

The burden of debts had almost eaten me up in the past. I used to get threatening calls from the lenders I had borrowed money. Because of this I even got denounced as a bad debtor. I took a sigh of relief when a friend told me about the bad debt consolidation service.

Bad debt consolidation is the process of clubbing multiple debts into one. If you have witnessed the problem of arrears, defaults, County Court Judgment or bankruptcy, bad debt consolidation is the best option for you.

The first step towards bad debt consolidation is having knowledge of ones credit score. A score of 850 as rated by FICO is considered as the best. A score of 600 and below is considered as bad. The borrower should take measures in order to improve the credit score. It might happen that your credit report contains certain unsolicited debts. In that case, you should immediately report it to a credit rating agency and get the credit report updated.

Bad debt consolidation offers to serve you in the form of secured and unsecured loans. Secured loan can be availed on placing any property as collateral. Those not interested in placing a collateral can opt for unsecured loan.

The borrower needs to prepare a list of the creditors and the rate of interest that he is paying to them. The lender of bad debt consolidation loan works with you and your creditors and come up with a payout program that suits you and your creditors as well.
The lender will negotiate with them on your behalf in order to reduce interest rates. He will disburse funds to them according to the decided loan terms.

The interest rate payable after debt consolidation is less that the rate payable to different creditors earlier. The loan seeker makes a single monthly payment to the loan-providing agency. Going a bad debt consolidation way will not only consolidate your multiple debts, but also help you improve the credit score.

Bad debt consolidation loans have been now made easily accessible due to the provision of online loan providers. Availing bad debt consolidation service online is quick and hassle free. It has put an end to the enormous paper work. The loan seeker simply needs to fill in the online loan application form and leave the rest of the task for the lender. The lender will prepare the most attractive loan deal for you keeping in mind your income and repayment capacity.

Bad debt consolidation has helped thousands of people to break the shackles of debt. Now you can easily consolidate your debts no matter how bad your credit history is.

It is advisable to keep a constant check on your finances and not to drown into the pool of debts again.

Eliminate Credit Card Debt – Reduce Debt Without Bankruptcy

By Admin, 19 August, 2010, No Comment

Acquiring too much debt can put a major strain on a household. To eliminate debt, many people consider bankruptcy. With the new bankruptcy laws, it has become difficult for some people to eliminate debt. However, many will continue to qualify for bankruptcy protection. The effects of bankruptcy are long term.

Before considering bankruptcy, it helps to explore solutions to debt elimination. Here are three tips that can help reduce debts.

Limit Credit Card Use and Pay More than Minimums

People file bankruptcy with varying credit amounts. Some have acquired over 10,000 of credit card debt, whereas others only have about 2,000. Individuals with small debts can usually payoff the balances without bankruptcy. However, these persons must be willing to make sacrifices.

If attempting to eliminate debt, stop using the credit card. Paying only the monthly minimum, and then going on a shopping spree defeats the purpose. Before you can successfully eliminate credit card debts, you must commit to using cash for all purchases. Additionally, the majority of minimum payments barely reduce the finance fees. To notice a significant reduction, endeavor to pay the minimum payment, plus an additional 50 – 100.

Negotiate a Lower Interest Rate

If you have maintained a good payment history with a credit card company, attempt to negotiate a lower interest rate. When contacting the credit card company, highlight your history with the company such as length of credit account, payment history, etc. If your credit is good, the company may consider a reduction. Before approving the request, you must consent to a credit check.

In addition to evaluating your history with the company, they will also assess whether you maintain a good payment record with other creditors. If your credit score is low, it may require the help of a debt consolidation agency to convince creditors to lower interest rates.

Once your credit card interest rate is lowered, you pay less finance fees. Thus, a larger portion of your monthly payments will help reduce the outstanding balance.

Consolidate Debts with a Home Equity Loan or Refinancing

Owning a home provides a huge advantage. Homes increase in values, thus they gain equity. As a homeowner you have the option of tapping into your home’s equity. Through a home equity loan or refinancing, you have the chance to get hold of a lump sum of money that can be used for different purposes. One such purpose includes debt consolidation.

Debt Elimination Program – Comparing Debt Programs

By Admin, 24 June, 2010, No Comment

Debt elimination programs help to reduce your debt and improve your financial situation. But not all programs offer the same benefits or risks. Depending on your situation, some programs will be better than others.

Debt Management Plans Programs To Handle Accounts

Debt management plans (DMP) handle your unsecured loans. You make one monthly payment to the company, and they handle the rest. A debt management company also works with creditors to lower your rates, helping you to pay off most accounts in five years. Creditors have predetermined rates, so all debt management companies will get you the same reduced rate on your accounts.

Not all loan rates can be lowered, for instance car and student loans. Your credit may also be frozen for a year or more. However, as you establish regular payments and a lower debt to income ratio, you will soon qualify with conventional lenders.

Debt Negotiation Programs To Reduce Debt

Debt negotiation programs reduce part of your debt. Most companies boast that for a fee, they can reduce accounts from 10% to 50%. With a lower principal balance, your monthly payments will be lower, allowing you to pay off the rest of your account.

A reduction of your loan balances will have a long term affect on your credit history. While you may qualify for subprime lending, most conventional lenders wont handle your application for at least two years. Reduced debt also has to be reported as income for tax purposes.

Credit Counseling Programs To Develop A Plan

Credit counseling programs create a personalized financial plan. A certified counselor discusses your situation in a private meeting, either in person or over the phone. They may suggest loan consolidation, DMP, or debt negotiation. They can also help you plan for your future goals, such as purchasing a home or retiring.

When you are comparing programs, be sure to compare the affect on your credit score, not just fees and tempting lower payments. The slower approach of a DMP can save you thousands in interest costs on future loans. However, there are cases when debt negotiation is the better option, especially to avoid bankruptcy.