Archive for August, 2009

Do Credit Card Debt Consolidation Services Work?

Thursday, August 27th, 2009



Credit Card Debt Consolidation Services can and are a big help. I know because I used them myself to try to get out of some financial trouble I was in. I initially thought about just claiming bankruptcy but we still had one option left and I was going to try it before filing for bankruptcy and ruining my credit for good wasn’t much of an option for me. If you can, I highly recommend you at least talk to a Credit Card Debt Consolidation Service before you think about filing for bankruptcy.

One of the best ways to deal with mounting credit card debts is to seek professional advice. In my case I went to Consumer Credit Counseling Service and they were a big help. Most of the consumer credit services offer credit card debt consolidation service which can make it convenient for you to pay off your debts and which also help you make your monthly payments on a easy to follow schedules. The goal of the credit agency is to help you consolidate all of your credit bills into one lower payment and that is what we did.

In addition to helping you consolidate your debt, the credit card debt consolidation service will help you negotiate a lower payment to your creditors. I was pleasantly surprise that they were willing to call all of the people I owed money to and ask them if they were willing to take a lower payment and or balance. In most cases the credit usually dropped the percentage they charge and some even took off late charges.

Learning How To Budget

Another great benefit that the debt consolidation service companies provide is learning how to budget. In my case, I got into financial trouble because I was trying to run a small business that just kept taking more money away than it was bringing in. However, the budgeting help they provided was very good and very helpful. They will sit down with you and go over your bills. They will help determine what money is coming in and how much is going out. Then they will work on a plan with you so that you don’t need their services again.

I believe I mentioned earlier that their service was free but now I believe I remember paying somewhere in the neighborhood of $19 per month. The reason I thought it was free was because their charge is included in the money you send them every month. Believe me, paying $19 per month was well worth it because they saved me $100’s per month in lower fees and they were able to help me save my credit.

Thus, the best and most effective means of paying off as well as reducing credit card debts is through the use of counseling services that credit card debt consolidation service companies provide. They will help you become self-sufficient and help put your finances back on track and also help you save your credit. As I mentioned above, if you can avoid bankruptcy by getting some credit card help, I highly recommend you do so. If however bankruptcy is your only option, talk to the credit card consolidation company first and they will be able to help no matter what decision you make.

By: Dominic Ferrara

Why Credit Card Debt Consolidation Can Help You Breath

Monday, August 17th, 2009



Before you reach the point of desperation, the first thing to do it is acknowledge that you have a debt problem. Unless you grab the bull by the horns, you will continue denying that there is a problem and could eventually end up facing personal bankruptcy and all the problems that it entails.

If debt relief by way of a credit card debt consolidation loan is what you’re seeking, consider some of these tips and suggestions.

First, you need to be aware of the the hidden fees that can be associated with a debt consolidation loan. A good place to start is, yes – the fine print.

It pays to read the fine print when it comes to a credit card debt consolidation loan because many finance issues are loaded with plenty of ifs and buts. This is where you’ll find the nitty gritty vital information regarding hidden fees and whether you will be able to continue working with a debt consolidation company, or not.

Three of the most important things you should do when trying to find a credit card debt consolidation package is:

1)research

2)research

3)research!

By taking the extra time to do your debt relief homework, you will come across some very reasonable rates and long-term savings. Card consolidation is very much your responsibility, however, working with a competent and experienced firm, you will derive many benefits.

For instance, not only will they help consolidate all your outstanding debts into one manageable monthly payment, but they will be the liaison to your creditors. This is important because it means they will negotiate on your behalf to help lower interest rates, reduce and even eliminate outstanding penalties or fines.

A great place to find the right debt consolidation company is on the internet. Because debt is a huge and growing problem, many of the loan companies are in fierce competition for your business. This means you have the opportunity to benefit from some low interest rates and fees associated with debt consolidation.

Investigate the companies on the internet and request a free quote from as many as you have the time to deal with. In the end, by exploring all of the costs and charges associated with credit card debt consolidation, you will be able to get a decent loan and start laying the foundation for a better and more stable financial future.

The key here is not to wait. Make your move while you are still in the spirit of improving your debt situation – The sooner you start the sooner you’ll find debt relief around the corner and breath a little easier!

By: Noah Salzman

Can A Balance Transfer Credit Card Help You With Debt Consolidation?

Friday, August 14th, 2009



It is not hard to have credit cards maxed out before you know it. Soon, though, the bills calling for payment on those things you bought begins to take its toll on your available funds. Before you know it, it may be next to impossible, almost, to catch up on your bills. Another credit card, however, may be just what you need to be able to give yourself a handle on your debt. In fact, a new balance transfer credit card may be just what you need to consolidate your debts.

Balance transfer credit cards enable you to transfer debt that you already have on one card to another one. As an introductory offer, many credit card companies that offer this type of credit card provide special deals on this type of transaction. Good balance transfer credit cards will offer you 0% APR interest for up to 15 months. This means that you pay no interest charges on the amounts you transfer to it.

The advantage here is obvious. Instead of continuing to pay a high interest on your credit cards, which actually reduces your payment toward the principal, a new card saves you money. You pay no interest for awhile, so all of your payment goes to reduce the principal on your old bill – unless you have added other purchases to the credit card.

Debt consolidation on this kind of credit card makes a lot of sense – especially if you take care not to max out your credit cards again. There should be some new restraint on those other credit cards – destroying some of them would probably be better for most people.

A balance transfer credit card is great for consolidating smaller debts onto one card. Look over the offers carefully, however, because some of these cards have fees for the transfers – up to 4%. You also need to know that some cards do not allow you to transfer any debt to them after you get it. All transfer amounts need to be listed on the application, in those cases.

The introductory offer will vary too, in some situations, so you need to pay careful attention. Sometimes the balance transfer portion of the special introductory offer is only for three months, and the other features of the same offer may apply for one year. This will take some careful reading on your part to make sure you get what you think you are getting. Obviously, only three months of 0% APR interest will help – but not much because it is so short.

Debt consolidation with one of these credit cards gives you some time to catch up on your bills. Be careful, however, to make sure you pay your bills on this new card on time. Some of these lenders, when you make just one late payment – or not a minimum payment, will take away the introductory offer rates and may give you an interest rate up to 29%! Needless to say – that won’t help you reduce your debt!

By: Joseph Kenny