Credit card debt consolidation

With the cost of everything looking set to rise for the next few years, more and more Christians are finding it a strain to keep control of their personal finances. In the past many have turned to HELOCs to help refinance but these do not represent a long term solution and indeed have become increasingly unavailable due to falling house prices and the credit crunch.

For this reason there is an increasing demand for credit card consolidation services but by and large I have little faith in these. The problem with any form of consolidation is that it feeds the debt monster if one doesn’t commit to changing the way money is treated.

As I once read money is not for spending it is for managing and a good Christian Debt Consolidation counselor will show you how to manage money so that you never have to worry about debt again.

Now that’s fine and dandy but if you can’t see a light at the end of the debt tunnel my writing that last paragraph isn’t going to help. So whilst I don’t like credit card consolidation it does have a place in the market.

In essence consolidation of credit cards means rolling up the debts on your existing cards and using a balance transfer mechanism switch them over to a new credit card offering a better deal. Note I said a better deal. Oftentimes we fail to check out the headline offers in sufficient detail and we end up worse off than before if we’re not careful.

Always remind yourself of the truth here. The credit card industry doesn’t want you to pay off your outstanding balance each and every month because if you did they wouldn’t make any money. Effectively they are preying on our lack of financial management skills and taking a slice of what we cant afford to pay in the first place.

So are there good deals out there? Of course but they require considerable research to identify and most of us just don’t have the drive to look beyond the headline rates. This has lead me to the conclusion that if we don’t want to check the fine print we shouldn’t attempt credit card consolidation. Why, well lets check some of the pitfalls shall we.

Have you heard of the “universal default rule”. This little beauty means that if you are more than 30 days late on any payment the interest rate on your credit card can shoot up and your credit score damaged. And guess what? Many companies are applying this rule on a daily basis. The lesson? Make sure any new card doesn’t apply this draconian rule.

What about fees? Sure the headline rate looks attractive but you can incur a balance transfer fee – 3% of your debt not being untypical. Then there are late fees, over the limit fees and other costs that can be associated with the card.

If you aren’t prepared to do the research your best bet is probably to call your existing card companies explain you’ve found some better deals and ask if there is anything they can do to match them.

For more information please visit the Christian Debt Consolidation Guide. This is an information only website providing independent and unbiased views. We do not provide Christian Debt Consolidation Services just a good education.

So when should we consider credit card consolidation? Only as part of a large Christian debt consolidation solution. The fact is that most of us try unsuccessfully to create our own solutions and we can believe that this offer is right for us. In truth, there are multiple strands to successful debt reduction and debt management and even Christian Debt Consolidation carries plenty of pitfalls for the unwary. Even a not for profit organization has to make money!

Consolidation should only be considered as part of a wide Christian debt consolidation counseling service. Find a Christian debt consolidation counselor that cares about you and can help. Don’t accept the first offer that catches your eye, shop around. Get a feel for the different offerings and see if what they say makes sense to you. Ask questions. How much does the service cost. Do they show you how to avoid getting into money troubles again and repeating the sins of the past.

Finding the right Christian debt consolidation service will strengthen your faith and put money back in your wallet. It might not be easy but with trust in God and a determination to get through you debt woes you will come out the other side stronger.

By: Michael Page

Sure, you’ve heard of people talking about eliminating credit card debt with a consolidation loan, but does it really work?. The answer is YES, it is a useful tool that can help if you are in a situation with your credit card debt that you can’t handle alone.

If you are in credit card debt and have recently received an interest rate hike due to making a late payment, or even if you just wish to eliminate your credit card debt, a credit card consolidation loan may be just what you need. Credit counselors are available to discuss your individual situation too see if you might qualify for one of their credit card debt consolidation programs.

Credit card consolidation has it’s advantages and by qualifying for one you will receive a lower interest rate than what you are currently paying now. If you have been late on your payments and your creditor bumped up your interest rate as a result, you will save money just from the lower interest rate right from the start. With a credit card consolidation loan you may also find that your creditors will waive your previous late fees and other fees for exceeding your credit limit, and this alone could save you a lot of money.

One of the best benefits of debt consolidation is that your payments are now all combined into one manageable payment for you to make every month. Most times the amount required to pay back a credit card consolidation loan is less monthly than the amounts you were paying before you entered the program. This will help you to drive your debt down faster and allow you to pay off more of the balance each month. Qualified participants discover that they can wipe out their credit card debt in five years or less, where before it seemed like you would be paying them off until the day you die.

By: Zach Ford

Debt settlement and debt consolidation both offer ways of reducing your debt. Debt settlement eliminates part of your loans, while debt consolidation reduces interest rates. Even though debt consolidation has the least impact on your credit score, there are cases when debt settlement is a better option.

Lower Debt

The goal of both debt settlement and debt consolidation is to lower your debt. Debt settlement companies negotiate with your creditors to sometimes reduce the amount of your loans. You will be charged a fee, and the debt reduction will remain on your credit score for seven years.

Debt settlement can reduce your debt 10% to 50%. To get the most out of the program, pay off the rest of your debt as soon as possible. Also, close accounts that you don’t plan on using to raise your credit score.

Debt consolidation pays off your high interest debts with a low interest loan. Home equity loans provide the lowest rates, but personal loans can also be used. With rates lower on your debt, you can pay off the principal sooner by making the same monthly payments.

Credit Score Implication

Reducing your loans through debt settlement is a serious mark to creditors. You credit score will drop, making you ineligible for conventional loans. But you can apply for subprime credit after a year. After a couple of years of good credit habits, you can then apply for lower rate conventional loans.

Taking out a loan to consolidate your debt will have a slight impact on your credit. Since your debt isn’t actually increasing, you will only be hit for opening another account. By closing your paid off accounts, you can partially offset the penalty. In a short period though, you will be in good credit standing if you follow best practices with your credit.

Financial Choices

No one financial choice fits everyone’s needs. While debt consolidation has the least affect on your credit report, additional loans may be too expensive. In extreme cases, debt settlement can help to avoid bankruptcy. Before deciding on an option, look at what companies are offering in terms of rates and fees. And if you need additional advice, talk to a credit counselor who can take a look at your finances and offer suggestions.

By: Carrie Reeder