Money Card

Having problems paying off your debts? You don’t have to do it all on your own because there are several debt reduction options available to help you get rid of those balances.  You can choose a debt negotiation service, debt consolidation, credit counseling and filing for bankruptcy. Before you select your debt relief approach, make sure to understand the nature of your debts, your capacity to pay and the pros and cons of your choice.

Below are some of the options to help you resolve your financial concerns.

Debt Consolidation – This is applicable to multiple debts. The principle here is to transfer your other balances to a single account so it will be easier for you to monitor and pay your balances. In case you want to pay all your debts, you may apply for a consolidation loan which can either be secured or unsecured loan.

Debt Negotiation and Settlement – When you have missed few payments schedules, your debts escalate because of the incurred interest, late payment fees and other punitive charges. If this continues and your balances get out of hand, it is highly recommended that you seek professional assistance. Through debt negotiation and settlement approach, you will be assisted by a debt consultant who will serve as your debt negotiator. He or she will act as your negotiator who will talk to your creditors and request to lower your debts by waiving some of the fees or reduce the incurred interest.

Once your debt consultant and your creditors have agreed on the amount, you will then have to settle it by depositing the funds to your chosen debt reduction agency. Your agency will distribute your payments to your creditors.

Credit Counseling – This method has a long-term benefit because during the process, you will be financially educated so you will learn how to manage your finances properly and prevent committing the same mistake again. You must be aware that this approach is a long-term program, which means that it will take years to complete the program. Be prepared to follow a very strict budgeting and frugal lifestyle for years. Doing these is not easy, in fact, many who signed up for this method failed to complete the program.

Applying for Bankruptcy – if you have immense debts and you do not have the means to pay your creditors, filing for bankruptcy can be a good option. However, this must be the last option to consider because it has severe damage to your credit score.

There is a debt reduction method that will suit your needs. However, proper understanding of the each approach is essential in order to make the right choice. Be keen with your decision because your future and your credit worthiness are at stake.

Being in debt is quite a tricky situation to be in. One day you may feel like you have everything under control and continue charging everything on your credit cards, or applying for all sorts of loans not knowing that if you put them all together they are already more than what you are capable of paying. This type of thinking and attitude is the reason why more and more people never get out of debt. If you find yourself in debt cycle, then you may want to consider getting debt help through various programs being offered by different debt help agencies.

There are three basic and popular programs that are being considered by people in debt nowadays, these are: debt negotiation, debt settlement, and debt consolidation. Debt negotiation, as the title suggests, is a way of negotiating with your creditors in order to reduce your monthly payments, interest rates or eliminate some of the fees which you may have acquired through delayed payments. This process is something you can do by yourself or you can also collaborate with a specialist to increase the chances of your creditors to agree to your proposals.

The next method is considered to be one of the fastest ways to get rid of your debts which have extremely high interest rates. This option is called debt consolidation; the main idea of this process is to combine all of your existing debts and pay them off using another loan which has a lesser interest rate and is easier to pay every month. By doing so, you eliminate all of your other debts and you only have to worry about one payment every month.

Lastly, is through a process called debt settlement. This method is somewhat like debt negotiation, except it is a solution being offered to those who are in serious debt trouble, and who owe a pretty big amount of money. This is also not for someone who simply wants to re-structure their debt. The reason being that this method if one of those credit score factors which can have a negative impact on your credit score. A debt which has been recorded as settled, rather than paid in full, will definitely affect your overall credit score in one way or another.  This is the reason why this option should be considered as your last resort.

These methods are some of the most effective methods to finally begin to get out of debt. If you do decide to sign up for any of the above programs, you still have to cut back on your daily and monthly spending in order to speed up your way towards living a debt free life.

Many people are struggling to settle large amounts of consumer debt at the moment. For example, one credit card with a balance of $5000.00 with an interest rate of 18% paying a minimum of $200 a month will take just over 11 years to pay off, and that is with no new charges going on the card! If you are struggling with debt and are considering bankruptcy, or worse a credit relief company, you should consider hiring a debt settlement attorney.

It is amazing how many television ads there are offering debt relief help. Even more amazing is the number of these companies who are being investigated for unfair or deceptive business practices or out right fraud.

Debt Settlement Companies

The first thing a debt settlement company will need is an upfront nonrefundable fee, which is based on the debt owed. Then they will likely advise you to stop paying your bills. The reason being is to supposedly encourage your creditors to settle. Then you will be required to make monthly payments to the debt settlement company. Do you see a gap in the logic?

Each month when you give the settlement company your check, they take their monthly fee off the top, then save the rest until a large enough amount is accumulated to offer a lump sum payment to one of your creditors. If you fall behind or are unable to continue making the monthly payments to the settlement company, they will stop working with you and keep your money.

Consider a Debt Settlement Attorney

A debt settlement attorney, on the other hand, must fully disclose their fee structure as well as the debt settlement process. Their conduct is governed by various laws and court rules as well as professional and ethics codes. Attorneys are licensed by their state to practice law, and have a sworn duty to represent your best interest. If your creditor takes legal action against you to collect the debt, unlike the settlement companies, a debt settlement attorney can represent you in court. An attorney can also legally stop the harassing collection calls!

Debtors should take advantage of the various debt reduction programs being offered nowadays if they want to reduce their debts and find financial relief. Those who are seeking for ways to lead financially stable lives are in luck because many companies are now dedicating their services for debtors in need of credit card relief.

However, a downside to these programs is that they can be very expensive. There are some companies that can charge you with high fees, and that alone is enough to discourage a debtor to avail of their programs. Nowadays, even the government is extending assistance to those who need it most, here are some of the ways how they can help:

Waive your balances through the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act

When this debt act was enacted and pass as law in December 2007, many consumers have already benefited from this program. The act works by giving homeowners the chance to avail of loans and government programs that will enable them to get a certain amount of cash to pay for their debts. The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act allows for a steady and good working relationship between lenders or creditors and debtors like you.

Just relief period for debtors with Fair Debt Collection Practices

Another act that enables debtors for some “time off” from paying their debts came by the form of the Fair Debt Collection Practices. According to this law, debtors have the right to privacy if their collectors harass them during certain times of the day. They are also entitled to request for their collectors to stop collecting money from them for a certain time. If you wish to avail of this program, you need to submit a written document expressing your requests and the collectors should grant it since they are required by the law to do so.

Filing for bankruptcy

One of the reasons bank foreclosure or bankruptcy is not a popular choice is its direct damage to your credit score. But for those who do not have other options left for them, bankruptcy is valid and made legal according to the laws as mandated by the US congress.

There are many debt reduction programs that you may want to consider like liquidating your assets. But before choosing which plan to pursue, it is best to consult with an expert and seek for assistance. Understand your finances and determine your present financial status and your capacity to pay.

If you and your debt negotiator have decided to call your creditors in an effort to negotiating credit card debt, you should have a clear plan of how to proceed. You are obviously struggling to pay your bills. Perhaps your creditors have been calling you and you have been too afraid (or embarrassed) to answer. You must remain calm and unemotional when you call to discuss your options for easing your debt burden.

The credit card company will probably want to work with you, particularly if you are in arrears. Thus, you must know what to ask for with regards to getting out of debt. Do you need a lower monthly payment? Are you hoping to have late payment or over-the-limit fees waived? Are you seeking out a better annual percentage rate (APR)? Are you on the verge of bankruptcy and looking to settle the account? Depending on what you need, you should be clear with your request.

One option if you are merely struggling to pay is to ask for a reduction in your interest rate. Some APRs border on usury, costing you hundreds of dollars in finance charges each month. Let’s say you have one credit card with a 12 percent rate and another at 27 percent. You could call the latter and ask for a rate that is closer to the other card you are paying. If agreed, you should have a reduced monthly payment, which could make it easier for you to pay on time and get out of debt more quickly.

If you are constantly over your limit, the first thing is to stop charging altogether. That said, you may be facing over-the-limit fees because you are so close to the limit that the interest tacked on each month pushes you over. Call and ask for the fees to be waived until you have the chance to pay down what you owe and have a “cushion” for the interest to be added. The same can be done for late fees; if you are struggling, ask for a courtesy waiver with the promise that you will send some amount every month, even if it’s less than the minimum due.

Finally, you can ask for a settlement fee, which is basically a lump-sum payment of part of what you owe. Just be sure to get any agreement in writing from the company, so that they cannot claim you defaulted later on.

More than ever people find themselves in need of debt advice, that is, advice on how to eliminate debt. If you are in debt, the first question to ask yourself is “How did I accumulate so much debt?” If you don’t know how you got into debt, then you won’t know what needs to be fixed and how to keep yourself out of debt in the future. For some people, they got into debt because they don’t make enough money each month to pay for the necessities such as rent, utilities, groceries, etc. For some people, they got into debt because they faced an unforeseen situation and were financially unprepared (e.g. college tuition, or a funeral). However, some people are in debt because they were unwise with their spending, spending more money than they could afford. If you fall into the first two categories, then the best advice on managing debt is to

1. increase your income,
2. start a budget so that you control where you money goes each month and
3. attack the credit card or loan with the smallest amount first.

Be creative about how to increase your income. Can you pick up a second job at the local ice cream parlor? What about tutoring math or reading? Can you speak English? If so, then how about offering your services for English conversation? How about renting out that spare bedroom? Perhaps you can downsize by selling that expensive bike you don’t use, or that bed that just sits in the guest bedroom, or the third television. Don’t fall into the trap of feeling deprived and embarrassed at the thought of selling something you own – instead feel victorious! You are one of the few disciplined people in America who can sacrifice today for a better future. The second step is starting a budget. Know where your money is going each month. Set aside a small amount of money each month even if it is only ten or five dollars. This money will be useful if you face another unforeseen situation and will teach you how to be disciplined about saving. Next, try to think of creative ways to cut back. Is there a community garden where in exchange for volunteering a few hours you can get free vegetables? There are organizations such as Treasure Box where you can buy a box of groceries valued at $70.00 for only $35.00. Can you make bread instead of buying it? The ingredients of flour, yeast, etc. will go farther than a single loaf will. Can you turn the heater off and put more sweaters on? Again, don’t fall into the trap of marketers and advertisers who want you to believe that you need to spend money to feel good and if you can’t then you are deprived. Think of this as a game of wits and ingenuity. How much money can you save each month by being creative and thinking outside of the box. Finally, attack your smallest bill first. Pay the minimum payment on every other bill and use any excess money you have, and the money you saved by being a creative budgeter, to pay off the bill with the smallest amount. Finally, if you fell into the latter category, before following the three steps above it’s important that you begin by changing your attitude towards “stuff”. Take some time to write a list of what motivates you to spend money even when you know you do not have that money to spend. Is it loneliness? Is it a sense of insignificance that you’re trying to ignore by accumulating more stuff? Is it the poverty you faced growing up that drives you: if you tell yourself “no, I can’t buy this” then you feel impoverished and bad about yourself? Is it to impress? If so, who exactly are you trying to impress? Once you can identify what is motivating you to spend in excess, then write a list of 5 things you can do to change. Here are some ideas. Are you bored, lonely or trying to gain a sense of significance through shopping? Then volunteer at a homeless shelter or an elderly home. Seriously, there are elderly people out there that are so lonely they sit in front of grocery stores hoping that today, maybe, they’ll get to talk with someone. Be the person they talk to! Are you trying to live up to the Joneses? Instead of trying to compete with the Joneses become the Joneses by being the first household to get creative about how to get out of debt. Once you tell people about your ideas, they’ll go home and copy them! Have you bought into the idea that if you can’t spend money then you are deprived? Then counteract the hours of marketing that you unknowingly take in each day by refusing to watch commercials. Every time a commercial comes on television, say out loud “Yeah, right! I know what you’re trying to do.” and then mute the television. No matter what drives you to spend excessively, if you sincerely want to change then find out what is causing you to spend and work towards rooting out the problem.

I would like to share a little story about my experience with credit card debt in hopes that it helps the reader take advantage of what I wish someone had told me before my own debt got the best of me.

My credit card debt has been haunting me for years.  After college, I ignored it for a while during an extended period of unemployment.  Naturally, my interest rate sky-rocketed after I failed to make several monthly payments and my debt increased to an even more unrealistic amount.  After they closed down my overdrawn credit card account, I tried setting up a payment plan with the bank, but ironically, every time I sent them money to initiate the plan, they decided I was not making enough money to qualify for the plan after all.  So then I tried going through every credit card debt consolidation company I could find that seemed reputable, but couldn’t find one that would give me a low enough interest rate to satisfy me, considering their claims to offer as little as 1 or 2 percent interest, which turns out to be totally off base when it comes time to seal the deal.

What I didn’t realize was that after my credit card debt remained unresolved for long enough, the bank would start trying to make deals with me, where if I paid my debt off all at once, they would accept a much lower amount than I originally owed.  Month after month, they sent me letters with an increasingly low bill until eventually, it was less than half of what I actually owed.  I still couldn’t afford to pay them, so they sold my debt to a collection agency, which now wants about three times as much as the bank was eventually willing to settle for.

Now that I know this is how it works, I wish I had never tried to make any further payment plans with the bank.  After my initial failed attempt, in stead of continuing to send them payment after payment to initiate each new plan, I should have saved that money which did nothing to bring down my debt, and paid the bank when they were at their most desperate point of bartering with me.  All they did was take my money over and over, pretending it would go towards my balance, but it just went to interest and fees that kept accruing while they denied each new plan.  So when it comes to overdrawn credit card accounts that have already been canceled, my best debt advice is to wait until they come crawling to you, making more and more reasonable offers, until they claim it is truly their final offer before it goes to collections, and then pay off your debt with all the money you saved in the mean time by not making futile payments.