Debt Consolidation Advice: How to Find the Best Program

If you're deep in debt and having difficulty paying your bills, one of the best sources of debt consolidation advice and help is a credit counseling company. Credit counseling companies can offer you debt consolidation advice including how to use credit lines wisely, helping you to establish a workable budget, and how to keep track of your bills and best manage your money. A trained and certified debt consolidation advice specialist can arrange a repayment plan with all of your creditors and place you on the track to financial security.
Once you have selected a reputable consolidation advice agency, you will be asked to provide information about your income, expenses and debts. The counselor then evaluate the information and discuss your situation with you before making recommendations and offering the most appropriate debt consolidation advice for your situation to help you address your financial problems. Some useful pieces of debt consolidation advice may be participation in an educational class, enrolling in a debt-management/repayment plan. However, the debt consolidation advice may extend to areas other than financial which include referral to another organization, such as a relationship counseling or state employment agency for assistance. After all, the debt consolidation advice service understands that there are many underlying factors that led to your financial difficulties and that these also have an impact on other areas of your life.
You need to spend some time researching your options and take extra care to select a reputable debt consolidation advice agency. Most importantly you should be able to find a debt consolidation advice agency that has satisfied clients, offers personalized service from trained counselors, can educate you how to make appropriate financial choices and will provide you with the tools you need to achieve financial security.
Don’t be tempted to think that just because a debt consolidation advice company has a big advertising campaign means it is the best. Quite often the only reason that a debt consolidation advice service has placed large and numerous adverts in various forms of media it is because they have not got enough clients! You would also be wise to ignore telephone calls or e-mails that arrive out of the blue from debt consolidation advice companies offering their services. The best debt consolidation advice services will often rely on past clients for referrals; they do not need to solicit business through constant television advertising, infomercials and telemarketing or spam e-mails.

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Debt Consolidation - Pros and Cons

Debt consolidation essentiality means taking one loan to pay off all other loans. It's almost always easier to pay off one loan at a lower interest rate or fixed interest rate, than to pay off many at varied rates. Most individuals have a credit card debt, a mortgage, and sometimes a second mortgage to pay off. Now with three loans and three different interest rates, it is far more difficult to manage the payments than to pay off just one loan.
The idea is usually to take a secured loan to pay off the other unsecured loans. A secured loan is obtained against any asset, usually a house. Taking a loan against an asset provides for a lower interest rate as compared to the unsecured loan. This is why most people take loans against their asset to improve their cash flow and reduce the net amount paid to lenders. If the interest rate is lower, the net amount paid to any lender will also be less.
Online debt consolidation:
Debt consolidation can also be done on the internet. Online debt consolidation is getting popular, as the financial data remains safe and confidential. There are many debt calculators and loan calculators available on the internet to help people consolidate their loans.
There are some requirements such as valid income proof, residential proof, and age proof when applying on the internet. Online debt consolidators provide far more data than any other collectors.
Should everyone go for debt consolidation?
Although debt consolidation is a good idea, there is a caveat. One should go for a debt consolidation only when one is sure that he/she will be able to pay off that one single loan in time. Loans like credit cards are unsecured loans, so in case of default nobody can take any physical asset away. In the case of a secured loan, it is entirely possible that default may result in foreclosure of the home, or the lender secures the asset, thereby one could lose a physical property. This is why until one is sure that the secured loan payments can be met, it is essential that no consolidation be done.
In case there is some confusion, a tax advisor or help from a debt consolidation agency may be taken. They may help one decide what the best option is financially. The lenders also provide many experts who can assist in this process. Debt consolidation is a complex process, and a lot depends on the expected future cash income. If done carefully, it can relieve much pressure from debtors. Lenders are also usually cooperative in such instances and much of the interest rates and debt can be negotiated.
This however is the last resort and should not be done habitually. Debts like credit cards can be controlled through careful spending. If such debts are avoided in the nip of time, there will be very little need of debt consolidation.

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Credit Card Debt Consolidation Programs: The Complete Guide

Many of us have credit cards these days, and a great many people find that making multiple monthly credit card payments a struggle. If you are one of those in this situation, then you may want to consider taking out a credit card debt consolidation loan. Before doing anything, it is very important to look at all of the options for consolidating your credit card debt.
One of the easiest methods of credit card debt consolidation is to simply transfer all of the balances from your high-interest credit cards onto another a low-interest credit card. Many credit card companies offer an introductory rate for credit card debt consolidation if you transfer the balances of your store and credit cards to their card. Obviously, before you can perform a balance transfer for credit card debt consolidation you need to be sure that the total outstanding balances of all of your credit cards is within the limit of the card that you want to transfer it to.
You also need to choose one with a low APR for balance transfers to be able to have an effective credit card debt consolidation. Many credit cards offer 0% for balance transfers over a fixed period of time which is ideal for credit card debt consolidation debt consolidation. Ensure that you can make sufficient payments to clear the outstanding balance that you transfer for your credit card debt consolidation within the stipulated time period. If this is not going to be possible it is important to understand that you will be liable for interest on your credit card debt consolidation transfers at the standard rate. Do not perform a balance transfer for credit card debt consolidation to a card that has high rates for balance transfers after the initial low interest period if at all possible as your circumstances may change and you might need longer than this duration which will mean that your balance accrues interest.
One other form of credit card debt consolidation is to borrow money from a trusted family member or friend. You can pay off your credit cards and then pay the lender a predetermined amount at agreed amounts on a regular basis. This informal form of credit card debt consolidation can work well for a lot of people but it is important to have the loan conditions in writing to ensure that there are no misunderstandings at a later date. There are also many non-profit organisations who can help you to negotiate reduced payments to your credit card companies without having to resort to taking out a credit card debt consolidation loan.

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Information About Debt Consolidation

They say that knowledge is power and so far, I have yet to see it proven false. Of course, there’s another old adage that says what you don’t know won’t hurt you, but hello? That’s like prolonging the inevitable and since we’re talking about clichés, I’ll use another one: the truth would always come out, secrets don’t last forever and no stones are left unturned.
But enough about clichés or we’ll never end. So with the point of knowledge being power now established, we jump to what we should know more about and that’s debt consolidation. It’s the Age of Information today, so information of just about anything and everything under the sun, debt consolidation included, abounds. It wouldn’t hurt to know more about debt consolidation before figuratively jumping to the boat.
Where to find the information?That’s easy. First you hit the Internet. I say, there is nothing about anything that can’t be found in the Internet. It’s only a matter of typing the right keyword and looking at the right places. With debt consolidation, it’s better to choose information that does not come from debt consolidation companies themselves. Over the internet, you can find various kinds of information available, ranging from the pros and cons to the list of debt consolidation companies you should avoid. Second place to look for more information would be magazines. Business magazines, in particular. Learn from the experts and see what they have to say about debt consolidation. Check the dailies, too, for information regarding debt consolidation. Third is to ask around. Go to government facilities that entertain inquiries regarding financial help. Ask your bank for information about the debt consolidation programs they have. You can even ask your friends or people whom you know have tried debt consolidation. Firsthand information is always better than secondhand. And lastly, go avail yourself of those free consultations being offered.
What information should you look for?Definitely, you should search for information that’s relevant, like the pros and cons and tips on choosing the right debt consolidation firm. If you know of a debt consolidation company but are not sure of its reputation, then by all means, look for information about the said company. Ask information about debt consolidation rates so you can compare them and see what works best for you. Get more information about the different debt consolidation programs available.
If you decided to take one of the free consultations being offered, this is a good opportunity to use the information or data you have gathered regarding debt consolidation. Ask everything that comes to your mind because it’s better to know more than the other way around. And since we’re talking about money here, you really have to gather as much information about debt consolidation as possible. Statistics would probably tell you that one of the major reasons of businesses falling apart is the fact that they’ve either made hasty decisions or they didn’t think things through clearly enough. You wouldn’t want that to happen to yourself, would you?
So it’s better to take your time reviewing the information you have, studying the alternatives and options at hand and then make a decision based on logic and not entirely on gut instincts alone. Read More..

Introduction to Collection and Debt Recovery

Whether you are a company dealing with business to business collections, or you simply are trying to recover debt from one customer who bounced a check, a reputable agency can help you with this battle. There are hundreds of collection agencies out there, so doing a little research can go a long way.
Time Is of the Essence
Successful debt collection begins with immediate action. It is never a good idea to wait more than 90 days to begin trying to recover debt on past-due accounts. This is where a good collection agency comes into play. The agency will immediately begin communications with your debtor through phone calls and mailed letters. If they are unable to connect with your debtor after several attempts, they may refer your case to a collections attorney. The collections attorney will almost always be able to collect from your debtor, as most people fear legal action. Once the debt is recovered, the only thing left to do is pay the agency the fee that was agreed upon at the date of hire.
Understanding Collection Agency Rates
If you are a business owner trying to collect on past-due accounts, a reputable collection agency can often help. However, it would be wise to conduct a little research before selecting one. Collection agency rates vary, sometimes significantly.
In general, the longer a debt has remained past-due, the harder it is to collect it. Therefore, the fee you pay out to the debt collection agency will be higher.
How Much Did You Say?
It is plausible that collection agency rates can reach as high as 50 percent. One agency might charge 35 percent for accounts 90 days past due, while another will charge 50 percent to work on an account with the same status. Fees also vary according to the amount owed, length of time overdue, as well as previous handling by another agency.
You may find it amazing that collection agency rates can reach upwards of 50 percent. You have to decide if the amount past-due warrants the time and money you will spend trying to recover delinquent debts. In many cases, the satisfaction from collecting what is rightfully yours, balances out the fee paid to an agency.
Debt Collection Basics
The very nature of debt collection calls for aggressive planning. Businesses lose hundreds of thousands of dollars a year due to delinquent accounts. More often than not, a third party, such as a nationwide collection agency, needs to be brought in to recover lost revenue.
When a client falls behind on payments, whether it be one person or a huge corporation, the ability to collect decreases as time passes. Often times in-house accounts receivable offices cannot handle the enormous volume of past-due accounts. This is debt collection at its worst.
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Easy Way To Eliminate Your Credit Card Debt

There are millions of Americans out there who have paid off heavy credit card debt, and you may be one of them. To get rid of credit card debt, it won't be enough, however, to just make minimum monthly payments. In fact, you just need to do a little more than just paying the minimum monthly payments; you can save thousand of interests and shorten many years in settling your credit card debt. To give you a better picture how it work, let use a case study to elaborate the solution.
Case Study:
A friend of mine asked me to take a look at her monthly credit card statement; according to her, she has stopped using this credit card and try to pay it off, but feels like she isn't getting anywhere.
The credit card statement record shows her balance is $5218.00 and she is paying 18% of interest; and she is paying the minimum payment at 3.5% or $10 whichever is higher. Like many who confuse with financial matters, she thinks that as long as she stops using the card and by just paying the minimum of monthly balance, her credit card debt will be cleared soon.
The Calculation Result:
If she has stopped using this credit card, and if she continues to make the minimum required monthly payment, as she has been, based on the way her bank calculates her minimum required monthly payment.
It will take her 181 months to pay off her current credit card balance of $5,218.00 and she will pay a total of $3762.35 in interest.
In other words, if she continues doing what she has been doing. It will take her 15 years and cost her $8980.35 to pay off her $5218.00 credit card balance. No wonder she feels like she is not getting anywhere.
So, what should she do?
Actually, it quit simple, if she able to pay the minimum payment of $5,218.00, which is $181.37, which means this is her affordable amount. Instead of paying the minimum payment as defined by the credit card company, she continues to pay $181.37 from now on.
As the result, she will pay off this credit card in 43 months instead of 181 months and she will pay $1635.45 in interest instead of $3762.35 in interest, saving $2126.90 in interest charges. See the different?
What she can more?
If she really wants to go for it, she could increase the amount of her "new" self-imposed minimum required monthly payment. For example, if she were to start paying an additional $18.63 a month for a total of $200.00 a month.
She will pay off this credit card in 34 months instead of 181 months and she will pay $1428.30 in interest instead of $3762.35 in interest, saving $2334.05 in interest charges.
If she were to start paying an additional $68.63 a month for a total of $250.00 a month, she will pay off this credit card in 26 months instead of 181 months and she will pay $1071.09 in interest instead of $3762.35 in interest, saving $2691.26 in interest charges.
If she really wants to eliminate her credit card debt as soon as possible and her financial is able to support it, she could double the amount of her "new" self-imposed minimum required monthly payment. If she were to start paying $362.74 a month instead of $181.37 a month, she could pay off her credit card balance in 17 months.
In Summary
There are a number of things she could do, but this is one of the simplest and it's something she can start doing right now to begin eliminating her credit card debt. You can do the same to start eliminate your credit card debt.
If all you do is stop charging on your credit card and continue making the same minimum required monthly payment you will be making on your credit card this month, every month from now on, you will make significant progress towards totally eliminating your credit card debt once and for all.
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All You Need To Know About Debt Consolidation Loan

Many people in the world are born with a hatful of money where as others have to work for everything they want to have. Sometimes the quest for different needs brings about a requirement for a loan sometimes two and in other cases three or in extreme cases even more than those numbers. With the increase in the number of lenders the loans are easily available.
The problem arises when these loans pile up and the repayment is not easy to make and this can be a terrible position to be in for anybody. Debt consolidation offers a solution whereby the borrowers can get a much easier way to this solution.
What debt consolidation means is that a borrower who owes money to many lenders can, if so chooses, pay them off in one go by taking a single loan from another lender. After the borrower has taken debt consolidation now his single creditor would be the lender who pays off the other creditors.
People often wonder that how this would benefit us in fact, this is only liable to bring about more confusion, more paperwork and many other hassles. In reality it is totally different and the debt consolidation loans are only for the benefit of the customers only. The benefits that a borrower can get by choosing to apply for a debt consolidation loan are:
• Debt consolidation loans are arranged at a cheaper rate than the average of the rate that you have been paying so far.
• Debt consolidation allows you to focus on one single creditor than multiple creditors which is a lot more peaceful as the other creditors may not be that understanding when it comes to problems relating to repayments.
• A borrower can choose both the debt consolidation loan options both secured and unsecured.
• Debt consolidation loans get you terms that will suit you than those devised to benefit others.
• People with bad credit can get more benefits than they can imagine and considering other advantages it is an absolute god sent loan for them.
After all these advantages there should not be any second thoughts in the mind of the borrowers about the debt consolidation loans. People who need them should quickly go online or apply directly to the local creditors and get there loan request registered quickly.
Debt consolidation loans are an unconditional help for people in UK. It allows customers many benefits in handling their loans. So it is advisable to go for these loans and start running again.
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Breath With Low Interest Debt Consolidation

If you are overburdened with credit card bills, medical bills, wedding expenses, auto loans, personal loans and many other outstanding payments, it is right to go for debt consolidation.
Debt consolidation endeavors to consolidate your multiple debts into a single, easily manageable loan. But remember, it is not just bringing multiple debts under one creditor. You aim to save enough money that you pay as interest rate. Keeping this in mind low interest debt consolidation loans have been specifically designed to help you merge different debts into one; thus making you accountable to a single creditor.
The first step towards a low interest debt consolidation loan is to figure out the total amount of debt you want to consolidate. The lender will do rest of the task. Negotiations will be done on your behalf with different creditors.
The best way to get a low interest debt consolidation loan is to place a high value collateral. Collateral is the property that you secure against the loan. If you borrow against the equity in your home, you can extract a larger amount with relatively low rate of interest. The interest rate will be tax deductible. The repayments should be made on time; else the lender has the right to confiscate your property.
Low interest debt consolidation loan is ideal for bad debtors as well. Your credit score plays a vital role in determining the loan amount and rate of interest. Lenders usually offer higher amounts to borrowers with a better credit history. So, the borrower should first try to improve his credit score by clearing off those debts that he can easily pay and report it immediately to a credit rating agency. This will get his credit report updated and help him improve the credit score so as to draw larger loan amount at a low interest rate.
Choosing the right lender is of immense importance. In order to get the best possible deal, one should shop around for loan quotes from different loan providing organizations. This process of hunting for the best lender is very time consuming and you are sure to encounter many hassles in your way. Therefore, to prevent you from facing all such grievances, there is the provision of online lenders. A simple search through the Internet can make you familiar with different online lenders dealing in low interest debt consolidation loans. The free facility of online loan calculator provided by various websites can help you get an estimate of your monthly payments. The online technique of applying for low interest debt consolidation loan is simple, quick and puts an end to enormous paper work.
Low interest debt consolidation loans sway all your debts into a single monthly payment and help you get rid of them sooner. They make you liable to just one creditor thus helping you control your finances once again.
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Reasons Why You Should Eliminate Credit Card Debt

1. Credit card companies can change almost all of the terms of the credit card by giving just 15 days notice.
We get used to credit card companies adjusting their lending rate by 1/4% as interest rates fluctuate but did you know they can alter any of the terms for any reason. For example they can increase the late payment fee and they can increase the interest rate without the need to justify it. If you are late or miss just one payment the low rate you are currently being charged can double or even treble almost overnight.
2. Credit card companies can increase the cost of a purchase months after you bought it.
If you purchased a widescreen plasma TV 3 months ago, using a card which at the time was costing 9.9% apr, and you are late with just one payment, the credit card company can charge you a late payment fee, say $40, and increase the interest rate to 29.9% apr, or even more, and there is nothing you can do about it.
They can, in effect, increase the cost of your TV months, or possibly even years after you purchased it. The TV retailer wouldn't be allowed to do this but your credit card company can.
3. Discount offers are only good if you keep up all your payments.
Interest free balance transfers and initial periods can dissapear for any minor omission. Failure to keep to all the terms of a card will result in special terms being withdrawn and possible penalty interest being applied. If you have interest free purchases and balance transfers make sure you keep up the payments.
4. It's not just your card payments you have to keep up.
If you miss a payment on your mortgage, or your car or any other financial payment, your credit card companies can re-assess your credit score and increase your interest rate accordingly.
If you therefore miss a loan payment on your boat or car, but still pay the payments due on your cards, you can find that your credit card interest charges jump to 2 or 3 times the original rate.
5. Credit card companies are today making record profits from you.
If you don't pay your cards in full each month credit card companies make the majority of their profits from you and a substantial portion of that is in the additional charges they levy.
It makes little or no sense to keep money in the bank earning 5% maximum and pay 29.9% or 19.9% or even 9.9% on your cards. Pay off the card and use the card for emergencies rather than the savings. Without the card payments you will be able to rapidly replace the savings.
Without your knowing credit card companies can hold you hostage at the very time you may really need financial assistance. Don't allow credit card companies the continuing opportunity to make record profits at your expense, and at the same time the opportunity to benefit from any misfortune.
If you can pay the balance off withing 3 to 6 months do so otherwise consider some form of consolidation loan to remove the noose credit card companies have around your neck.
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Formula to Get Out Of Debt

1-Make List ABOUT Your Debts
First of all know how much deep you are in credit card debt. Many credit card holders are shocked when they know the total credit card debt to be paid. They unconsciously stay away from compiling this list. But you will have to know your total debts. List down lender name, date of debt, total amount to be paid and interest rate. Arrange list according to interest rate. Highest interest rate credit card debts should be shown first.

2-Pay Credit Card with Highest Interest Rate
Now start paying highest rate credit card first. Always pay more than minimum amount. If you are addicted to minimum payment traps then you will never be out of debt for whole of your life. Banks have arranged minimum debt trap in such way that a loan could take many years to be paid off if you are just paying in minimum amounts. Always pay more than minimum. These small extra payments will save you literally thousand dollars.

3-Start Frugal Living
For as long as you are in debt, start frugal living. Cut off your credit cards. Ask companies to not offer you more credit cards. Discard impulsive buying. Try to save every penny if possible. These few dollars added to minimum payment amounts will create a snow-ball effect towards your credit card debt payments.

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