Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Attacking your Credit Card Debt With Debt Consolidation

Credit card debt is the number one type of debt in America and the economy upside down, more and more America is resorting to a higher level of credit card debt. Credit card debt can be devastating for the monthly finance your house, and if left unacknowledged, have a deleterious effect on your credit and future borrowing opportunities. 

Debt consolidation is one of the most popular forms of debt management when seeking a way out from under heavy credit card debt. There are other ways to work with creditors, such as debt negotiation or credit counseling, but debt consolidation can offer immediate relief and lower your monthly payments and interest. 

Before searching for a debt consolidation company or loan it is important to take a moment to gain an understanding of the scope of your credit card debt. Gather all your credit card information and information and make a list with the following information: creditor, creditor contact information, current balance, minimum monthly payment and interest rate. With this information in front of you, you could easily see exactly who and how much you owe. Take a moment to put all the Balance of a grand total of your credit card debt and write the number in big, bold numbers at the top of the list. This can be a difficult step, especially if you've never seen your credit card debt and receivables all in one place, but the first step towards debt management is the problem head on. 

When you have an understanding of the extent of credit card debt, you have to do with, it's time to find a reputable debt consolidation company to work with. But debt consolidation companies are well regulated and monitored, there are fly-by-night companies will have cheated and neglected people. To prevent yourself from becoming a victim of one of these companies, please take the time to research the company and the people working for them. Start with their website and look for an air of professionalism, certifications, Real Customer Testimonials, company information, contact information, including a physical address and information about services and fees. It has all the basic information that should be easily accessible on the website and by talking to their staff. Apart from the credibility of the company, you also find out as much as possible about the credit counselors and debt consolidation loans they offer. 

With a solid, reputable debt consolidation company and trained staff behind you, you can take real steps to fight your credit card debt and find a way to a brighter economic future. The first step in the process will be to gather as much information about your credit card debt as possible, this is where the list you made will come in handy and start the process. You then fill the holes for the information your credit counselor will ask, and get your credit reports to look for old or forgotten credit card accounts. Once all information is gathered you will be able to assess the depth of your credit card debt and have the necessary information to contact the establishments before the loan is sought. 

Frequently tactics as debt negotiation will be used before a loan is issued to minimize the amount of the loan. Since the credit card company will receive a lump sum payout is often negotiating and account balance can be talked down then borne fruit. The credit counselor should offer these services if you are uncomfortable with the debt negotiation process. When made with all of your credit card account holders a loan will be requested based on your creditworthiness and / or available forms of security, then the loan will be used to pay off all your existing credit card balances leaving you with only the debt consolidation loans to pay. Often this monthly payment and interest rate is significantly lower than combine payments and prices that you paid before consolidation. You may also feel instant relief from harassing phone calls and letters. 

Debt consolidation can be a good way to get out from under credit card debt and help your family get on a better path to financial security. With relief from multiple payments and interest rates, you can be more confident in your monthly income and budget. The advice and financial planning information you receive from your credit counselor will help you make better financial decisions in the future and help you on your way to a safer, brighter economic future.

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