Credit Cards

Another type of consolidation loan that can bring debt relief is one where you borrow on the equity on your home. That money can be used to pay off your debts. Consider if using secured credit to eliminate unsecured debt is the way to go. You are using one of your most valuable assets in the process.

Do you have a large amount that you owe to creditors? You do not necessarily have to worry about paying that all in full. If you work with a debt settlement agency then you would get the type of debt relief that works through negotiations. Debt settlement is when your creditors will negotiate down the balance to one that could even be 40 to 60% of what you owe! This will show up on your credit as being settled, but anything is better than having a bankruptcy on your report!

Bankruptcy, in my opinion, is your absolute last resort. This is going to negatively impact your credit report, anywhere from seven to ten years. It is pretty impossible to get approved for any loan during that time period. There are a few lenders who might approve you, but the interest rate is going to be sky high.

Debt relief and help can come in many different formats. There advice on creating a budget, controlling your spending, debt consolidation and of course, bankruptcy. A debt counselor can take a look at your finances and really focus in on what is going on.

Credit counseling is a great way to learn how to improve on your finances. By creating a budget, controlling your spending and getting a consolidation loan, you can be on your way to financial freedom! Credit counseling does not show up on your credit report, so it can be beneficial and not harmful to you.

In addition to credit card counseling agencies, there are also debt settlement companies who can provide debt relief. It is time to get serious about getting out of debt, and there is no time like today to get started. Take a moment to do some research on the internet because there are free debt quotes that you can get in just seconds. No matter what, keep your goals in place and focus on becoming debt free. It will become a way of life before you know it.

It is time to separate the fact from the fiction and get you on your way to finding some relief, because it is out there and it is possible.

Now, it is not necessarily correct that you have to repay the entire amount you owe. It is possible to get your debt reduced by your creditors. If you are unable to pay them off and turn to bankruptcy, then they stand to get nothing. So usually they will be willing to settle for a percentage of what you owe.

It is untrue that you can never get away from bad credit. It might seem that way, but it is possible to improve your debt. Through personal loans and paying regular interest, this will show that your debt is not hopeless.

It is not always true that you cannot get a personal loan if you do not have any collateral. What you don’t get, minus any collateral is called a secured personal loan. If you were to get an unsecured loan, then the money you are borrowing is based upon your word that you will pay it back.

Those are just a few things that have been said about debt relief and now let’s look at what you can do to start getting out of debt. The problem with debt is that it can get very overwhelming, very quickly and we start to feel as if we have lost control. It is not hard to get back but you have to be willing to get started. First of all, I really believe if you haven’t started on a budget now is the time!

This is not going to put a lot of restrictions on you, but it is going to help you understand where your money is coming and going. Through planning you can take a look at what income you are bringing in and exactly how you are spending it each month. This is a quick way to control your finances or at least start to gain some control.

I am just going to review a few ways you can get debt relief. Like I said, lets start with a budget. It’s pretty easy to get into debt, spending is fun right? Along with being necessary and a way for life, for some people. Not many people will sit down and keep track of where every dollar is going. This might sound like work and time consuming, but I have to say it’s necessary if you want to recognize where your money is going. It never hurts to get organized, and when it comes to your finances it can only help you!

First of all, keep track of your monthly income. Then make a list with all of your creditors and their balances. Figure out due dates and minimum payments. Next, start keeping track of what you are spending money on. Car washes, coffees, magazines, dinners out, movies, etc. they can all add up! Overspending is very easy to do, when you are not thinking about it. A budget will help you get back on track and set some limitations on yourself.

Debt consolidation is pretty much what it sounds like. Taking all of your debt and putting it into one loan. This can be accomplished by taking out a second mortgage or home equity line of credit. If you are able to get a loan with a lower interest rate, usually by putting up your home as collateral, you can pay off your debts quicker. This usually though can only apply to people who are in good standing with their credit. And if you do not pay off the loan, you have now risked losing your home.

If you decide some counseling might be for you, there are credit counselors that can help you. Here you will get advice on how to manage money and be responsible with your credit. They can take a close look at your situation and help you with your budget. Also, credit counselors can help you work out a repayment plan. I think if you choose credit counseling, do it in person for the best results.

Debt Settlement is another option to help get some relief. A debt settlement company will work with your creditors and get them to negotiate down what you owe. Once they reach a balance they will be paid off in full. Debt settlement can be very beneficial because most creditors are willing to negotiate down 40-60% of what you owe! This usually will only work if you are more than 30 days behind on your payments. If you are current and are showing that you are capable of paying, creditors are not willing to settle.

Debt Resolution firms, such as Freedom Debt Relief (FDR), negotiate on the consumer’s behalf with creditors. They settle on a lower amount that typically can reduce a consumer’s principal balance due — rather than just interest rates — and lower total payments by 40 percent to 60 percent with a repayment term of two or three years. Credit scores may be negatively impacted, but responsible credit use after completing a debt resolution program can rebuild credit relatively quickly.

Debt Consolidation rolls multiple debts into one loan or into a mortgage. It may or may not bring lower payments. Borrowers using a mortgage to consolidate put their homes at risk and might run up just as much credit card debt within a few years. Those considering debt consolidation must make sure they can afford the resulting payment. Those considering using a mortgage for consolidation must make sure that they are not putting their homes at risk of foreclosure.

Credit Counseling provides lower interest rates, with a repayment term of five to 10 years. Total debt principal is not reduced. Many credit counseling firms operate with creditor funding, so the debt management plans created for consumers may be more in line with interests of the creditors. In addition, credit profiles can prevent access to credit while a consumer is in a program, as many lenders view debt management plans similarly to bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy is a less-viable option for most consumers today, following the reforms of several years ago. Those changes included the institution of a “means test” to determine eligibility for Chapter 7 protection, which eliminates most consumer debt. Those whom the law deems to have enough income (as defined by each state’s median household income) to re¬pay at least a portion of their debt cannot obtain Chapter 7 protection. Chapter 13 filings – which re¬quire consumers to repay debt on a repayment plan – are still available, but generally offer less-favorable terms than found in debt resolution, and result in a significant black mark on a credit report.

Questions to ask a debt partner
People who are looking for a trustworthy organization to help win the battle against debt can ask Stroh’s seven questions to choose a reputable firm:

1. Compensation: Does the company get any form of consideration or compensation from the creditors themselves? Some firms receive funding in the form of what are called “fair share” payments from creditors. The payments are incentives to get consumers into debt management plans (DMPs), and could lead to a conflict of interest between creditors’ and consumers’ interests.

2. Professional memberships: Is the company a member of its industry associations, or does it hold itself to a quality standard verifiable by third-party accreditation? A “yes” answer means the company is willing to have its practices scrutinized and to respond to consumer complaints.

3. Individualization: Does the company provide actual consultations and provide advice/education to consumers free of charge? Or is the company simply directing every consumer into a debt management plan?

4. Free education: Does the company provide educational material, including budgeting and financial advice, free of charge? Many firms consider educational material an additional fee source, not a benefit to their clients.

5. Background: What is the background of the company’s management team? Look for good, relevant education and experience — not a team that jumps from opportunity to opportunity to make its fortunes.

6. History: How long has the company been in business?

7. Success: What are the company’s dropout and success rates? Request these statistics. Leading credit card companies report that many credit-counseling firms have dropout rates as high as 90 percent.

About Freedom Financial Network (www.freedomdebtrelief.com)

Based in San Mateo, Calif., Freedom Financial Network, LLC (www.freedomfinancialnetwork.com) provides consumer debt resolution services through its Freedom Debt Relief and Freedom Tax Relief divisions. The company works for the consumer, negotiating with creditors to lower principal balances due that can often result in savings of up to half the amount owed.

Freedom Debt Relief (FDR) has served more than 50,000 clients since 2002 and currently has 28,000 clients working with the company to resolve their debt challenges. In the past month alone, the company resolved more than 3,500 cases for its clients, representing accounts worth more than $20 million. On average, FDR settles cases on behalf of its clients for 47 percent of the outstanding balance — a savings of 53 percent.

Company co-founders and co-CEOs Andrew Housser and Brad Stroh were named to the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal’s “40 Under 40″ list in 2008, and are recipients of the Northern California Ernst & Young 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The company, with 475 employees, was voted one of the best places to work in both the San Francisco Bay Area and in Phoenix, home of a satellite office.

Common Debt Relief Options
You can take control of your situation and get out of debt with one or more of these five options:

• Debt settlement
• Credit counseling
• Debt consolidation
• Self-help
• Bankruptcy

Debt Negotiation or Debt Settlement
Debt settlement services offer to negotiate and settle your debts for less than you owe. Debt settlement is an option for people who cannot afford their monthly payments, and who are not worried if their credit rating will be negatively impacted during the program. Companies like Freedomdebtrelief.com or DebtOk.com offer these programs.

Credit Counseling
Credit counseling is a program that enrolls you on a debt management plan (“DMP”) which usually allows you to qualify for a concession rate from your creditors for lower interest rates and lower payments. The plan should include reduced interest rates, lessons in budgeting and money management, or a comprehensive debt management program.

Some credit counselors can help you repay your debts, but be wary of credit counselors who:

• Ask you to pay a high up-front fee
• Require you to sign up before the consultation
• Offer a plan without assessing your situation
• Don’t teach budgeting or money management skills

Before you sign, check the Better Business Bureau for complaints.

Debt Consolidation
You may be able to consolidate your debts with a home equity loan or other debt consolidation loan. If you’re confident that you’ll be able to make the payments without building more credit card debt, debt consolidation can be an excellent way to reduce your payments and possibly reduce your taxes. You must be a homeowner to qualify for most debt consolidation loans.

Self-Help Debt Relief
The easiest debt relief options are things you can do yourself, like:

• Tracking your spending
• Checking your credit reports
• Negotiating with creditors for reductions

Track your spending – Write down every penny you spend for one month, including monthly bills, automatic payments and bank charges. If you see a lot of unnecessary expenses like $10 weekday lunches or $4 magazines bought at a newsstand, cut those expenses and use the savings to pay down your debts.

Check your credit reports – The government provides three free reports a year at www.annualcreditreport.com and 4 out of 5 people’s reports have errors that can increase your interest rate or damage your credit.

Negotiate with creditors – Call your creditors and ask them to reduce your interest rate in order to keep you as a customer. If you know a payment will be late or you can’t pay it, call the creditor before the due date to arrange a new payment plan.

Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy should be your last choice for getting out of debt because it will damage your credit for 7-10 years and, depending on which type of bankruptcy you file for, you could be forced to give up some of your assets or assigned a long-term payment plan. There have also been legal changes put in place by congress that makes if more challenging to qualify for a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, forcing many people to file for a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy which is really a repayment plan.

Debt can be stressful, but once you gain control over it, you’ll sleep better at night. Debt relief options like free online budgeting and debt management tools or professional credit and debt services can help you become free of bad debt and start planning for your future again.