Types of Debt Consolidation
Posted on 29. May, 2010 by admin in Debt
You may have heard about debt consolidation, but do you realize that this term incorporates a broad category of debt relief? There are many types of debt consolidation, but they are not all equal.
One common type of debt consolidation is a personal loan or debt consolidation loan. If you are able to get a loan like this at a good interest rate, it might be worthwhile. However, you must have a good credit rating in order to qualify. That rating will factor the amount of debt you have, any missed or late payments, and the amount of credit you have available. If you are looking for debt consolidation, you probably have too much debt and may even have struggled with making the payments which would disqualify you from this type of helpful loan.
Another type of loan that you could get to consolidate your debt is a secured loan such as a home equity loan. Having the loan secured with property such as a home will afford you a better rate, but it also carries a great risk. When you use a home to secure debt, you risk foreclosure if you default on the payment for the loan. It is also not wise to pay off one loan with another as that starts a scary pattern.
Another type of debt consolidation is a debt management plan. This acts differently than a loan as you will still keep your debt with the original creditors. Instead of making the individual payments, you will make one consolidated payment to the debt management company that will then distribute those funds to the creditors at specified levels. The benefit of such a plan is not only the consolidated payment, but the reduced interest and fees on most of your credit accounts. You will pay your debt in full, but do so at a more rapid pace than what you could do on your own.
These are the main types of debt consolidation, but there may be companies and individuals out there who advertise debt consolidation but are offering something quite different. Assuming they are offering a legitimate service, they may just be trying to get you to sign up for debt settlement or even bankruptcy. Working with a debt settlement company is risky because it is a rip-off and they may not even be able to help you. There may be times when you need to settle your debt or apply for bankruptcy, but it is best to talk to an accredited credit counselor or lawyer about these options. Make sure you understand what the company is offering you before you agree to their offer.
Whatever debt consolidation option you choose, make sure that you are working with a reputable company. You will also want to understand any program you are agreeing to before signing up. As many people who are ready and willing to help you escape debt, there are just as many who want to take advantage of you. Debt consolidation can be a helpful option for many people like you who struggle with credit card bills.