The pros and cons of consolidated debt relief.
For anyone with too much debt, consolidated debt relief sounds like a great idea. By consolidating credit card debt or multiple loans into a single new loan, you can make just one debt payment each month while also potentially saving on interest, lowering your monthly payment or getting out of debt more quickly.
Consolidated debt relief is a good idea for some consumers, but it’s not the right choice for everyone. If you are truly deeply in debt, your credit rating has likely suffered, and it’s hard to get a low-interest loan for debt consolidation for bad credit. Many people who seek consolidated debt relief find themselves still deeply in debt a year or two later. That’s because a debt consolidation program doesn’t often address the circumstances or the choices that caused the debt in the first place.
As you consider whether consolidated debt relief is right for you, it’s smart to check with credit counseling companies who can provide objective advice and help you take a look at other options. That’s why so many people thinking about consolidated debt relief turn to American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC).
Looking at alternatives to consolidated debt relief with ACCC.
ACCC is a non-profit credit counseling agency dedicated to helping consumers take back control of their finances and find the best path out of debt. Offering free credit counseling and low-cost debt services, we have helped thousands of individuals and families to become debt free since our founding in 1991.
Our consumer debt counselors are certified and highly trained. At your free credit counseling session, they’ll work with you to review your situation, documenting your income, assets, expenses, and debts. Then, based on your financial goals, they’ll provide you with a personalized list of options for paying off your debt. That may involve consolidated debt relief, or other options like social services, financial counseling or debt management.
The benefits of debt management over consolidated debt relief.
A debt management program offers a different and highly effective approach to paying off debt. Unlike a consolidated debt relief plan, you won’t take out any new loans to consolidate old debts. You will make one monthly payment, just like a consolidated debt relief plan. We’ll use that money to pay your creditors on your behalf each month, making sure the payment is made on time. We’ll also work with your creditors to seek reductions in finance charges, late fees, over-limit charges, and to possibly re-age your accounts to help you save money. Our fees for debt management are among the lowest in the nation and can be waived in cases of financial hardship.
Learn more about alternatives to consolidated debt relief.