The Debt Management Expert

In today’s world there are no shortage of people with debt management issues. So where do you go for debt management help? Here are a few quick tips from the debt management expert…

1) Go to Debt Management Expert web sites: This site is organized to give you helpful advice on a variety of debt management issues. We are specifically looking at large issues involving your home and credit. We also recommend that you look to other debt management sites to get helpful tips. There is no substitute for reading up on the issues that you face and looking at how different experts recommend you approach those issues.

2) Talk to people who may be in similar debt management situations: They may not be debt management experts but they certainly will give you another perspective. It may be uncomfortable but it is highly likely that someone in your situation has tried something to help their situation that may actually help your situation. If you don’t know anyone directly join a debt forum and learn in a more anonymous fashion.

3) Explore debt management and debt settlement companies as potential debt management experts: These companies can help but there a both pros and cons to working with them. Make sure you really understand what you get out of this before taking the dive. Many are debt management experts but they are also trying to make a buck. For more information on this read our recent post: Enrolling in a Debt Management Plan to Help Your Monthly Budget and How Debt Management and Debt Settlement Companies Can Simplify Your Financial Life.
4) Attorneys as debt management experts: Talk to a bankruptcy attorney or a loan modification attorney. Attorney’s can be a good solution if you need to modify your loan or if you are considering bankruptcy, but again this comes down to your specific situation. Don’t limit you conversation to one attorney. Talk to several if you go this route and then toughly reference them to make sure that they are debt management experts with good track records.

If you spend the time to do all these well, the next time you look in the mirror you may see a Debt Management Expert.

Related Articles:

• 15 signs: When to call a debt expert
• 5-minute guide to managing debt
  

OVERVIEW
Do you have too much credit card debt? It will take commitment and discipline, but here are some tips to get yourself out of credit card debt.

Do you have too much credit card debt? Many people are embarrassed or ashamed of how much credit card debt they have or how they got to that point in their lives. If you have too much credit card debt, admitting that is the first step toward getting yourself out. It will take commitment and discipline, but here are some tips to get yourself out of credit card debt:

• Too Much Credit Card Debt? Stop Using Your Credit Card
Stopping your credit card usage can be the toughest step of all, but it’s the most important. If you are aware you have too much credit card debt, you need to stop using the cards. Not incurring more credit card debt is the best way to digging yourself out of further problems.

• Too Much Credit Card Debt? Find Small Ways to Save
Take a good, hard look at where your money goes every day. The latte you grab on the way into work and the $10.00 sandwich are expenses that add up if you incur them every day. Take a look at your cell phone plan, your cable bill, and any other subscription services you have that could be trimmed or entirely cut out. Seemingly small savings of $50-100 can make a big difference when paying down your credit card debt.

• Too Much Credit Card Debt? Check on Interest Rates
Contact your lenders and ask about lowering the interest rate they’re charging on your credit card debt. The credit market is very competitive and many companies are willing to work with you and not lose your business. Once you’ve gotten your interest rates lowered, prioritize your payments, paying off higher interest rate credit card debt first.

• Too Much Credit Card Debt? Contact Your Creditors
If you find yourself in the position of having to miss a payment, contact your creditor and let them know about this. Try to set up a payment plan that you are sure you can meet. You don’t want to come back to them at a later date and try to renegotiate.

• Too Much Credit Card Debt? Home Equity Loans
It’s possible to tap into your home equity for a secured loan to pay off your credit card debt. You can secure a lower interest rate, fixed monthly payments, and peace of mind. Be sure to only do this if you have kicked the credit card spending habit. Many people will pay off credit card debt with home equity, only to run up their bills again.

• Too Much Credit Card Debt? Debt Consolidation
Unsecured debt consolidation is a possible solution to your credit card debt problem. Finding a non-profit debt settlement company can help you get your credit card debt consolidated into one monthly payment that you can afford.

Credit card debt has become immensely popular these days, with every nearly every other person finding themselves in debt problems. The trick is, in knowing how to deal with your credit card debt situation and taking steps to rectify your problems.

OVERVIEW
People often don’t recognize that they are in trouble with debt until it is too late. Ask yourself these questions to see whether or not you are in trouble with debt.

People often don’t recognize that they are in trouble with debt until it is too late. Ask yourself these questions to see whether or not you are in trouble with debt.

1. In trouble with debt: Do you have a clear picture of your credit card debt?
Many people feel they have a credit card debt problem, but they refuse to acknowledge it. They avoid looking at their credit card balances. They still use their credit cards, even though they know they shouldn’t. They pay off one credit card with a check from another. They transfer credit card debt balances instead of making payments. These are all signs that your credit card debt could be getting out of control.
2. In trouble with debt: Do you pay only the minimum credit card payment every month?
Paying only the monthly minimum can get you into credit card debt trouble quickly. Paying the monthly minimum will cover the interest and fees associated with your credit card, but it will not begin to decrease the credit card debt you owe.
3. In trouble with debt: Do you make late payments? Have you missed payments entirely?
Making a late payment usually means you’re waiting for the money to come in. This means you’re behind already and you will have trouble catching up. Missing payments entirely just means you’re getting further behind on your credit card debt.
4. In trouble with debt: Are you using credit cards to buy things because you don’t have the money to pay for them at that time? You can get into trouble with debt quickly with credit cards if you’re using them to buy things you cannot afford. If you can’t afford an item this month, it’s likely you’ll not be able to afford it the next month either. If you continue to buy things you cannot afford, you will get into more credit card debt trouble.
5. In trouble with debt: Does your paycheck only your bills? If your paycheck is already spent before you get it, chances are you have trouble with debt.
6. In trouble with debt: Do you choose the longest terms for a new debt? If you buy a new car, do you choose to pay over 60 months or 36? If you consistently choose the longest loan period for a major purchase so that you can afford the payments along with all your other payments, you have a problem with the amount of debt you’re carrying.
7. In trouble with debt: Have you already gone through a home equity loan to pay down your debt? If you have and you’re still running up more debt, you have debt trouble.
8. In trouble with debt: How much monthly debt do you have every month when compared to your income? If your unsecured debt (not including mortgage or rent) is more than 20% of your paycheck, you are in trouble with debt.
9. In trouble with debt: Do you have savings for a rainy day? If you don’t have a fund for an emergency and you have debts, you are in trouble with debt.
10. In trouble with debt: Do you worry about money? If you spend more time worrying about your debts than you do paying them, chances are you are in trouble with debt.

OVERVIEW
For a variety of reasons, there are times when you can’t make the payments on your bills. What happens when I don’t pay my bills?

During the current economic crisis, it has become more and more common to hear of people who can’t pay their monthly bills. This may happen when one person in the family loses a job or gets a pay cut. It may happen when the interest rate on a variable mortgage payment rises and the payment is now higher, leaving less money for other bills. For a variety of reasons, there are times when you can’t make the payments on your bills. What happens when I don’t pay my bills?

When I Don’t Pay My Bills: Collection Notices. You will receive a notice or two from your creditors reminding you that your payment is late.
When I Don’t Pay My Bills: Collection Calls. Your creditors will begin to call you, hoping to remind you that a payment is past due. You can speak with them about your inability to pay at this point and hopefully negotiate a payment plan that you can meet.
When I Don’t Pay My Bills: Increased Interest Rates.If you haven’t paid your bills, or you have but they’ve been late, chances are that you will find yourself with an increased interest rate. This is especially true with revolving charge accounts, such as credit cards.
When I Don’t Pay My Bills: Negative Credit Rating. Your payment history is reported to credit agencies, such as Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. If your credit history reveals a failure to pay, or a history of late payment, this will negatively affect the credit rating that these three companies create for you. With these negatives influencing your credit rating, your credit score will fall and you will become a bad credit risk. It will be more difficult for you to borrow money in the future.
When I Don’t Pay My Bills: Legal Action. The credit card companies could initiate legal action against you if you continue to be deliquent with your payments or fail to make arrangements with them.
When I Don’t Pay My Bills: Bankruptcy. You could be forced to declare bankruptcy to satisfy your creditors. While this word has a negative connotation, bankruptcy doesn’t have to be a negative experience. Bankruptcy can help you wipe your financial slate clean and begin again. It will take time to reestablish credit, but you will begin your financial life anew, on solid ground.

When I Don’t Pay My Bills: How to Prioritize
When you find yourself in position of having to make choices about which bills to pay, how do you choose?
When I Don’t Pay My Bills: Health and Security. Your family’s health and security should be paramount, so it’s important to take care of meeting your mortgage and paying your health insurance. You’ll also need to take care of transportation, utilities and food.
When I Don’t Pay My Bills: What Will You Lose? If you will lose something by not paying a bill, you probably do not want to skip that payment. Look to unsecured bills, such as credit cards, as bills you might be able to skip.
When I Don’t Pay My Bills: Interest Rate. Which credit cards have a higher interest rate? You can sometimes buy yourself some time and save yourself some money by transferring balances from a high interest card to a lower interest card. You can often contact the credit card company and talk to them about lowering the interest rates or creating a payment plan with smaller payments.
When I Don’t Pay My Bills: Consolidation Loan. Consider a consolidation loan carefully. Be sure to understand the interest rates and fees associated with a consolidated loan.

OVERVIEW
Debt management or debt settlement companies can often save you time and trouble when it comes to debt consolidation. A benefit of using a debt management company is the ease of the transition from having many, smaller debts to having one larger one. That being said you need to closely review any company you plan to work with to ensure that they are doing what you agree to.

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The process of debt consolidation can be tricky and intimidating and often not something for you to try, if you are not financially savvy. Debt management or debt settlement companies can often save you time and trouble when it comes to debt consolidation. A benefit of using a debt management company is the ease of the transition from having many, smaller debts to having one larger one. A debt settlement company will take over paying all your creditors. You have to make one simple payment every month.

The idea of debt consolidation is simple. The many smaller debts you carry are covered by one large loan. These are typically unsecured loans such as credit cards, personal loans, store credit cards, and bank overdrafts. The benefits of debt consolidation are that that you can negotiate one interest rate for this loan and you can negotiate the amount of the payment. Often, during the negotiation process, you can often reduce the amount of the debt.

Pros of Debt Settlement
• Avoid bankruptcy – By using a debt management company to consolidate your debt, you will can reduce your debt burden and pay off your bills more comfortably. You can protect assets, such as your car and your home, using debt settlement.
• Make One Easy Payment – You will make one payment to consolidate your debt each month to the debt management company. They will disperse the funds to the creditors. This one payment on your consolidated debt simplifies your bill paying enormously.
• Avoid Harassment – Debt collectors are notorious for their ruthless tactics. A debt management company eliminates a debt collector’s ability to hound you for payment on your consolidated debt.
• Avoid Lawsuit – Debt settlement companies can help you get a hold of your consolidated debts and get them settled in reasonable manner. This can help eliminate the possibility of a lawsuit against you.

Cons
• Debt consolidation negatively affects your credit score.
• During debt settlement, some of your accounts will get charged off. Debt consolidation can negatively impact your credit score. Debt consolidation can be repaired through time and careful use of credit in the future.
• Fees
• Some unscrupulous debt management companies will charge exorbitant fees for their services. Often, you will be asked to pay a percentage of your monthly payment to the debt settlement company in fees.

Points to remember:
• Choose a reputable non-profit debt management agency for debt consolidation. Make sure you toughly investigate the company you decide to use. You need to make sure you choose your debt management company wisely.
• Learn the fee structure for debt consolidation up front.
• Before you agree to a debt management plan, understand the impact this will have on your credit rating.
• Stop using your credit while you’re trying to repair your debt. Create a budget and stick to it.

Related Articles:

• How to Choose a Debt Management Company (Super Pages)
• Debt Help that isn’t (Bankrate)
• Debt Management Company Watch Outs (About.com)
• Your 3 worst debt consolidation moves (MSN)
• The Perils of Debt Management Companies (Find Law)

Examples of Debt Management Companies:

• Debt Consolidation Care
• Credit Counselors
• CareOne

Overview
Are you unsure of how to consolidate your debt and whether debt consolidation is the right approach for you? When you consolidate your debt, you take out a loan to pay off several other debts. This allows you to consolidate the money you owe into one payment and manage your debt more effectively.

Although credit is much harder to come by during these challenging economic times, there are still a number of ways that you can potentially consolidate your debt, such as:

• Credit cards debt consolidation: If you can pay off the balance during the introductory rate period, consolidating your credit cards makes a lot of sense. Make sure to read the fine print carefully before you take any action. Sometimes there are fees associated with the transfer. Also make sure you know when those promotional interest rates end.

• Home equity loans: If you are a homeowner with some equity established in the property, a home equity loan may be the perfect solution for you to consolidate your debt. While they are not as easy to obtain as before, the terms of a home equity loan are very favorable from lenders, with payments that are usually tax deductible. The terms of the line are variable or fixed and can often extend for 30 years. The only clear downside to consolidating your debt in this manner is that your collateral against the loan is the property you own.

• Retirement funds: Considered to be an option of last resort, the interest is rarely tax-deductible, though you are paying interest to yourself instead of the bank. If you are unable to pay it back to the fund within a specified period, you may incur taxes and penalties from the IRS.

• Whole life insurance: If you have a whole life policy that pays an annuity premium to you, you can borrow against its value. You have the option of paying or not paying it back, however if you do not repay the loan, it will be deducted from the total value, thereby of the premium, thereby lessening what those who inherit the value of your policy will receive.

• Credit union: Credit unions generally have lower fees and lower interest rates on loans. It is worthwhile to find out if you can join one.

• Nonprofit consumer credit counseling agency: “What they often will do is, rather than consolidating debt, you pay them a fixed amount and they pay it out to your creditors. It’s a kind of discipline that can be helpful. It’s enforcing a change in spending habits. For the person who is serious about getting out of debt, that’s a solution.”

• Primary lender: In the same way that you might approach your primary lender about a loan modification, you might also consider using the same tactics in this case to renegotiate the terms of your loan so that it is more favorable to you.

Should You Consolidate Debt?
Whether or not you choose to consolidate your debt is a personal decision that specifically depends on your financial situation. Debt consolidation offers many pros and cons:

Pros of Debt Consolidation
Debt consolidation should potentially save you money through lower interest payments and the likelihood of fewer late fees due to the reduction in the number of payments to distinct lenders. Debt consolidation should also help you to rebuild your credit score if you can keep up with the monthly payments due under the revised terms. Debt consolidation should also make it easier for you to organize your finances.

A debt consolidation loan could be helpful if you ran up your credit cards while you were in business school, or if you have a number of high interest student or car installment loans. This will allow you to roll this high interest debt into one manageable payment.

Cons of Debt Consolidation
Debt consolidation is not the right answer in every case. Debt consolidation does not provide a remedy for credit problems. You may have a difficult time finding a fair and reasonable interest rate. If the rate on your new loan is not any better than the rate you pay on your current loans, consolidating your debt would not make much sense.

It can also take longer to pay debts off. When you consolidate debt, you still end up owing the same amount of money. The main difference is usually the length of the term. This could leave you paying more in interest if the term is really long. The best way to combat additional interest payments is to pay down the principal on top of your monthly payments, but doing this may be beyond your means.

You should contact a financial advisor or accountant to evaluate the pros and cons of debt consolidation and whether the option is right for you.