How To Avoid Bankruptcy & Get Out Of Debt Faster Using Debt Negotiation!
Has credit card debt got you thinking about bankruptcy?
You’re not the only one these days. Even with the new bankruptcy laws, credit card debt continues to climb. Unfortunately for most of us, our paychecks don’t climb as quickly.
If you’re on the verge of bankruptcy, you may have another alternative.
Debt negotiation is a process where you negotiate with your creditors to pay off your debts at a reduced amount – for example, if you owe $12,000, you can negotiation a payoff of $5,000. The benefit for the creditor is that they get more money than they may have through bankruptcy, and they get the money sooner. The benefit for you is obvious – you get out of debt faster, and save lots of money in interest.
Where do you get the money to pay off the debt?
Take the money you would have normally used to pay your credit card bills, put it aside, and when you accumulate enough to pay off the debt, send in the reduced amount you agreed to.
If this sounds confusing, that’s ok. It’s really not.
There are many professional companies that will do all the work for you, and charge you a percentage of the savings.
I can speak from experience (I built up a lot of debt trying to start a sporting goods business, which didn’t quite work out) that even with the fees, this is a good deal – plus you save a lot money by not having to pay the high interest rates on your credit card bills.
Sure, it is a more aggressive approach to getting out of debt than making minimum payments, using credit counseling, getting a debt consolidation loan, or borrowing from a friend or relative. But in the end, you’ll get out of debt faster…
And avoid bankruptcy!
If you’ve never heard of debt negotiation (also called debt settlement), that’s ok too, not many people have. I didn’t until I began to seriously consider bankruptcy.
One reason many people are hesitant to consider debt negotiation is that it goes on your credit report. Sorry to tell you, but having lots of debt (even if you pay on time), making payments late, even credit counseling – all go on your credit report and can negatively effect your credit. And (of course) bankruptcy is a big negative!
In my case, getting out of debt, removing all the financial stress, and being able to live a normal life were well worth it. With so much debt, having good credit was meaningless anyway.
Plus, I was able to get all but one of the negative items off my credit report (that’s a topic for another discussion), and my credit is now back to normal. In fact, I now get more credit card offers than I can handle – and fortunately, I can now throw them all in the trash!
When money is tight, and debt is high, there aren’t many simple answers.
But if you are already considering bankruptcy, then debt negotiation might be the right alternative to help you get out of debt faster!
How Do I Know If I Am a Candidate For a Debt Relief Program?
While specific debt relief companies have their own requirements for candidates, there are a number of fields that individuals can examine in order to determine whether or not they will likely be good candidates for such programs.
To begin with, most companies require their applicants to be at least ten thousand pounds in debt, and they must also possess a deep desire to become free of debt. Many individuals who are in the military cannot be aided by such programs because debt negotiation and debt consolidation may jeopardize the individuals who need security clearance. Individuals who are employed by the federal government need to be carefully screened in order to determine whether or not they are choice candidates for such a program. The following details the main guidelines that need to be explored in order to have the best odds of being approved for such a financial assistance program.
First, it is vital that individuals have a strong desire to be debt free. Debt relief programs are not just to get people out of debt. There is an educational process that takes place in order to help enrolled candidates learn about debt and how to avoid it going forward. There is no reason for companies to help individuals who do not honestly want to be debt-free for the long run.
Individuals must also want to avoid having to declare bankruptcy. This is often an option for individuals in debt, but it can be very hard to recover from such a process - and recovery can take a number of years to accomplish. Next, such financial aid programs help to take care of unsecured debt. For many people, this means that their debt will need to be comprised primarily of credit card debt. This can include major credit cards, financing contracts and department store credit cards. Miscellaneous bills, secured loans, government or federally funded student loans and other similar debt cannot be included in debt relief and their programs. Medical bills can often be negotiated by debt relief programs and the administrators working for the programs. Based on the background of the medical bill, it can be determined whether or not the specific bill can be included in a candidate’s debt relief program.
During this time period, candidates must prepare to have a certain kind of budget planned out. For many people, this means that they will need to expect to pay roughly the same amount of money that they are already paying when it comes to their individual bills over the course of a month. Most of the money that has previously been paid goes toward the interest owed on the money that an individual has been borrowing.
Going forward, with help from the financial assistance program, less of the paid money will be going toward interest, and more will be going toward the actual amount of money that is owed by the individual. Candidates should be prepared to pay between two and three hundred pounds each month for every ten thousand pounds that the individual owes. Specifics can be determined by discussing your individual case with a debt relief program and representative.
Debt Management Advice UK
The best debt management gives you the most financial options. By making regular payments and having a low debt to income ratio, you can access credit when you choose. If you aren’t in that situation, then ask for help from the variety of debt management companies out there. In the end you have to pick the plan that will best fit your unique financial needs.
Pay Off Debt
The best way to maintain and improve your credit score is to pay off debts. Regular monthly payments make good habits and high credit scores. High interest credit cards should be tackled first, followed by other unsecured loans. Mortgages and student loans are considered “good” credit, and can be paid off last.
Debt consolidation loans, through home equity or personal loans, can help make payments easier by reducing interest rates and lowering monthly payments. You can also transfer credit card balances to reduce rates.
Get Help
If you find making on time payments difficult, then it is time to get some help. Credit counseling can help you figure out a budget and saving plan. They can also educate you on financial services that could help, such as a debt management company.
Debt management companies consolidate your unsecured debts into one payment. They will also negotiate lower interest rates with your creditors. This may temporarily lower your credit score, but it can get you out of debt in less than five years.
Debt negotiation is also an option. For a fee, a company will negotiate with your creditors to reduce your loan amounts. Not all creditors will agree to this, but many will. By reducing your debt, you will be able to pay off loans, but it will be on your credit report for seven years. It may be a couple of years before you can qualify for credit.
Choose What’s Best For You
There is no one answer to debt management. Each person’s financial situation is unique and requires an individualized plan. Take a good look at your financial situation before deciding on a debt management plan. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Lenders and debt consolidation companies can supply you with free information about their services.
