Saturday, August 30, 2008

Debt Consolidation Options

Category: Finance, Credit.

Today quite a number of people face problems with financial obligations such as loans. The situation has become dire in some places.



Spending more than one makes living beyond ones means, is easier to do in todays world, with people being egged on by aggressive advertising, the easy availability of low interest loan packages and lines of credit. In Australia, the government is, for example formally looking into the causes of teenage debt and trying to come up with ways to help. There are different ways of dealing with the burden imposed by multiple debt accounts. Debt Consolidation Options. The debtor can default on the loan, with drastic effects on their credit rating and the asset held as security. All of these have their risks. A person with a secured loan like a mortgage might be able to refinance it, or leverage the equity of their property and get a second mortgage or home equity loan.


Debt consolidation can be from unsecured loans to secured loans, but more often than not the deal is made with collateral. Advantages of Consolidating One s Debt. Failing to pay can mean the loss of the collateral, if you pledged your home, you could lose it, as the lender now has the legal right to dispose of the security in order to make up for their losses. There are several reasons why people decide to enter into a debt consolidation loan. Upon commencement of the loan, the debt consolidation firm will now be in charge of disbursing money to their clients creditors. One main reason is for convenience. This saves a person from having to remember to pay each time their loans collection deadlines roll up and the consequences of forgetting to pay.


Another advantage is that debt consolidation companies can, sometimes obtain discounts, through their negotiators or reduced rates for their clients. This can greatly reduce the hassle and stress on a debtor. Consolidated loans, can also offer, even unsecured ones lower interest rates to the debtor. Another advantage of taking out a debt consolidation loan is that these companies can help clients allocate their money better, cut expenses, plan better budgets, etc. By paying off only one interest, more money can be applied to pay off the principal, thus completing the loan. repayment sooner and lessening the overall amount the debtor needs to pay. This can help them in the future from getting into financial trouble, but only if they choose to listen.

Friday, August 29, 2008

Be Sure To Pay Your Student Loan Back

Category: Finance, Credit.

Find it hard to find unbiased information on student loan consolidation?



When I graduated from college, I had somewhere around$ 12, 000 in student loan debt. Let me help with that. Seeing how I would have multiple payments to different lenders, and fearing increasing rates over time( yes, your rate can vary depending on the loan type and the lender) , I decided to investigate a potential consolidate student loan. The ability to make a single payment with a single lender, thus reducing the headache of paying multiple lenders. But before I tell you what decision I made, let me give you a few benefits and problems with student loan consolidation: Benefits. Most lenders offer a fixed rate of interest over the life of the loan.


Lenders will usually offer a longer repayment period, thus allowing for a lower monthly payment. Typically, consolidate student loan companies will offer a lower interest rate than many of your current student loans. Student loan interest is tax deductible, thus making a longer repayment period more attractive for tax purposes. If you are struggling to find a job, many consolidation lenders will allow a deferment of forbearance, allowing you more time to acquire stable income, and may grant a lower interest rate for doing so, due to the lender accruing interest during the deferment/ forbearance period. Some lenders will even offer an interest rate discount for good payers- more on this in a minute. Problems.


Yes, I know I mentioned it as a benefit above, but it can also be a problem. Longer repayment periods. While longer repayment periods tend to reduce monthly payments, the overall interest paid over the life of the loan is more, sometimes much more. During my repayment period, I called to ask if an agreement for a principal deduction could be reached or if there was help from other organizations to pay off the student loan, and absolutely no help was provided by the lender. Unwillingness to negotiate. I guess the felt I already got a good deal with an interest rate of 5% Default- Do not, do not default, I repeat on your student loan.


Be sure to pay your student loan back. Bankruptcy, and any other legal attempts to welsh on student loan debt won t work- student loans are like cock roaches, they just will not die. Alright, now that we understand a few of the benefits and problems, I am going to tell you what I did. I felt there were just too many benefits involved. I decided to do a consolidate student loan. The company I went with was Nelnet, and they offered a 15 year loan repayment period with 5% interest and a 1% interest rate discount if I made the first 36 payments on time. As with all things, be sure to research several different offers before selecting a consolidate student loan company.


What a great deal!

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Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Credit Debt Consolidation, Facts Versus Fraud

Category: Finance, Credit.

Credit debt consolidation, facts versus fraud. There are legitimate ways to consolidate debt, and also some pitfalls the consumer must be wary of.



With the current" recession" -like economy we are experiencing, reducing our personal debt has become a hot topic for millions of Americans across the country. Credit consolidation companies seem to be a dime a dozen, mixed up with credit repair companies. Sounds great, but horror stories abound of victims who paid the credit debt consolidation company only to find out their original debts were never paid off. They offer to pay off your creditors and you pay them a smaller amount than what you are currently paying the creditors. A simple Google search will show many of these stories. As you know, having a collection on your credit report can disqualify you from certain types of financing, especially mortgage financing.


Another pitfall to credit consolidation companies is that some report to the credit bureaus as credit counseling, which in the eyes of a lender count exactly as a COLLECTION. Credit debt consolidation does exist in legitimate forms. Another form is to open up a new credit line such as a credit card, with a zero percent balance- transfer option, and roll all of the existing credit card and other debt into this account. Getting a home equity line of credit or a cash out refinance and two very legitimate ways to do this. This will have the effect of lowering the effective interest rate for a while, sometimes over a year, and can increase the credit score. This must be weighed against the fact that the debt consolidation account will probably be maxed out, which lowers the score.


The way it can increase the credit score is by having only one account with a balance instead of many. This must also not be used as an excuse to pay off the credit cards, and then go running up the balances on those now empty- cards again! There are many options towards making your amount of personal debt manageable. This is a trap, and it is better to cut up those cards once you consolidate to avoid the risk of getting into even more trouble. One of the best sources of advice or information is a mortgage broker or bank. Consolidating your debt can be a life- saver! They will be glad to listen to your story and suggest a plan to make your debt payments manageable and possibly avoid a disastrous situation such as a collection, or bankruptcy, foreclosure.

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To open, if you re particular about your privacy and would like to sign up with an online credit card corporation which treats your personal details with the a lot of respect, then find a credit card corporation on the Net whose web site address starts with https. You can run away from credit card rates by making sure you keep to the set date given to you by your credit card corporation to offset your credit card bills.

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With expansion in the field of technology and automobile industry every year variety of latest models of vehicles are introduced in markets throughout the globe to attract new customers. The most suitable and simple way of getting a dream car is by applying for an auto loan.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Monthly Repayment Plan Given By These Free Debt Consolidation Services Is Devised Keeping In Mind The Limitations Of The Borrower

Category: Finance, Credit.

Interest free debt consolidation refers to the mechanism that allows you to merge all your outstanding loans in a single loan without affecting the aggregate interest rate adversely.



In fact free online debt consolidation brings your financial position back on track and once again, your life starts to move in the direction you want it to. Monthly repayment plan given by these free debt consolidation services is devised keeping in mind the limitations of the borrower. Benefits Of Making Timely Payments. So, any one who doesn t want to go for filing bankruptcy can resort to interest free debt consolidation. As you make timely payments, you save a significant amount of money that you might have paid as late fee and other penalties. There can be no better and smoother way of eliminating debt when the debt burden is too high to manage.


It is your thoughtless spending habits and poor planning of financial matters that are responsible for bringing you to the brink of insolvency. Types Of Loans That You Can Consolidate. It is a kind of lucky charm for the person who wishes to get rid of various types of credit card loans, personal loans, store credit, medical bills and lines of credit. Hiring An Expert For Counseling. However, it is not possible to do away with the secured loans like mortgage loans and car loans with interest free debt consolidation. When you start searching for this kind of facility on the Internet, you will find that there are many organizations that offer consolidation loans. He or she can help you in many ways like filling out the questionnaire and presenting the data to the debt consolidation company.


If you find it difficult to decide on which company to choose on your own then you can hire the services of an expert in this regard. Select A Company Of Repute. Although, majority of the companies are genuine yet you cannot ignore the possibility of getting trapped by a scamming company. However, you should give utmost priority to the reputation of the company while choosing one to deal with. Once you ascertain that the company you want to deal with has a reputation among the people and has been serving many satisfied clients for years, you can be rest assured about the reliability of that company. This is evident with the fact that this scheme has served over two million people to come out of the debt trap and start a fresh life again. Popularity of the free debt consolidation as an effective debt management tool is increasing day by day.

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Sunday, August 24, 2008

Millions Of Us Are, Thanks To The Unavoidable Advertising Of The Credit Card Industry, And Few People Realise Just How Many Alternatives To Credit Cards There Are

Category: Finance, Credit.

Are you one of those people who only ever got a credit card for the convenience of being able to pay without cash, or because you werent aware of any other easy way to borrow money? Lets take a look at a few.



Millions of us are, thanks to the unavoidable advertising of the credit card industry, and few people realise just how many alternatives to credit cards there are. Debit Cards. Basically, theyre just like credit cards and are accepted everywhere credit cards are accepted- the only difference is that they take any money you spend directly from your bank account, instead of you getting a bill at the end of the month. Debit cards are often used in many European countries, but are relatively unheard of elsewhere. You should be aware, that you arent, though as well- protected from fraud with a debit card as you would be with a credit card. These are cards that work just like credit cards, except that you cant have a negative balance- you have to put money on the card before you can spend it.


Pre- Paid Credit Cards. That means that you top- up the card, like you would a mobile phone. Theyre also safer than debit cards, since someone who stole the card could only spend whatever money was on it at the time. This is good if you want to know how much youre spending, not to mention that you can even give the cards to children. Bank Overdrafts. Your overdraft limit is set by the bank according to how much you gets paid into your account each month, and you dont need to pay it off until you want to.


A good bank overdraft, used together with a credit card, can be a far better way of borrowing money than using a credit card. Basically, it just gives your account the facility to go into minus numbers, if you want it to. Real Loans. Many banks charge relatively high interest rates for overdrafts, but rarely as high as a credit card- and they will give much better rates for good customers. When youre buying one big thing at a fixed price( like a car) , or youre going to spend all the money on one type of thing( home improvements, for example) , its worth budgeting it all out and going to a bank or another loan company. Credit Unions.


Theyll be able to lend you the money at a much better rate than a credit card would, simply because they know why youre taking the loan and can set regular monthly payments for you to repay it. Credit unions are like banks, only more local. This is because there are limits in law on how much interest credit unions can charge, and they dont need to make a profit for owners or shareholders, because they dont have any. They are co- operative, owned by their members and run by the community, and are a great place to borrow money. Its well worth checking if theres one in your area.

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Saturday, August 23, 2008

A Loan Is Like An Advance On Money That You Plan To Have But Have Yet To Earn

Category: Finance, Credit.

Contrary to popular belief, not all loans are taken out because the borrower is having financial trouble.



Also, student loans are available to students who wish to attend college but their parents do not have the money for expensive tuition and books out of pocket. Most people with ordinary jobs cannot afford to completely pay for a new car or home in saved cash. Your credit record is going to determine your eligibility. On the other hand, a bad credit score will almost immediately make you ineligible to receive money. Good credit will give the lender the assurance that you will be able to repay the loan over time. A loan is like an advance on money that you plan to have but have yet to earn. If your credit history shows that you have a good record of paying bills on time and that you have kept the same steady job for at least two years, the lender will have confidence in your ability to pay them back, and you will not only be eligible for larger amounts of money, but you will also receive better interest rates.


A sizeable loan may take years to repay, but if you are looking to purchase a home or car for your family, it may be necessary to apply for thousands of dollars worth of loans. Today s job market relies heavily on having a college education to your name. It is common for parents to have personal expenses and bills that have stepped in the way of saving enough for their children to go to college. However, tuition and books can easily cost thousands of dollars that schools will require to be paid between your enrollment and the start of classes. If the parent or guardian has good credit to their name, they can co- sign for a student loan. This gives the student just enough time to secure a steady paying job before creditors start asking for money. The responsibility will be placed on the student to repay the loan, usually 6 months after graduation.


Prior to signing yourself to this type of loan, it is important to consider that this will be a lot to pay back and it may take many years. Sometimes life throws you for an unexpected curveball and unanticipated expenses arise, setting you back financially. Loans also come in handy for those who are behind on bills, or perhaps need to do repair work on their home. As long as you have good credit you can stay ahead of your bills by taking out a personal loan to help you until you can get back on your feet again. No matter what type of loan you are applying for, the one thing that remains the same is that your credit score will be a deciding factor when it comes to getting approved or denied.

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Friday, August 22, 2008

For Such People, Secured Credit Cards Are A Boon

Category: Finance, Credit.

Secured credit cards are another very popular breed of credit cards. Well, they are secured for the credit card supplier, really.



Secured credit cards, as their name suggests, are secured. Secured credit cards require you to open an account with the credit card supplier and maintain some cash balance in that account. Your credit limit is dependent on the amount you hold in the account that you have started with the supplier of secured credit card. This cash balance acts as a security for the supplier of secured credit card. This is generally between 50 to 100% of your account balance. For this reason, the secured credit cards are sometimes also referred as debit cards.


So in that sense, secured credit cards are not really credit cards( since they don t offer you any credit really) . Why is the concept of secured credit cards so important? Such people end up spoiling their credit rating to an extent where they cannot get another unsecured credit card( that is what we call the commonly used credit cards) . As we know, credit card debt is a raging problem which is caused by improper usage of credit cards. Even after they have paid off their dues and cleared their debt, their credit rating still haunts them. Secured credit cards present them with an opportunity to not only get a credit card in the first place but also to improve their credit rating by using the secured credit card in a disciplined way( paying their dues in time, utilizing a maximum, controlled spending of 70% credit limit etc) .


For such people, secured credit cards are a boon. As they continue with these good habits, their credit rating gradually improves over a period of time. It s not just the people with bad credit rating who go for secured credit cards. Hence secured credit cards provide them with the means of rectifying their mistakes( credit rating) . Some people go for secured credit cards because they don t want to bother themselves with the bills etc for credit cards. Then there are some who just don t like to borrow money( even if it means borrowing from a credit card supplier by using their credit card) . They don t like to even fill- up application forms for unsecured credit cards.


However, such people are very rare to find. So they decide to go for a secured credit card. Some people just go for secured credit cards because they have heard a lot of horrifying stories on credit card debt- maybe someone from their family or one of their friends was devastated by credit card debt and they don t want to repeat the mistake. Whatever be the reason for going for it, the secured credit cards are surely popular too.

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