Debt Clear Direct

There is something strange about what happens to all of us psychologically when we see our credit card debt just keep climbing and climbing with no end in sight. For some reason, our emotional reaction is often one of ambivalence or even acceptance as though having a mountain of debt to credit card companies is a part of life and no big deal.

But it is a big deal. When a huge portion of your monthly budget goes to servicing debt, its a big deal because that money could be going toward a better house, a new car or even just for something fun for you or your family. Whatever it might buy is a lot better than it just being thrown away as interest on a ridiculously high credit mountain.

So as much as we all do strive for peace and keeping a positive attitude about life, in order to get some motivation to get out there and defeat this monster we call credit card debt, it might be time to get good and angry about the way credit cards handle our accounts and find the guts to finally find a way to just up and fire them.

In the retail world, it is a crime to use false advertising or pull off hat is called bait and switch. Bait and switch is a tactic where they advertise a price for a retail item and then when you get to the store, the price is wrong on the shelf or for some other reason (like, we ran out of the ones at the sale price), they bilk you into paying the non-sale price. Thats cheating and its wrong.

Credit card companies are the international grand champions of bait and switch. When they send you those glossy, well worded invitations to low interest, no cost credit cards, they have no intention of honoring that offer. Oh sure, they might set up the accounts that way. But if you read the fine print of what you are signing when you apply for the credit card, they retain the right to change the rules of how your credit bill is handled without notice and without restrictions. That means that even if they said there will be no annual fee, they can impose one and there isnt a darn thing you can do about it.

Even more outrageous is the fact that credit card companies can and often do raise the cost of what you are paying for the goods or services you bought using your credit card, again without any notice at all. So if you bought a refrigerator on your credit card which at the time was charging 8% interest, the credit card company can up and raise your interest level to 20% overnight, with no reason for doing so and with no notice to you. So what just happened is they jacked up the price of the refrigerator you bought and you have to pay it. If that doesnt get you good and mad, well, it should.

If you watch how the credit card companies handle your accounts, you can tell they are looking for any excuse to raise your rates. If your payment comes in an hour late, they can double your rates. And guess what? They are the ones who determine if your payment came in late. So if you mail it a week and a half a head of time, they can still claim it as late and jack up your interest rate and impose a huge penalty for late payment.

Its just amazing and completely outrageous that credit card companies are able to change the rules of how you do business with them with no respect for you as a customer and with no intervention by any federal agency. In fact, the concept that the federal government is in the pockets of the credit card companies is reinforced over and over again.

Getting good and mad about credit card debt can mobilize you to do some things that are long overdue. It might be overdue for you to contact your congressman and start putting them on notice that we arent going to take this anymore. But it is definitely overdue for you to see the credit card companies for what they are and fire them by getting rid of that credit card debt once and for all.

Related Posts:

• Avoiding Credit Card Debt Before it Sneaks up on You
• Time to Get Help
• Manage but Dont Be Managed by Credit
• Teaching the Kids About Credit
• Handing the Debt Off

The modern times have made competition an integral part of our life. We are constantly trying to better our living standards even at the cost of taking loans, opting for ‘buy now pay later’ schemes and of course credit cards. While we are purchasing the objects we do not realize it but when it is time to pay back our accumulated debts and our finances do not permit it that is when we are in deep trouble. Most people tend to fall into the vicious circle of taking further loans to repay their already existing loans and the burden of debt keeps increasing. However, there may be a way out of this situation if you opt for Christian debt relief services that are specifically created to help you out of your debts.

A group of like minded souls come together to form an organization that is aimed at providing Christian debt relief to debtors in need who are being unable to repay their multiple loans. The Christian debt relief works on the Christian belief that it is a sin to take a loan and make yourself enslaved to the lender. The organization provides not only financial counseling and guidance in order to help you manage your funds better but also provides further financial and moral support. The people form the organization will negotiate on your behalf with the creditors in order to freeze or reduce the interest on the loan.

Christian debt relief also helps you to consolidate all your multiple debts under a single, affordable monthly installment wherein that single amount will go towards repaying all your debts at one go. As the amount is affordable, it will also ensure that you have a greater amount of expendable income with you at the end of every month, which you can spend towards meeting your family responsibilities. Also having sound financial advice and moral support at a time like this helps you get over it with strength of spirit. The main intention of this kind of organization is to improve the moral fabric of the society and create a debt free existence for all Christians. Once a debtor has had financial counseling and guidance about better managing his funds and repaying all debts, he will definitely not want to fall into the trap of loans again and will also guide others which in turn will create a ripple effect in the society and help the people achieve complete freedom from debts.

A Christian debt relief service will also get you a loan to repay all consolidated debts and that too at a low rate of interest. It is much easier to repay all your debts at one go through this loan and then gradually repay the low interest loan through easy monthly installments. The first step in hiring such a company is to locate a genuine debt relief provider. Many people take advantage of the debtor’s situation to take all personal information and then commit fraud. Hence, it is advisable to find a firm from the yellow pages, internet or through reference of other clients of the company. Once you have the right company supporting and guiding you, then you can easily achieve freedom from all your multiple debts.

Related Posts:

• Lead A Debt Free Life With Debt Relief
• John Cummuta – Debt To Wealth
• Do You Want Help Deciphering the New Bankruptcy Code?
• Want Advice About Fighting Personal Bankruptcy
• Haggling With Your Creditors

by eric731

Is Debt Negotiation for You? – Debt Settlement Advice

Debt negotiation is a relatively new form of debt relief that is gaining popularity for its results in reducing credit card and consumer debt and because the process can also help homeowners avoid foreclosure by making home loan modifications more likely to be approved. There are two schools of thought on the subject; one that focuses on broken settlements, credit scores and direct negotiations while the other centers on the short and long term benefits of the practice. First, the arguments against debt negotiations:

* Broken settlements A settlement can be broken by either the party executing the negotiation or the customer. True, there have been instances were companies didnt follow through on their promises to see the negotiation from beginning to end. The percentage of customers involved in those situations has been small and could have been prevented with some due diligence. Many companies have been drawn into the debt relief industry by the sheer numbers of borrowers and their escalating debt starting in the late 90s. What had started as debt counseling run by a few non-profits mushroomed into an industry populated with thousands of new and inexperienced companies offering services far beyond the scope of the original mandate of assisting indebted customers with their debts Within those thousands of companies were those that didnt deliver on debt negotiations, counseling, or consolidation. Customers can also break a settlement by not making enough payments to settle the negotiation. Whether by circumstance or intention, some will stop making payments during the 18 to 48 months of the settlement process.

* Credit scores A debt negotiation will likely decrease the credit score of a borrower that enters a debt negotiation, but it depends on what that score is at the time the process starts. A vast majority of borrowers that start a debt negotiation are already behind on payments and are consequently taking hits on credit scores so the negotiation wont have as much of an effect. The second issue on credit scores is that the negotiation stays on the report for up to seven years. While that can be true, doing nothing will leave charge-offs and open balances on the report indefinitely. Finalized, settled, and closed accounts are ultimately a much better reflection on a credit report than accounts that appear intended and/or neglected.

* Direct negotiation Borrowers can initiate direct negotiations and, in fact, may be contacted by their lenders to do so. One problem with going direct is that there are normally several accounts to be negotiated, all of which will need to be done independently. A second issue is that the offers in direct negotiations are usually for lump sums or for payoffs within a few months of agreement. Those types of payments are often unworkable for the borrower, especially if there is more than one lump sum agreement at a time.

The benefits of debt negotiations are as follows:

* Immediate relief Upon initiation of the debt negotiation, the borrower will immediately experience an approximate reduction of 50% on payment obligations for all accounts involved in the negotiation. Reductions can vary, depending on the borrowers ability to pay. By making payments in excess of the 50% reduction the borrower may be able to pay off the negotiated balances faster.

* Debt balances cut by 40 to 60% – Depending on the creditor, balances can be negotiated down by 60% or more. For a negotiation covering multiple accounts the average reduction for the total is 50%. Once the negotiated balances have been settled the accounts are considered to be paid in full with no further obligation by the borrower to the lender.

* A wide spectrum of accounts which can be negotiated A debt negotiation can include credit cards, signature loans, department store debt, unpaid medical bills, unpaid utility bills, and more. This effectively gives the borrower a chance to wipe the slate clean without the disadvantages of filing bankruptcy.

* Paying off all debts within four years As credit card balances have accumulated for consumers over time, making payments that materially reduce the principle balance has become difficult, if not impossible. For those that can only afford to make minimum payments, a full payoff could take twenty five years or more. Calculated out over that time a borrower would pay many times the actual balance in interest alone. Contrast that scenario with a full payoff of debts over four years or less at approximately half the balance amount and the merits of debt negotiation become very apparent.

* Increased odds of approval for home loan modifications A debt settlement can enhance an application for a home loan modification by showing a reduction of consumer debt payments which allows for a greater availability of a homeowners income toward mortgage payments. In fact, a debt negotiation could be the difference between a successful loan modification and foreclosure.

You will continue to hear pro and con arguments regarding debt negotiations. One thing to keep in mind is that credit counselors have been and still are backed by credit card issuers. When listening or hearing about debt negotiations, always consider the source. If you are contemplating a debt negotiation, be sure to conduct some due diligence before selecting a firm to act on your behalf. Visit the firm and ask enough questions to get comfortable with the partnership. Insist on a law firm experienced in debt negotiations and, if applicable, home loan modifications. Getting back on your feet will take partnering with the right firm and a commitment to seeing the process through to its completion. Take care of those issues, and youre on your way to financial freedom.

Related Posts:

• Debt Settlement vs. Bankruptcy