A person who has a number of large debts to pay will most likely experience a great deal of stress. Furthermore,large unpaid debts will make it difficult or even impossible for one to get a loan at a reasonable interest rate. A person who is feeling overwhelmed by bad debt should make a debt reduction plan and look into various debt consolidation options. Following are some important points to take into consideration when attempting to reduce or consolidate bad debts.
How Does Debt Reduction Work?
Many people accumulate large debts that they will never be able to pay back. Creditors are often willing to accept a lesser sum and then write off the rest of the debt,as the alternative would be for the debtor to declare bankruptcy. If bankruptcy is declared,then the creditor would in most cases not get any of his or her money back. Most plans involve the debtor paying back anywhere from 15% to 25% of the money that was originally owed.
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Working with a Company vs. Going it Alone
There are a number of debt consolidation companies that will help a person to reduce his or her debts. These companies will contact the creditors on behalf of the lender and negotiate the reduction of the debt. While it costs money to work with a company,it does have its advantages. As the debt consolidation company handles all the communications with the creditor or creditors,one does not have to deal with angry phone calls from those he or she owes money to. The monthly payments agreed to under the deal are paid to the company; the company in turn distributes the money to creditors. Many companies also provide seminars and classes on budgeting and credit card management,along with various resources that will help one to keep track of how much he or she earns and spends.
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The Impact of Debt Consolidation on a Person’s Credit Score
When making a debt reduction plan,it is important to realize the potential impact that debt consolidation can have on the credit score. Most creditors will note a reduced payment as being a consolidated payment and this can have a very negative impact on one’s credit report. When negotiating a consolidation plan,make sure that the creditor will mark the debt as being paid,as this will not adversely affect one’s credit rating.
Debt consolidation options allow one to pay off bad debts and start afresh financially. One can either negotiate with the company on his or her own or hire an agency to do this work. Either way,one will want to make sure that the creditor does not report the debt as being reduced,as this will adversely affect one’s credit score. After a deal has been reached with creditors,one should make sure to pay the money that was agreed upon on time and in full. Debt consolidation should not take the place of wise financial management and never spending more than one can realistically afford to pay back.-