Credit Card Debt Solutions
Credit cards are designed to make our lives as consumers easier. We don’t need to bring any cash because cards of this type are accepted as a mode of payment in most establishments. What’s more, you can even buy things you want even if you’re low on cash and you can pay only a minimum amount every month. However, precisely because of those things, ease of use, minimum payment, acceptance in most stores, many Americans are now deep in debt and in a number of instances, it’s too late for them to realize it. Fortunately, for those problems, there’s an equal credit card debt solutions.
If you think your credit card debt problems are still manageable and you want to take control of them, one of the best solutions you can do is to solve it yourself. You can analyze your debt and compare it with your income. You should set aside a certain amount each month that will go towards debt payment, and that doesn’t mean paying only the minimum payment. Another solution that will require your effort is calling all your creditors and negotiating certain terms, like lowering interest rates or waiving off late charges. This will require a lot of effort but it is doable.
If you don’t have the discipline to budget your income and pay your debts regularly, one credit card debt solutions for you is to look for credit counseling organizations that can help you. Most credit counseling organizations or agencies are non-profit although you should be aware that there are agencies that say they’re non-profit but you have to pay for their services in some way or they’ll pressure you to make a donation. Legitimate credit counseling organizations should help you formulate a workable plan that will lead to debt elimination in a couple of years, depending on the plan that you’ve worked out.
If you’re very much deep in debt, you may not have a choice but to seek the service of debt settlement companies. Debt settlement is one credit card debt solutions that isn’t for everybody. Through this method, the debt settlement company will consolidate all your unsecured debts into one, and then the company will negotiate with your creditors in your behalf, to settle a payment which is not the entire amount of your debt, but only a certain percentage, like 40-60% of your outstanding debt. You should know that it may negatively affect your credit rating, depending on how your creditors will report this to credit reporting agencies.
The last resort for those who couldn’t work out any credit card debt solutions is to file for bankruptcy. When you file for bankruptcy and the court approves it, the court will issue an order stating that you don’t have to pay certain debts of yours. However, when you file for bankruptcy, this information will stay with your credit history for up to 10 years, making it almost impossible for you to secure credit in that span. This is not for everybody and should only be considered as a last resort, when all other avenues have been explored.
