Don't Confuse Debt Settlement and Debt Consolidation By Christina Costa At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

There is a very simple philosophy behind debt settlement. If you are able to lower the amount you owe, you will be able to pay off that balance even faster.This is a process you can do on your own, but think about it do you really want to try and negotiate with all of your creditors?

A reputable debt settlement company can work on your behalf. Wouldn't you rather sit back and let the professionals take over? I would. Especially with something as important as your finances, credit and overall future! This is a tough time for many Americans right now and more and more are falling deeper into debt. There has to be a breaking point, where its time to get out of debt and find some relief.

So let's take a look at debt settlement and then why it gets confused with debt consolidation. Yes, they both can provide you with debt relief but not in the same way. Debt settlement or negotiation is the process of talking to your creditors in hopes they will settle to a lower balance than what you owe.

This can happen by removing some of your late fees or lowering (or possibly removing) your interest rate.
Most creditors will agree to this idea if you show signs of struggle when it comes to paying them monthly. If they are not getting anything from you, or hardly anything and its late they might fear that you will run towards bankruptcy with open arms. If that happens or they have to take you to court, the odds of them getting their full balance is shot anyway.

So what are the benefits to choosing a debt settlement company? First of all, debt settlement is going to be your least expensive choice when looking for debt relief. Some feel that bankruptcy is the cheapest alternative, yet remember the damage you will be doing to your credit for the next seven to ten years. I think debt settlement should be your last resort before filing for bankruptcy.

Debt settlement is often confused with debt consolidation or thought to be one in the same. That is definitely not true. These are two different forms of debt relief. Debt consolidation is when you take out one loan and use that to pay off multiple other accounts.

Take into consideration if you are already having trouble paying bills your credit has taken a hit. This would result in a debt consolidation loan with a high interest rate. This type of debt relief is usually only a good idea for those who are in good to excellent credit standing.

Debt settlement on the other hand is working with your creditors to reduce the balances you owe. This is a quicker method to getting you out of debt, because you are not taking out an extra loan to do it. A good debt settlement program can take anywhere from two to four years to complete. This depends on the individual and how much extra you can pay each month towards the monthly payment.

Here is where most people learn how important it is to pay your bills on time and what they can do to prevent falling back into this situation. Once you are in a debt settlement program with a reputable company, then you will make just one payment towards all of your reduced debts. I think that is where the confusion comes between debt settlement and consolidation. You eventually will make one payment; it’s the process that gets you there that is completely different.

One reason debt settlement programs do not work is usually dependent on the client. If you sign up with a reputable company then you should have minimal work to do. It's important to note that once you enroll in this type of program, your credit might get worse before better. Yet, if you weigh the pros and cons of filing for bankruptcy, this is a much safer choice. Ask if your prospective company offers credit repair services, most will once the debt settlement is finished.

Debt consolidation is still a way to get some debt relief, but I think that debt settlement is the wisest choice you can make. Especially if you are tired of fighting an uphill battle towards your late fees and interest. Isn't it time that you start winning the war with your finances?

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