The pros and cons of debt consolidators.
Anyone with a significant amount of debt is likely to receive a lot of offers from debt consolidators. These companies typically offer to help consumers resolve their financial issues by consolidating multiple loans into a single new loan. If the new loans with debt consolidators have a lower interest rate than the existing loans, consumers may be able to save money on interest or pay their debts off more quickly.
While this strategy sounds good, it doesn’t always pay off in practice. Too much debt can significantly affect one’s credit rating, and it can be tough to consolidate debt with bad credit: debt consolidators likely won’t be able to secure the low-interest rate that makes debt consolidation advantageous. Also, many debt consolidators are for-profit companies that charge high fees for their services. And if consumers aren’t taking pains to address the situations or choices that got them into debt in the first place, debt consolidators may not be much help in the long run.
That’s why, before approaching debt consolidators, it’s essential to seek the objective advice of a debt consultant like credit counselors at American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC).
ACCC: a nonprofit alternative to debt consolidators.
ACCC is a non profit consumer credit counseling agency dedicated to helping consumers find their way out of debt and learn to avoid debt in the future. We offer free credit counseling and low-cost services to help people just like you take control of their finances and get rid of debt for good.
Our credit counselors and debt advisors are available six days a week to talk with you by phone or in person about your financial situation. In your free credit counseling session, our certified and highly trained counselors will help you get a clear picture of where you stand financially. We’ll review your income, assets, debts, and expenses and provide a personalized list of options for ways to reduce or eliminate your debt. Our counselors can answer your questions about debt consolidators and help you determine the best direction for you as you take steps to get out of debt.
Debt management vs. debt consolidators.
For consumers who are considering working with debt consolidators, we often recommend debt management counseling instead. With a debt management program from ACCC, you won’t take on new debt. Instead of consolidating your existing debts with a new loan, you’ll consolidate your payments and make just one payment a month to ACCC – our team will take care of paying your bills on time and working with your creditors to potentially reduce fees, charges and interest rates. With debt management, most consumers can pay off their debt more quickly – usually within 60 months or less.
Learn more about alternatives to debt consolidators with ACCC, and get answers to questions like “Is debt consolidation good or bad?”
