Thursday, September 08, 2005

What You Need to Know About Debt Consolidation by Bill Thompson

Debt consolidation is often a last resort for people who are in extreme debt and trying to avoid bankruptcy. Many people who are not in danger of bankruptcy, but have debt on high interest credit cards may also choose to consolidate their debt. Debt consolidation is defined as the process of organizing loans and debts into one low-interest loan that can be paid off regularly. Consolidating debt can help someone avoid bankruptcy, and help them manage their money more wisely. Debt consolidation is also convenient because it becomes easier to keep track of debt and one is only required to pay off one loan rather than several debts. In order to consolidate one’s debt, collateral must be given. The collateral is usually the home, or a vehicle.

Central to debt consolidation is a debt consolidation company. It is important to choose the best company to fit your financial needs. As is common in any financial sphere, there are reputable companies, and companies that use underhanded methods to gain more money from the customer. Most debt consolidation companies do use honorable methods, but it is still important to know what some underhanded companies will do.

1. Some companies will wait until you are backed into a corner. If you know you are headed for financial trouble and wish to consolidate your debt, make sure your company starts working on it right away. Some companies will delay in debt consolidation so that the customer gets in more debt and therefore has to pay the company more money in the long run as well as short term. A customer who has to consolidate debt or else face bankruptcy can be forced to pay extremely high refinancing fees or debt consolidation fees.

2. Some companies will also charge exceptionally high debt consolidation fees to people who have high interest loans. Sometimes these fees can be extremely close to, or at the state maximum for mortgage fees. It is important to know how much companies are able to charge you, and compare that to what a company is offering. The lowest price is generally the best idea. Always be on the look out for unnaturally high fees because some companies will attempt to scam you.

3. Last, and certainly not least, you should be aware of companies practicing “predatory lending.” Predatory lending is a practice by some unscrupulous companies to allow their customers to become so in debt that no other company will help them. This is a way that a company can control you and make sure to make significant financial gains from your misfortune. Any debt consolidation service that attempts to control you is not a good service.

The decision to consolidate one’s debt is a very important decision. It is important to understand this fact when looking for a company. Knowing how companies will try to make extra money at your expense is imperative to having a successful debt consolidation experience. Choose the best company and you will notice a positive outcome. Debt consolidation is a wise option for people with nowhere else to turn, but it must be a well-thought-out, educated decision.

About the Author
Bill Thompson is interested in a variety of financial topics, but focuses on debt consolidation.

Many People Have Realized the Convenience and Benefits of Online Personal Loans by Beth Pardue

The Internet has provided a whole new dimension to obtaining a personal loan. Before lending companies were available on the World Wide Web, people were limited with their loan options and from where they could get a loan. Now there are endless financial resources available to people, no matter what their credit situation may be. With so many sources to lenders available online, you can often find loan deals that beat out the interest rates and loan terms you can find at local banks and credit unions.

Online personal loan options have also made it easier for those who have tarnished credit to get a loan. Consumers can search the web to find numerous lenders willing to grant loans to people with bad credit. There are other financial tools available online that can even help get your credit back into shape. You can find debt counseling and credit monitoring services as well as many free tips to help with improving your credit score like the ones available at http://www.free-debt-consultation.com

Even though the Internet has made the personal loan process much more user friendly, the requirements to obtain a loan are still the same. You still must fill out a loan application and go through the approval process. However, the online approval process is usually much faster than the traditional loan approval turnaround time. With many online lenders you will know right away if you are approved or not.

As with any loan, you want to make sure that your credit history meets the requirements of the online loan offer. Even though it is fast and easy to apply for online loans, you want to try to keep your applications to a minimum. Filling out numerous loan applications in a short time span can be detrimental to your credit score.

It’s no wonder why so many people are catching on to the convenience of getting their loans online. With the large variety of personal loans available online, you may never have to take the time to drive to your bank for a loan ever again. More than likely, you can find any type of personal loan online that is available anywhere else. Mortgage loans, auto loans (new and used), refinance loans, debt consolidations and payday loans are just a few of the most common personal loans you can find on the Internet. Visit http://www.easy-approval-personal-loans.com to learn about some of your online personal loan options.

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About the Author
This article was written by Beth Pardue who has over 10 years of experience in the financial industry assisting clients with assorted financial needs. To learn more about your personal loan options or to apply for a personal loan online please visit: http://www.easy-approval-personal-loans.com