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Online debt consolidation comes in many forms, so it is important that each consumer reflects on what their needs and concerns and financial situation is before signing up for an online debt consolidation program. The four primary concerns for most consumers are: i) monthly payment, ii) time to debt freedom, iii) total cost, and iv) the credit rating impact of the consolidation program. Be sure to evaluate each program, relative to your prioritization of these factors.

Since there are a variety of online debt consolidation options, including credit counseling, debt negotiation/debt settlement, a debt consolidation loan, and other debt resolution options, it is important to fully understand each option and then pick the solution that is right for you.

Credit Counseling

Credit counseling, or signing up for a debt management plan, is a very common form of online debt consolidation. There are many companies offering online credit counseling, which is essentially a way to make one payment directly to the credit counseling agency, which then distributes that payment to your creditors. Most times, a credit counseling agency will be able to lower your monthly payments by getting interest rate concessions from your lenders or creditors. It is important to understand that in a credit counseling program, you are still repaying 100% of your debts – but with lower monthly payments. On average, most online credit counseling programs take around five years. While most credit counseling programs do not impact your FICO score, being enrolled in a credit counseling debt management plan DOES show up on your credit report… and, unfortunately, many lenders look at enrollment in credit counseling akin to filing for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy – or using a third party to re-organize your debts.

Debt Settlement

Debt settlement, also called debt negotiation, is a form of online debt consolidation that cuts your total debt, sometimes over 50%, with lower monthly payments. Debt settlement programs typically run around three years. It is important to keep in mind, however, that during the life of your debt settlement program, you are NOT paying your creditors. This means that a debt settlement solution of online debt consolidation will negatively impact your credit rating. Your credit rating will not be good, at a minimum, for the term of your debt settlement program. However, debt settlement is usually the fastest and cheapest way to debt freedom, with a low monthly payment, while avoiding Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. The trade-off here is a negative credit rating versus saving money.

Debt Consolidation Loan

Many people think first of a debt consolidation loan when seeking online debt consolidation. This option typically means a second home loan (or home equity line of credit) or refinancing your primary mortgage. In a debt consolidation loan, you exchange one loan for another. The most frequent form is taking out a mortgage loan, which carries a lower interest rate and is tax deductible, to pay off high interest rate credit card debt. It is important to be aware that shifting unsecured debt to secured debt can create a volatile situation, if there is ever a chance that you cannot afford the new mortgage payment you are now putting yourself at risk of foreclosure! In the case of a debt consolidation loan, most mortgages are 30 year loan, which means that the total cost and the time to debt freedom could be very high… but the monthly payment will be lower than other options and there is no credit rating impact.

Net-net: while there are many forms of online debt consolidation, many people with good to perfect credit who own homes should look into debt consolidation loans, while consumers with high credit card debt and poor credit may want to explore debt settlement or debt negotiation. However, each consumer is different, so find the online debt consolidation option that fits for you.

Credit Card Debt Consolidation is not a loan so you don’t have to qualify or put up any of your assets. You can include current or delinquent unsecured accounts into the program. Your interest rates are either eliminated or reduced and that is in most cases. Interest rates will usually range somewhere between 0 to 9.9% once you have joined the program. By having this happen you should get out of debt up to 75% faster than you normally would. This in turn will help you build a better credit rating and score. Once your account is set up, you will make one payment each month and that payment will be distributed each month to the creditors you have included into your program. By joining this type of program you are not defaulting on your debt therefore you can not be sued by your creditors. Default typically happens after 4 to 6 months of non-payment. Be very careful of any company advising you to stop your monthly payments to creditors. Read more at www.debtsettlementscams.com

Most Credit Card Debt Consolidation programs usually last between 3 to 5 years and may be the fastest and most effective method of eliminating unsecured debts without a loan. Creditor payments are consolidated into one affordable monthly payment. The payment amount and payoff period quoted to you on Debt Solutions USA’s free no-obligation quote system is 90% accurate. Keep in mind you can always make a higher monthly payment if you chose to. Making higher payments will help you get out of debt faster than the proposed payoff period quoted. There is no prepayment penalty. The program will end when you are finished paying off your included debt or if you cancel the program.

Participation in Credit Card Debt Consolidation is NOT factored into your FICO® score.

Usual benefits of the program are:

Elimination or reduction of interest rates Reduction of monthly payments Stop collection calls. Proposals will go out to your creditors approximately 10 days after your designated draft date. Elimination late fees and over the limit fees Re-aging of past due accounts to a current status (usually done after making 3 consecutive payments) Re-build your credit and credit rating Consolidate your bills into one easy and affordable monthly payment The management of your debt to ensure the earliest possible payoff Restoring your peace of mind through goal orientated financial management and budgeting analysis. Reduce creditor collection efforts because they are now being paid each month.