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Date June 27, 2009

Debt Laden Consumers Find Ready Help With Credit Counselors

Saddled with financial burdens ranging from home loans to credit card debts, American consumers are now frantically looking for the best and the quickest way to get out of debt and repay loans. Otherwise, they face the unenviable prospect of declaring bankruptcy or losing their homes.

Debt Laden Consumers Find Ready Help With Credit CounselorsThe problem is that some American consumers just don’t know where to turn to. Many of them recognize that getting themselves out of their financial dilemma needs more skill than what they have. They just don’t know where to turn to for the particular set of skills that they need.

One particular helpful group of people who can help American consumers untangle their finances are the credit counselors. Credit counselors are people who specialize in helping the average American consumer burdened with debt to find ways to make paying off their debts easier.

Michelle Jones, senior vice president of Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta says, “We help consumers create a lean, sustainable budget that will support the family’s housing costs”.

In fact, Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta is just one of the many credit counseling groups across the U.S. who are helping American consumers get their financial act together and keep themselves afloat amidst the threat of debts, loans and the current economic depression.

Credit counseling groups have plenty to offer debt-ridden American consumers. A visit to a credit counselor will usually mean a full review of the consumer’s debts, income and expenses. By analyzing their client’s financial details, credit counselors can form an exact financial picture and see where money is leaking out and where money can be saved. They can then suggest ways for the client to save up and get their finances back on track.

Another important service that credit counseling groups offer their clients are loan modifications and debt payment plan negotiations. These offers often depend on how good the monthly income of the client is. Usually, the higher the monthly income, the better the chances for a client to have a loan or debt renegotiated.

With the current economic climate, getting out of debt is a major priority for every American consumer. Credit counseling groups offer one of the most helpful and genuine credit help services for them. Credit counselors often offer very low costs for their services. However, like any financial arrangement, American consumers should first check if the group that they are dealing with is actually legitimate.

Date May 19, 2009

Finding Relief to Credit Card Debt

Credit card debt is a widespread problem nowadays. With the economy the way it is, the situation is bound to get worse. As a result of the credit card crisis, cardholders are turning every which way to find a way to settle their debts.

Getting out of debt is not impossible and there are many ways to do it. However, not all lead to debt resolution. Case in point – the recent controversies regarding debt settlement companies. Many cardholders have fallen victim to these companies that are big on promises and nothing else. The problem is serious enough that attorney general of New York State, Andrew M. Cuomo, announced recently that it will investigate over a dozen companies offering debt settlement.

Still, the problem remains – where can cardholders turn to for credit card debt respite?

Finding Relief to Credit Card DebtSelf Help

A very simple yet often overlooked solution to debt settlement is by simply calling your creditor to check if they have programs for customers who are having trouble paying their bills. Experts, however, warn that such a move can negatively affect your credit score. This particular solution is also more suitable for those who have debts in a small number of credit lines.

Financial Counseling

One of the problems with having credit card debt is having to understand the intricacies of the credit card agreement between the cardholder and the creditor. The problem also multiplies as more and more credit cards are involved. Credit counseling can greatly simplify the problem for the customer.

Financial counseling or credit counseling helps the customer visualize their entire financial situation. With a clear financial picture, the counselor and the customer can find a viable plan for dealing with the debt. The ultimate aim of financial counseling would be a workable debt management plan.

For those looking for credit counselors, the reliable ones are usually members of legitimate organizations, such as the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies and the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. Counseling fees are very reasonable and even people who cannot afford the fee are still entertained.

Debt Settlement

Debt settlement companies should be the last choice that anyone with debt problems should consider. Debt settlement companies are very expensive and will require a large payment at the very start. Some companies may do away with large upfront payments, but they usually get their high fees from their customers in some other way.

Experts have agreed that the business model that debt settlement companies follow is very bad for the customer in the long run. Debt settlement plans may actually increase what the customer has to offer and hurt the customer’s credit score. Some credit companies also do not deal with debt settlement outfits.