Question:
What is a debt relief plan?
About Debt Relief Plans
Consumer debt relief is big business, and don't you forget it. For every legitimate, nonprofit certified credit counseling agency out there, there are fifty more scam agencies who will woo you with claims of lowering or eliminating your debt—for a fee, of course--sometimes as much as thousands of dollars. These companies will promise to cut your debt in half by negotiating lower payoffs with your creditors. Or they promise to get your creditors to add a comment that the debt was "paid in full" to your credit report. The truth is that while your credit card companies might agree to accept half of what you owe them, you may end up having to pay income tax on the amount they write off. Plus, even though your credit report says "paid in full," a notation that says, "credit not paid per agreement" remains on your credit report. Debt relief tips are easy to come by, however, the only true debt relief plan is a debt management plan set up by a certified credit counselor—or by you. If you have the wherewithal, the organizational skills, and the follow-through to stick with the plan, you can contact each and every one of your creditors and negotiate your own debt repayment plan potentially saving yourself thousands of dollars in fees, avoiding IRS liability, and improving your credit report as you make consistent, on-time payments and build your self-esteem while you whittle away your debt.
Personal Loans Frequently Asked Questions
How are payday loans different from other loans?
What are the benefits of a payday loan?
What are the drawbacks of a payday loan?
What do people use payday loans for?
Who qualifies for a payday loan?
Can you get a payday loan if you have bad credit?
Is a payday loan right for me?
Where can I learn more about payday loans?
Should I consider applying for a personal loan online?
What rights do I have when applying for credit?
Can I get a personal loan if I have bad credit?
How does my credit score affect my ability to get credit?
What can I do to improve my credit score?
How do I correct inaccuracies on my credit report?
I thought debt was bad. Why should I build credit?
How can I find a good credit counselor?
What is a debt management plan?
How can I avoid debt management scams?
How can I make sure my debt management plan works?
What do I do if my bills aren't getting paid?
Should I use the equity in my home to consolidate debt?
What alternatives are there to home equity debt consolidation loans?
Should I consolidate my credit card debt onto one card?
Where can learn how to manage my money better?
What is a debt repayment push plan?
How often should I pay my bills?
What's the best way to pay off my bills?
How can I pay off bills more quickly?
What is a "smallest first" debt payment plan?
What is a push payment debt payment plan?
Should I transfer my high interest debt to a lower interest credit card?
Should I consolidate my high interest debt by taking out a home equity line of credit?
What's the best way to pay off high interest credit cards?
What is a short-term personal loan?
Do traditional banks offer short-term personal loans?
What are the benefits of a short-term personal loan?
What are the drawbacks of a short-term personal loan?
What are the alternatives to a short-term loan?
What should I consider before I take a personal loan?
Should I take out a larger amount than I need at the moment?
How do I know if I'm getting a fair interest rate on my loan?
Are there minimum amounts I can borrow on a short-term basis?
What is a short-term bridge loan?
Should I take a loan that requires I get a co-signer?
Should I co-sign a loan for my friend?
Are there steps I can take to protect myself as a co-signer?
Can I get my name taken off a loan after the fact?
Should I put my car up as collateral?
Should I get a guaranteed online loan?
Where can I find information on building, maintaining, or repairing my credit?
Should I take a loan or use my credit card?
What are the terms of Check 21?
What are my rights under Check 21?
What are my responsibilities under Check 21?
What are my bank's responsibilities under Check 21?
How did check processing used to work?
How does check processing work under Check 21?
Do I need to do anything different to avoid bouncing check?
Can I get bank fees back that were charged in error?
Where can I find more information on Check 21?
Why did my interest rate go up?
Why did my interest rate go up on my other credit card?
Why did I get a late fee when I paid on time?
How can I avoid late fees when paying by mail?
How can I avoid late payment fees when paying electronically or by phone?
Can a credit counselor get my credit card company to stop charging me late fees?
Can I get a different due date to avoid late fees?
What should I do if I know I can't make my payment on time?
How can I manage my money better to avoid late fees?
How can I control my spending better?
How can I develop better spending habits?
How can I find money to save for goals?
How will I pay for my kids' college and retirement?
How can I make better spending decisions?
Where can I get help for my compulsive spending?
Will setting up a debt management plan affect my credit?
What are my debt relief options?
What happens if I declare bankruptcy?
Can I get credit in the future if I declare bankruptcy?
Will all my debts be wiped clean if I file bankruptcy?
Should I transfer my credit card balance?
How do I get my creditors to leave me alone?
Can I negotiate my own debt relief plan with creditors?
| Guru Spotlight |
| Barbara Gibson |
