Making A Dent In Mountains Of Debt
One of the reasons given over and over for the slow recovery from this recession is the amount of debt so many Americans are buried under
. The soaring house values of just two years ago made people feel rich and the financial future looked promising. The future look so promising, in fact, that people spent well beyond their means. It is estimated that personal debt has more than doubled in the last ten years to an average $10,000 per American household.
The crash in home values and the sudden rise in layoffs nationwide left many Americans overextended on their home equity loans and credit cards.
With no easy means to pay off their personal debt, many people are turning to credit relief companies for help. While there are many reputable companies out there offering a wide range of debt elimination services, there are even more debt relief scams. Type "debt relief" into any search engine and a plethora of companies pop up, some of which are legitimate and others who will take a clients money and leave them further in debt. The Federal Trade Commission is investigating dozens of companies who have put people further in debt in the process of "helping" them.
There are several options when it comes to getting out of debt and it is a good idea to do research and know the lingo. There is a big difference between a debt settlement and debt consolidation, for example. A debt settlement company will help a consumer make a one-time payment to clear debts, usually for less than what is actually owed. However, these companies charge a hefty fee and while credit reports will show $0 balances after a debt settlement, it will also show any delinquency history.
Debt consolidation can be done with the help of a credit counselor or pursued without the help of a debt relief service. A legitimate credit counselor will sit down with a consumer and help him craft a realistic debt elimination program, usually giving a 3-5 year window for paying down all debt. Debt consolidation is the process of paying off higher interest balances, like those of a credit card, with a lower interest loan, typically from a bank. With the difficulties consumers are facing get loans these days, it may be helpful to go through a service to help with the consolidation process.
Bankruptcy is a route taken by more and more Americans, but really no one wins in this situation: creditors don't get paid and the consumer's credit is ruined. Bankruptcy is a legal process that clears all debts without having to pay them off, but of course, there are legal fees to be considered. It should be considered the last resort alternative. The best way to start digging out from debt is to take a realistic look at spending habits and set a reasonable budget. Before turning to a debt relief service it's a very good idea to check a company's reputation with both the Federal Trade Commission and the local Better Business Bureau.
by: Ki Gray
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