What is the easiest way to consolidate credit card debt?

Question

I have two credit cards that have about $8,000 in debt between them. I am serious about paying them both off, and pretty much will go as far as starving to get it done. It would just be so much cheaper and easier if this was one bill instead of two. I have played the balance transfer game, but at this point it seems like adding another bill would be more problematic than consolidating. I just don't know how to do it or who to trust.

Is there any downside to consolidation?

Answer 1

By using services from a debt relief organization you will stop receiving phone calls asking you for money. You will pay a fixed rate amount every month which will never go up. You won't be dealing with your creditors any more. The "debt relief people" will be paying your bills for you, and your credit card company is out.
You then pay the debt relief company.
lots more here:
http://finance.ebookorama.com
http://credit.ebookorama.com
http://credit-repair.ebookorama.com
http://credit-cards.ebookorama.com
good luck!

Answer 2

I found an article directly related to your answer, please visit:
http://www.freewebs.com/infosource100/consolidation/s3-atkins.html

"The Pro's and Con's of Debt Consolidation Loans

By Wesley Atkins

You are swimming in debt. You have 4 credit cards maxed out, a car loan, a consumer loan, and a house payment. Simply making the minimum payments is causing your distress and certainly not getting you out of debt. What should you do?

Some people feel that debt consolidation loans are the best option. A debt consolidation loans is one loan which pays off many other loans or lines of credit.

I’m sure you’ve seen the advertisements of smiling people who have chosen to take a consolidation loan. They seem to have had the weight of the world lifted off their shoulders. But are debt consolidation loans a good deal? Let’s explore the pros and cons of this type of debt solution.



Pros

1. One payment versus many payments: The average citizen of the USA pays 11 different creditors every month. Making one single payment is much easier than figuring out who should get paid how much and when. This makes managing your finances much easier.

2. Reduced interest rates: Since the most common type of debt consolidation loan is the home equity loan, also called a second mortgage, the interest rates will be lower than most consumer debt interest rates. Your mortgage is a secured debt. This means that they have something they can take from you if you do not make your payment. Credit cards are unsecured loans. They have nothing except your word and your history. Since this is the case, unsecured loans typically have higher interest rates.

3. Lower monthly payments: Since the interest rate is lower and because you have one payment vs many, the amount you have to pay per month is typically decreased significantly.

4. Only one creditor: With a consolidated loan, you only have one creditor to deal with. If there are any problems or issues, you will only have to make one call instead of several. Once again, this simply makes controlling your finances much easier.

5. Tax Breaks: Interest paid to a credit card is money down the drain. Interest paid to a mortgage can be used as a tax write-off. Sounds great, doesn’t it? Before you run out and get a loan, let’s look at the other side of the picture – the cons.



Cons

1. Easy to get into further debt: With an easier load to bear and more money left over at the end of the month, it might be easy to start using your credit cards again or continuing spending habits that got you into such credit card debt in the first place.

2. Longer time to pay off: Most mortgages are the 10 to 30 year variety. This means that rather than spend a couple of years getting out of credit card debt, you will be spending the length of your mortgage getting out of debt.

3. Spend more over the long haul: Even though the interest rate is less, if you take the loan out over a 30 year period, you may end up spending more than you would have if you had kept each individual loan.

4. You can lose everything: Consolidation loans are secured loans. If you didn’t pay an unsecured credit card loan, it would give you a bad rating but your home would still be secure. If you do not pay a secured loan, they will take away whatever secured the loan. In most cases, this is your home.

As you can see, consolidated loans are not for everyone. Before you make a decision, you must realistically look at the pros and cons to determine if this is the right decision for you. "

Answer 3

Downside to CONsolidation? 70% of all consolidation people find them self in debt at same or higher amounts in five years.
CONsloidation only treats the symptom on the disease.
visit DaveRamsey.com to learn before you get Burned.
Stop your insanity. you are only 8K in the hole.
An extra 400$ month take homepay gets you free in less than two years. Get 2nd job and get some raises at work.

Answer 4

Balance Transfer at 0% interest will help you shave that debt.
To transfer the new card should accept all of your debt.
You can negotiate a lower interest rate too.
Start here!

http://www.nfcc.org/

Just remember if they want money to help ya then move to the next one.

Answer 5

Consumer Credit Counseling. They're nonprofit, and universally recognized. They can usually get creditors to reduce interest. They helped me get my finances right after my ex-wife ran up our joint credit cards and split. DO NOT go with a consolidator that charges a fee!

Answer 6

What I did was borrow against my home (I had it paid off) and the interest rate is much lower and the payments are lower. I set it up on 4 years and will have it paid off soon.