Is Credit Card Consolidation
The Answer?
Hey People... Its Credit Card Consolidation Time
Again!
Credit Card Consolidation has literally become a buzzword in
the debt industry. As more Americans find themselves reeling in
credit
card debt and other loans, many people are asking, “Is
consolidating my credit cards the answer?” The truthful answer
is; it depends on you! Some people are great candidates for
credit card consolidation. With others, this method of debt
solution will only serve to put them further in debt. The
caveat is straightforward; first, perform a self-analysis of
your financial health and then check out what consolidation
companies have to offer.
Is Credit Card Consolidation The Answer For
You? Let me state right up front, credit card consolidation IS NOT
for everyone! Usually when people hear me make that statement,
some retort with, “What do you mean? Why wouldn’t it be?” It
wouldn’t be a good thing for a person who is out of control
financially. People who have a hard time controlling their
spending habits only go deeper into debt with credit card
consolidation and here’s how.
How To Create a Credit Card Consolidation
Nightmare
Let’s use a common scenario as an example. We’ll call our test
subject, Shelia. Shelia currently has nine credit cards, all
with balances. She’s decided that she wants to consolidate her
cards to reduce her monthly payments. Currently her combined
interest rate is an alarming 21%! The good news, she’s never
been late on any payment; therefore her FICO score is
great.
The Credit Card Consolidation Teaser
Rate While searching online, Shelia finds a credit
card company with a
0% teaser rate. No balance transfer fees and they will
happily consolidate all of her credit cards into one. Shelia
knows this doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out. She
eagerly transfers all of her debt to the new card and
bod-a-bing, she’s set. Or, is she! Instead of making nine
different payments every month, Shelia is now only making one.
In addition, the amounts of her overall payments have also
decreased. But as you are about to find out, credit card
consolidation has become Shelia’s worst enemy.
Warning; Here Comes Danger…
Clearly, with nine credit cards, Shelia didn’t have a handle on
her spending, debts or overall finances. And it didn’t take
long before she began racking up new charges on her old credit
cards. It took her a little under seven months to get all of
her nine credit cards maxed out, once again. The big bang came
during the months of November and December of 2008. Shelia just
couldn’t resist those sales! She ended up buying a new laptop,
a flat panel TV and a sundry of shoes, clothes, furniture and
jewelry. By the time she was all said and done, Shelia had
unwittingly doubled her debt load.
Credit Card Consolidation May Not Be The
Answer
As you can see, for individuals like Shelia, credit card
consolidation is not the answer unless they are willing to cut
up the previous credit cards and close those accounts. This is
a common mistake made by those who consolidate credit card
debt. They
turn right around and start adding new debt to the cards they
just transferred balances from. It’s a harmful cycle that will
eventually backfire.
Joel Marks has been helping people get
out of debt and avoid both bankruptcy and foreclosure for over
fifteen years. Utilizing savvy debt counseling, debt management
programs, Federal laws and a team of attorneys, debt counselors
and advisors, he has quietly assisted thousands come from under
the heavy burden debt.
Source: http://debterasure.com/
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