Debt Consolidation vs. Debt Negotiation

When you find yourself drowning in debt, you have several options with which to proceed. Two of the most common options are debt consolidation and debt negotiation. These are two very different vehicles for debt reduction, and their usage will benefit some while hurting others. If you are considering different options for debt reduction, consider both consolidation and negotiation before making your decision.

Debt Consolidation vs. Debt Negotiation: Are You Experiencing High Interest Rates?

One of the major debt problems Americans experience is the weight of high interest rates. When you're making purchases on a daily basis, you might not stop to calculate the cost of the item combined with the interest charged until you can pay it back. Credit cards with high interest rates can swiftly enter you into a nasty debt situation, but debt consolidation can help alleviate the strain. When you sign up for a debt consolidation program, you essentially hire a third-party company to combine all of your debts (i.e. multiple credit card balances) into one lump sum with a lower interest rate. This allows you to pay off your purchases faster without the incumbrance of a high interest rate.

Debt Consolidation vs. Debt Negotiation: Are You Being Harrassed by Creditors?

If you're in debt, then you probably know it, and the daily calls from the credit card companies probably aren't going to create money with which to pay them. When you use either a debt consolidation or a debt negotiation program, the creditors will stop calling because you are taking steps toward paying them. This is especially true with a debt consolidation program because the third-party company is handling the problem. With debt negotiation programs, you may still hear from creditors if you aren't meeting your obligations.

Debt Consolidation vs. Debt Negotiation: Are You Unable to Make Monthly Payments?

When you are in debt, you must be able to make your monthly payments in order to keep the account from being processed into collections. If you are unable to make the monthly payment, a debt negotiation program is probably the best option for you. With a debt negotiation program, a third-party company negotiates with your creditor for a settlement amount - usually between 40% and 70% of the original debt. The creditor usually agrees in order to avoid pushing you into bankruptcy (in which case the creditor receives nothing) and the debt negotiation company will allow you to make smaller payments until you've paid back the entire settlement amount.

Debt Consolidation vs. Debt Negotiation: Are You Worried About Your Credit Score?

With a debt negotiation program, the amount of the settlement will be visible on your credit report. Although it will indicate that the account is paid, future creditors will see that you have initiated a settlement, which might keep them from approving credit or a loan. This isn't the case with a debt consolidation program because the debt will be marked "paid in full". Although neither option is particularly attractive, you will need to decide how much of a hit your credit can take.