Credit Card Debt Negotiation For Easier Debt Relief
What is Debt Negotiation?
Several people suffer from overlapping credit card debts that make it difficult for them to manage payments for. This is mostly due to the nature of spending using your credit card, hence many have started to question about using credit cards as a valid alternative for real cash to make purchases.
When you begin to suffer the same problem with rising debts, debt negotiation is a proven and legal method to figure out a way out of that debt trap. Debt negotiation involves, of course, negotiation to pay off the balance of your debts that is in reality less than your actual balance.
For example, you owe your credit card company a given amount for non-payment and you work your way into reducing that amount so you can save on your payments. It is important to clearly discuss terms with your credit card company because they share the same interest with you, which is to settle any remaining balance on your account. If you have any qualms about debt negotiation process, then you need to know that it is a completely legal process.
There are several debt negotiation professionals that you can hire and they are the ones responsible for speaking with credit card companies to do the negotiation for you so you can reach a reduced payoff.
Benefits of Debt Negotiation
If you are having trouble trying to organize all of the credit card debts you need to settle, debt negotiation services is a valid method that can help resolve your debt problems. Some people have difficulty dealing with the staggering amount of phone calls or letters being sent to them by their credit card companies insisting that they settle all of their existing debts. There are a few benefits that you can get from settling with debt negotiation services and they are listed below:
Having Professional Assistance
One obvious benefit that you can derive with debt negotiation on your credit card debts is that you can hire the services of professional debt negotiators. Their expertise in this field would help you gain an advantage in securing the lowest possible payoff.
This is helpful for anyone who lacks proper negotiation skills and lack the knowledge when it comes to the twists and turns of the credit industry.
- Save Yourself From Stress
For people with huge amounts of credit card debt to settle, you might find that staffs of credit card companies can be really hard on you. As if settling your existing debts do not offer enough stress alone, having staffs to harass and demand from you can be doubly trying.
Hiring a debt negotiation service to do the negotiating for you can reduce the amount of stress involved in settling your credit card debt. You do not have to employ your own tactics just to settle with your desired payoff amount.
These debt negotiation services have been doing this for a living and they utilize proven strategies that will help you arrive at your desired payoff balance.
- You Save Money
In terms of your financial status, debt negotiation offers a few advantages on your part. First off, the reduced payoff balance will enable you to manage your debt settlements a lot better. It also offers some benefits to your credit card company given that they are able to receive a settlement for your debts.
However, the aim of debt negotiation is basically to help people with astounding credit card debts. With a lesser amount to settle, you are able to keep up with your balance and go back to establishing a more solid financial ground that is free of any debt.
Best Way To Get Rid Of Credit Card Debt
Credit card debt is a typical problem in our country. Almost everyone makes use of this credit card for everyday expenses.
While there is nothing wrong with using your credit card, the problem lies in the fact that most of the time people lose track of their expenses when using plastic money. When this happens, debt can accumulate and pile up beyond what a person can manage to pay comfortably. The result is knee-deep credit debt.
Fortunately, credit card debt is a problem that can be resolved. With efficient financial strategies and strong willpower, you can be on your way in eliminating all the card debts that are taking a toll in your financial health. Here is the best way to get rid of credit card debt.
1. Plan Your Budget.First you have to find out where you stand. Lay out all of your credit card debts on a table and get the facts. Note the total balances, the minimum payment amounts, the interest rates, and the due dates on each credit card. Once you have this information, you can move forward with a proactive budget plan. Reduce your spending and try to increase credit card payments.
There are two ways to increase the amount of money that you can give towards credit card payments. Either you can make more money or you can spend less money. Take a look at where your money is going and try to cut the fat on some things. If there are things in your current spending that can be eliminated, it’s your job to find them and make sure that they are discontinued.
Be Realistic, you won’t pay all of your credit cards off overnight or in a lump sum. Plan how much money you can possibly pay to the debts each month.
2. Stop using your credit cards. The most frank, no nonsense advice you would ever get about this problem is this. Yes, it may seem silly to some, after all, cards have become the modern way of spending money. However, the best way to get rid of card debt is to stop using your card until you have everything settled.
Even if you keep on making payments but you still keep on using the card, you would only bury yourself deeper into your debt. Examine your finances comprehensively. Set a budget. Lower your standard of living. Spend less, save more. All of these things can help you stop using your plastic money.
3. Consider credit card debt consolidation. Consolidating your credit card debt or to put it simply to move a balance from one card to another with the lowest interest rate, can be a quick-fix solution to your card debt. This would make your debt more manageable and affordable. For further information regarding this strategy, check online resources for reliable debt consolidation help and advice.
4. Make double payments. Paying only the minimum payment is financial suicide according to financial experts. Making double payments to hit the principle of the debt should be your target so you can see the balance gradually drop. To do this more effectively, list down each of your cards including information such as outstanding balance, interest rate, and minimum payment.
Total the minimum payments. The total monthly minimum is the lowest monthly payment required but the objective here is to make double payments to repay the debt more quickly and avoid further interest accumulation. Working extra hours, spending less, and saving more will help you achieve this purpose.
5. Talk to your credit card issuers. This route does not always work but it certainly is worth the try. With the right convincing strategies, you can ask for a lower interest rate and check the best they can offer you regarding balance transfer. Do not lose hope if the customer representative you talk to does not entertain your request. Hang up and call again. Or better yet, ask to speak to the supervisor.
6. Debt Negotiation. One of best methods is credit card debt negotiation. Debt negotiation is a form of debt management that allows you to negotiate with your creditors to reach a settlement amount and pay off the debt. For this to work you need to make sure you are speaking with someone authorized to make settlements and you need to have a bit of money to offer in the settlement..
In most cases they’re able to lower interest rates, significantly reduce payments, and even knock off a a lot of what you owe! If your asking yourself how this is possible, I’ll let you in on a little secret. Credit card companies are much more likely to agree to a concession with these third party organizations because as I said they’re non-profit. Therefore any “break” that they give you pretty much results in some sort of tax write off for them. However, if they deal with you directly, they’re just losing money. See how that works?
7. Use Balance transfers. If you have a credit card then you more than likely receive two or three pre-approved applications in the mail or a balance transfer offers that try to sell you into transferring a balance to a new company by giving you a 0% interest rate for doing so. If you receive one of these offers it is best to call your creditor and tell them that you just received an offer to transfer your balance for a 0% interest rate and see what they say. If the operator says that he/she cannot help you, ask to speak to a credit manager and tell them that you have an offer that allows you to have a 0% interest rate and ask them what they can do for you. They will not want to lose your business and more than likely they will lower your interest rate or give you the same deal that you got in the mail.
Getting out of card debt is not that easy. But if you really want to achieve financial freedom, you should start doing something about this before the debt completely gets out of hand.
0% Interest Credit Card Balance Transfers
Though most 0% interest credit card balance transfers are conducted by individuals business can also take part in this balance bargain. Several credit card providers offer 0% interest credit card balance transfer to businesses. Let’s take a look at a couple of these business offers. The first, a Mastercard, offers 0% interest credit card balance transfers for the first fifteen months. This interest rate applies only to the transfers – not to any purchases made during the introductory period.
The annual percentage rate (APR) for the purchases is low however – a good 7.99 percent. The computation for the APR is based on the average daily balance that includes any new buys. There is no annual fee, and this card offers a credit line up to $50,000. The grace period on this 0% interest credit card balance transfers offer is 25 days, and there is no setup or transfer fee. This business credit card carriers a maximum late fee charge of $39, with a minimum of $15, depending on the balance at the due date. The fee for charges over the credit card limit also caps at $39.
With this credit card offering 0% interest on credit card balance transfers, there are no travel, shopping or cash rebate offers. Another of the 0% interest business credit cards offering balance transfers charges an annual fee of $75 and a $35 charge for any additional credit card issued on the account. It does, however, waive the first year’s fee if the credit card application is completed online. Late fees never exceed $30, however, there is no grace period at all. There is also an annual $30 fee for the program that offers membership rewards.
These rewards include reports on expense management, an everyday savings program for purchases such as gas and groceries, and savings with designated merchants in the area of hotel, auto rental, computer equipment and overnight delivery.The third of these business 0% interest credit card balance transfers offers gives five percent rebate on when you fill up at your favorite gas station, and a six month introductory period for balance transfers only. The credit line with this card could be as low as $1000 or as high as $50,000, with an APR approximately 10-18 percent dependent on the business credit worthiness. After the introductory period, the transferred balance carries a low 4.99 percent. That is a fixed rate and will remain until the balance is paid in full.
Debt Management Plan Tips
It can be easy to set high goals. People usually have goals that aim to reduce the debt in an incredibly short time. These targets are simply too unrealistic to achieve. If you have a plan in place, set realistic goals. These realistic goals will help keep you on track. Goals that are unreachable will only make you disappointed and discouraged.
Check Your Progress Often
You need to check with your goals as often as possible. Upon checking in, you know, if you are on track to meet your goals for the specific period. You can, in good time, or far behind, for your goal. Checking in can help you adjust your plan as time goes on.
Talk to a financial adviser
If you put a plan in place, talk with a financial adviser if possible. The adviser will be able to assist you with your plan. They will give you tips on the best goals of the plan. The financial adviser should be able to take you to the appropriate path for managing your debt quickly and efficiently.
Use Your Support System
Friends and family can help you stay on your plan for management. Tell them about your financial plans. Ask them to help you stay on track. They can offer encouragement when you reach your goals. They can also provide warnings when they detect that your financial habits are not in accordance with your plan. A support system can help you stay focused and motivated as you reduce your debt.
Curb Your Spending
If you are working to comply with a plan for debt management, you must make a conscious effort to spend less. When you use less, you can put the money towards your debt. Expenditure simply too much will hinder your overall goal.
You want to make sure that you do what you can to see success with your debt. Your debt management plan is the tool to this success. By setting achievable goals and monitoring your progress, you are constantly analyzing the plan. This will make sure it is the right plan for your debt. This simple tips can help keep you on track. Follow these tips to ensure that the plan works for your debt situation.
Credit Card Anyone?
The emergence of electronic age made almost everything possible to people. Determining and curing terminal diseases made convenient, reaching uncharted territories became a possibility, and most of all; everyday life of people is made easy by the technology. We now have more convenient stores, easier means of transportation and a variety of gadgets that makes work and pleasure almost effortless.
When it comes to finances, technology—through efficient banking system and services—has given people better alternatives and options how to manage their finances. Among the so many financial management schemes that emerged, one alternative stands out among the rest—the credit card.
Credit card, especially to working people and those who live very busy lives, has become an ultimate financial “savior.” More than just being a status symbol or an add-on to expensive purses and wallets, credit card has revolutionized the way people spend their money.
But, more than the glamour and the convenience credit card brings, there is much more to this card than most people could ever imagine.
Credit Card 101
Before indulging much into the never-ending list of the advantages and disadvantages of having a credit card, it is very important for people to first have a brief realization of what credit card really is in order for them to maximize its potentials.
In layman’s terms, credit card is a card that allows a person to make purchases up to the limit set by the card issuer. One must then pay off the balance in installments with interest payments. Usually, credit card payment per month ranges from the minimum amount set by the bank to entire outstanding balance. And since it is a form of business, the longer the credit card holder wait to pay off his or her entire amount, the more interest pile up.
Since having a credit card is a responsibility, only those people who are of legal age and have the capability to pay off the amount they are going to spend through their credit card, is allowed to have one. Actually, most of the adults in the U.S. use credit card because this is very convenient compared to carrying cash or checks every time they have to purchase something.
It is also equally important to be familiar with the different types of credit cards before you begin to build up credit card balances and to avoid having a nightmare of debt. Since credit cards are indispensable to most consumers, it is a must that they understand the types of card that include charge cards, bankcards, retail cards, gold cards and secured cards. All of these types come in one of two interest rate options—the fixed and variable. Actually, it doesn’t really matter if you decide to have a fixed-rate credit card because the interest rate remains the same. Compared to variable rate cards where rate may be subject to change depends upon the credit card issuer’s discretion, fixed-rate carry higher interest rates. Basically, credit card grantors issue three types of accounts with basic account agreements like the “revolving agreement” a.k.a. Typical Credit Card Account which allows the payer to pay in full monthly or prefer to have partial payments based on outstanding balance. While the Charge Agreement requires the payer to pay the full balance monthly so they won’t have to pay the interest charges, the Installment Agreement, on the other hand, asks the payer to sign a contract to repay a fixed amount of credit in equal payments in definite period of time. Another category of credit card accounts includes the individual and joint accounts where the former asks the individual alone to individual repay the debt while the latter requires the partners responsible to pay. The common types of credit cards available through banks and other financial institutions also include Standard Credit Cards like Balance Transfer Credit Cards and Low Interest Credit Cards; Credit Cards with Rewards Programs like Airline Miles Credit Cards, Cash Back Credit Cards and Rewards Credit Cards; Credit Cards for Bad Credit like Secured Credit Cards and Prepaid Debit Cards; and Specialty Credit Cards like Business Credit Cards and Student Credit Cards.
Now that you have an idea how many types of credit card there is, it is now time to review your goals before applying for one. Some of the things you should consider is how will you spend with the credit card monthly, if you plan to carry a balance at the end of the month, how much are you willing to pay in annual fees, if you have a strong credit history and is does your credit in need of rehabilitation. Once you have an idea of what you are looking for choose the right credit card for you by researching the information you need that will fit your basic needs. You may also review the credit cards you’ve research and compare them.
Shopping for a credit card?
Regardless of the type of credit card you choose, be sure to discuss your specific financial needs with your financial advisor or accountant before applying for any credit card. It is a must that you understand the benefits of having a credit card like safety, valuable consumer protections under the law, and the accessibility and availability of services. The most popular credit cards include Chase Manhattan Bank, Citibank, Bank of America, Bank One, American Express, Discover® Card, First Premier Bank, Advanta, HSBC Bank, and MasterCard Credit Cards.
Although having a credit card is synonymous to invincibility, this may also trigger a person’s thirst for material things and may lead into the temptation of buying something they don’t really need. A credit card bearer should always have in min that having a credit card is a big responsibility. If they don’t use it carefully, these may owe more than they can repay. It can also damage their credit report, and create credit problems that are quite difficult to repair.
On Credit Card Instant Approval
Credit card applications nowadays have begun to provide clients with an instant approval feature. Meaning, the person applying for a credit card would easily know whether he or she is eligible for applying. This process of instant approval is basically used online or through the internet.
To be able to prevent confusion in dealing with a credit card instant approval, you should know these facts:
* The credit card instant approval and the credit card application are two different processes. The approval of your credit card does not necessarily mean that your card would be delivered to you as soon as possible. It only means that you are qualified to apply for the credit card. The credit card application will be your next step once you have been given the “go signal” by the bank.
* The instant approval of credit cards is made to target customers with good past credit records. Although because of the high credit market today, the banks are willing stretch their limits and offer this program to different kinds of people. This may depend on the bank you’re applying the credit card on.
* Majority of banks provide customers with a credit card application form online. These credit card companies make use of this program with secured connection software for your information’s protection.
* The information you need to give for your credit card’s instant approval include: your name, your current address, your social security number, and if there are previous address you may have over the years. This is the most common information asked on the instant approval feature of the banks.
* The main advantage of getting a speedy approval for your credit card applications is the elimination of the major trouble caused by guesswork on whether the company thinks that you deserve a card or not more instantaneously. Unlike the old-fashioned way when you have to visit a bank in person and ask if you’re qualified then knowing you’re not, this time it’s a lot more convenient.
* The approval of your credit card online would only take you a few minutes to know your evaluation. It would be your choice to continue your credit card application.
And lastly, when you have been approved on your credit card application, don’t just go splurging thinking that instant approval also means instant money. Instant approval is more tantamount to instant debt. Think about it.
Credit Card Debt Management
Credit cards that are used in moderation could be helpful in managing your finances. This means that splurging through the use of credit cards is almost financial suicide.
Here are few tips to manage the way you use your credit card to prevent you from acquiring debts that could lead to your financial death (excuse the pun).
1) Planning. Before purchasing any product using your credit card, make sure to provide yourself with a plan on how you will be able to pay for your credit card bills. Prioritize your needs before your wants. Purchasing grand items that you don’t really need might give you that temporary high that impulsive buyers are addicted to. But that temporary high would eventually turn to long-term down feeling due to your piled up debts.
2) Limit. For you to be able to manage your debts and payments, never go overboard when it comes to your credit limit. If it’s possible, it will help a lot if you just use about two-thirds of your limit.
3) Statement of account. Keep a record of all your credit card transactions for future reference. In order to prevent inaccuracies of bills and fraud, always remember to check the list of your purchase for the month. If your list and the statement of account do not match, report this to your bank.
4) Piled up debt remedies. There are a number of steps you have to do in order to escape these financial problems.
* Determine the amount you need to pay and provide yourself with a plan that would fix your finances without pressure.
* Consider paying the minimum amount to be paid. Then, ask for debt consolidation options that would make it a lot easier for you to pay your debts. If you don’t know how to solve your financial problems, there are financial advisers that could help you with your credit card management. They might offer you financial assistance through bank loans that would allow you more time to pay aside from the debt consolidation method. But of course, remember to research on the agency before getting involved with them. Don’t just go saying amen to whatever they offer since there is a possibility that they could cause the situation to aggravate.
Self-control is the best way to prevent getting debts that you won’t be able to pay immediately. But if you’re already in the pits, considering the above mentioned suggestions won’t hurt.
“Consolidate, before it’s too late.” Credit Card Debt Consolidation
Credit cards have revolutionized the purchasing experience since Diners Club released the first credit card in 1950.
It gave consumers limited credit that, at times, even surpassed their own personal savings. It allowed them to buy items they cannot usually afford with a straight cash purchase. It also provided the convenience of not needing to carry wads of dollar bills.
Thus, on the average, American households possess 4 credit cards or a total of 13 payment cards including debt cards and store cards aside from credit cards. There are, actually, 1.3 billion payment cards in circulation in the United States.
But if you think that credit cards have made the lives of modern American consumers easier, think again.
Statistics show that the average credit card debt for each household per month is $4,800. This lead to 1.3 million credit card holders declaring bankruptcy in 2003.
And if you still consider yourself unaffected by this, then consider this one: upon retirement, most Americans can only expect to receive about 37% percent of their annual retirement income because of debt payment, leaving them to depend on the government, family and charity.
That’s scary. So before you find yourself in the same situation, it might be time to evaluate your credit card debt.
One way of resolving debt that you might consider is credit card consolidation.
So what is credit card debt consolidation?
In a nutshell, credit card consolidation is taking all your credit card debt dues and consolidating them into one monthly payment. This way, you don’t have to worry about managing the payments individually. Aside from that, it may also provide you the additional benefits:
? Reduce interest payments
? Waive late and overtime fees
? Low monthly payments
? Debt relief in a shorter time
? Credit improvement
? Save more money in the long run
You will also need to know that there are actually two major types of credit card consolidation.
First is through a Credit Card Counseling firm. They assist consumers by consolidating all their monthly payments into one single payment and then disperse this to the creditors in behalf of the consumers until they are debt-free.
The other type is through a home equity loan or other secured loan. This is done by exchanging an unsecured debt (such as credit card debt) for a secured debt (a debt backed by specific assets such as real estate).
Now, credit card debt consolidation isn’t a magic balm that will drive all your credit card debt malaise away. But it will make paying all your debt easier and might save you money in the long run.