subject: Credit Card Debt Relief Strategies – What's Best For You? [print this page] Credit Card Debt Relief Strategies What's Best For You?
As debt from plastic continues to hamper a national recovery, we educate consumers and offer tips and resources to break free from the chains of debt.
As is typical for most years, consumer spending peaks over the Christmas holiday shopping season and then returns to normal. Much of the spending that takes place is done with credit cards. And herein lays the rub:
It's far too easy for consumers to rack of huge amounts of credit card debt during this time period, all in the name of tradition and gift-giving. Consumers who wish to improve their financial position can make use of the following credit card debt relief strategies.
Firstly, be wary of scams which promise a quick, overnight fix to credit card debt problems. Credit card debt took time to create, and in all cases takes time to pay off. While many programs can reduce the time needed to get rid of credit card debt, nothing works overnight.
Consumers should also spend time researching the various debt relief options available to them. They should be comfortable with the agency they choose to help them with their credit card debt issue. The best debt relief firms have trained professionals who can work with them to develop and implement plans that can greatly improve their financial standing, especially from a debt standpoint.
In terms of types of credit card debt relief programs, consumers have options.
Debt Consolidation - One of the oldest credit card debt relief programs, debt consolidation in most cases involves taking out a new loan to pay off existing loans. Having a single loan payment rather than several can be a benefit to many, yet debt consolidation also can achieve a lower interest rate or a fixed interest rate.
Debt Settlement - One of the newest credit card debt relief programs, debt settlement (also known as debt arbitration) involves having a professional debt firm negotiate on behalf of the consumer in debt with their creditors in order to reach a compromise (settlement) on the amount of debt owed. In most cases, debt settlement can achieve debt elimination of up to 50 percent or more. This is a good program to avoid bankruptcy.
Yet as we have stated, credit card debt takes time to first get it under control, and secondly eliminate it. Credit card debt cannot simply be wiped out overnight. But with effort, patience and determination, any consumer can free themselves from the chains of debt.
