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Get Rid of your Debt by Using the Services of a Debt Management Company in the UK

Posted by | Posted in Uncategorized | Posted on 11-07-2011

It is quite common for the people to have debts and in the United Kingdom large numbers of people are facing this problem due to various reasons. A debt management service can help such people in getting rid of their debts in an easy and quick way. If you are reeling under multiple debts and also have much lesser income than those debts, then a reputable and professional debt management service in the UK can assist you in coming out of all your debts in an efficient way.

This service is available to the citizens of the United Kingdom and there are no upfront fees for availing it. Here you will find many seasoned financial experts who are eager to solve all your debt problems. They will suggest you of ways to successfully manage all your debt and clear it using your current sources of income. They will also inform you of ways to consolidate all your debts at much lower interest rates.

How a UK debt management can help you?

A debt management service will first analyze your sources of income to estimate the amount of money that you can repay each month apart from your recurring household expenses. Aside from this, they will also analyze all your outstanding debts, their interest rates and the repayment period. With all this crucial data in their hands, a debt management service then decides on which of the loan needs to be cleared first (For example: debts with the high interest rates and the smaller repayment period)

If you have numerous small loans with the higher interest rates, then they will suggest you to go for a debt consolidation loan at a low rate of interest. In this process, all your outstanding loans with the high interest rates are combined into one single loan at a low interest rate.

The debt counselors in a debt management service are suitably trained for providing you with the tailor made solutions. They will also inform you of the merits and demerits of each of the solution. With their help, you can definitely get rid of all your debits in an methodological way. Sometimes, it is also possible to make a lump sum payment to the debt management firm, who then distributes this amount to all your creditors.

Debt Consolidation vs Payday Loans

Posted by | Posted in Debt Management | Posted on 21-04-2011

So you are thinking what does debt consolidation and payday loans have in common? Well typically people who opt for payday loans are not very far from those who are currently considering debt consolidation as an effort to lower high interest credit card monthly payments. We live in a country where credit is relatively easy. In fact on any given day, most of you will receive a letter from a credit card company offering you the world but spelling out the harsh details in the fine print that unfortunately few ever take time to read. This article is not meant to pit debt consolidation and payday loans as good vs. evil.

It is intended to help you understand why people chose both alternatives. First of all, what exactly is debt consolidation? Debt Consolidation is the process of aggregating unsecured debt in order to lower overall interest rate and have one monthly payment. Who needs debt consolidation? If you are stuck with high interest monthly payments, especially from credit card debt, it is likely that debt consolidation would be appealing. In many cases people simply can not afford to pay what they are currently paying.

Keep this in mind. Lets transition to payday loans or cash advance. People that want a cash advance are those who are in a bind and need emergency cash. Payday loans and cash advance have high interest rates and many states prohibit them. I am not against them because I understand why people may need them as a last resort. In both insistences people are seeking debt relief; however, those solutions are not the ultimate solutions to the problems they try to solve. The true answer lies in our ability to spend vs. save.

The best debt consolidation program will get you out of debt if you finish the program; however, to fix the problem you must understand that living within your means is the true solution. A cash advance may help you pay for a bill when you come up short, but saving for a raining day is a lot cheaper than getting a payday loan. By acknowledging our own weakness, we can become stronger when we take action to improve ourselves.

4 Keys To Freeing Yourself From Debt

Posted by | Posted in Debt Management | Posted on 14-11-2010

Debt is a way of life for many Americans. We owe money on our homes, our cars, our possessions (from furniture to clothes), and our education. Many Americans are so mired in debt they aren’t even sure just how much they owe and to whom — even worse they sometimes don’t even remember just what caused their debt.

Some debt is good for you. For example, what you owe on your home can provide a nice way to balance out your income tax. A little debt is not a bad thing either as making regular payments to various creditors helps build your credit rating which makes it easier for you to obtain loans at good rates. However the truth is that most Americans have more than a little debt — and many owe far too much money and are already, or soon will be, in financial trouble as a result.

Finding yourself owing a lot of money is not the end of the road and you can stop your cycle of debt by taking four positive steps to break the cycle.

First, attack your high-cost debts. This likely includes credit cards where you may be paying high minimum payments and high interest rates. Pay off the balances on credit cards carrying the highest interest rates first. Continue making your minimum payments for lower-interest cards but concentrate on paying off the highest interest. When the high-cost cards are paid off then work to eliminate the balances on your other cards.

Second, reach out to your creditors. If you are going to be late or have difficulty paying your minimum payments then contact the credit card company. Even if you can make all your payments in a timely fashion there are two benefits you can reap from contacting the card issuer. First, you may be able to negotiate lower rates or more favorable terms. Second, they might be able to recommend alternatives that can minimize damage to your credit rating.

Third, consolidate your debts as much as possible. You can accomplish this a number of ways. One possibility is simply transferring balances from one credit card to another with a lower rate, but be aware of transfer fees before choosing this option. Another possibility, if you own your own home, is to take out a home-equity loan or line of credit which should have a lower interest rate than most credit cards can offer as well as offering tax deductions. Finally, you can also consider a secured loan offering the value in another form of property, your vehicle for example.

Fourth, don’t sacrifice your retirement savings. Obviously paying off your debt should be a high financial priority but cutting what you save for retirement to do so may not be the wisest course — especially if that becomes a long term habit or if you are losing out on your employer’s matching funds as a result. Perhaps you may be able to borrow against (or from) your retirement funds at a lower interest rate which will allow you to continue to save for retirement while also getting out from under your debt.

While owing money may well be the American way it can also be a tremendous burden to bear. You can shed the weight of your load or at least trim it down to a more manageable level by taking these four steps.

Debt Consolidation vs Payday Loans

Posted by | Posted in Debt Management | Posted on 30-07-2010

So you are thinking what does debt consolidation and payday loans have in common? Well typically people who opt for payday loans are not very far from those who are currently considering debt consolidation as an effort to lower high interest credit card monthly payments. We live in a country where credit is relatively easy. In fact on any given day, most of you will receive a letter from a credit card company offering you the world but spelling out the harsh details in the fine print that unfortunately few ever take time to read. This article is not meant to pit debt consolidation and payday loans as good vs. evil.

It is intended to help you understand why people chose both alternatives. First of all, what exactly is debt consolidation? Debt Consolidation is the process of aggregating unsecured debt in order to lower overall interest rate and have one monthly payment. Who needs debt consolidation? If you are stuck with high interest monthly payments, especially from credit card debt, it is likely that debt consolidation would be appealing. In many cases people simply can not afford to pay what they are currently paying.

Keep this in mind. Lets transition to payday loans or cash advance. People that want a cash advance are those who are in a bind and need emergency cash. Payday loans and cash advance have high interest rates and many states prohibit them. I am not against them because I understand why people may need them as a last resort. In both insistences people are seeking debt relief; however, those solutions are not the ultimate solutions to the problems they try to solve. The true answer lies in our ability to spend vs. save.

The best debt consolidation program will get you out of debt if you finish the program; however, to fix the problem you must understand that living within your means is the true solution. A cash advance may help you pay for a bill when you come up short, but saving for a raining day is a lot cheaper than getting a payday loan. By acknowledging our own weakness, we can become stronger when we take action to improve ourselves.

Are New Bankruptcy Laws Going To Help You?

Posted by | Posted in Debt Management | Posted on 20-12-2009

There are 2 sides to the changes in bankruptcy rules. It will be a lot harder to file bankruptcy under chapter 7 and get a totally clean slate.

For businesses, relying on issuing credit, the new personal bankruptcy law is doing great, reducing personal bankruptcy claims from the thousands to double digits.(In the short run).

However, lawyers working with the actual people filing for bankruptcy say that the new law is seriously flawed because it puts more financial burdens on already broke clients and reduces potential debt repayment to small businesses.

And then of course you have the credit card companies charging high interest rates which in quite a few cases caused the bankruptcy in the first place.
According to some financial specialists, much of the debt people accumulate is a result of keeping up with the Joneses and not thinking ahead.

For 80% of clients counseled each month, the debt is credit card related and averages $32,000 - a result of six to eight cards. Consumer credit organizations say the new law provides debt-reducing strategies for those considering filing bankruptcy and curbs abuse.

Under the new law it has become a requirement that the person filing bankruptcy obtains credit counseling both before and after filing for which that person will be charged..

So now the consumer would then know the advantages and disadvantages of declaring bankruptcy. Yet it seems merely another expense for an already financially stressed individual.

People filing bankruptcy in general are not overspenders, but merely faced with temporary financial disasters such as medical costs, layoffs, a divorce, gambling debts or other crises. Before you can file bankruptcy,you are now required to complete credit counseling with an agency approved by the U.S. Trustees office.

This credit counseling is designed to help you determine whether or not bankruptcy is appropriate.

Once you complete your bankruptcy, the law requires you to attend another credit counseling session.

These are new requirements, before this law was passed the law did not require a person to go through counseling either before or after the filing of bankruptcy.

Second, under the old law, a person could decide to file under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Under the new law, the court will look at your monthly income and apply a means test relating to the state in which you live. If your income is less than or equal to the medium income then you will be allowed to file Chapter 7 which in effect will give you a clean slate.

This medium income can vary from $28,000 in Missouri to $56,000 in Alaska. If your income is greater, you may be forced to file Chapter 13 unless you can demonstrate you do not have enough disposable income.

Under Chapter 13 you will not get a clean slate but will have to make payments on your debts.

Also, your attorney now has to personally certify that your bankruptcy filing is accurate. This means more work for the attorney, with higher legal fees.

Advantages of declaring Bankruptcy:

Legal protection from creditors
Takes care of all or most debt
In some cases, can keep home and car
May stop complete financial ruin
Provides a fresh start

Disadvantages of declaring Bankruptcy:

Bad credit
May have to repay partial debt load and return collateral to creditors
May lose assets, including house and car (If the house is worth more than a certain amount).
Bankruptcy becomes public record, and
Remains on credit record for seven to 10 years

“In the past, a bankruptcy offered a fresh start for the filer,” said Columbia attorney Gwen Froeschner Hart. “The new federal legislation offers language directed at helping creditors.”

If you analyze credit card expenses for most people you’ll see that they often include medical bills and day-to-day expenses for the elderly or those earning low or fixed incomes. Records show that 50% of credit card holders do not pay their full credit card bills every month.

33% of the population can’t afford medical insurance so have to charge their prescription drugs.
With the recent Medicaid cuts and rigid bankruptcy legislation who knows what is going to happen to these people.

There are some who say consumers are abusing creditors. The irony is that credit card companies are begging for customers and offering large amounts of unsecured credit, yet at the same time, lobbying for stricter debt controls.

A Debt Consolidation Program To Relieve Debt

Posted by | Posted in Debt Management | Posted on 23-10-2009

Debt consolidation programs are good if you are paying on several different loans. They can make your life easier by giving you one monthly payment. Your monthly debt decreases if the program you use for debt consolidation stretches your payments over a long period of time.  Paying less every month will free up some extra cash.
A successful strategy sometimes is to use a debt consolidation program. With these programs you can manage various high-rate revolving debts with one payment. Let’s say you have several high credit card balances with high interest rates. With the debt consolidation program, you will be able to lower the interest rate you’re paying and manage the debt better.

Debt Consolidation Programs Reminders
A debt consolidation program doesn’t eliminate your debt. All these programs do is move your debt to make it easier to make the payments.  You will have to pay the money back sooner or later since you do owe it.

One problem with a debt consolidation program is you will feel like you owe less.  Your credit cards will again have large amounts of available credit for you to use. Beware of digging yourself into a deeper hole by continuing to add to these balances.

With a debt consolidation loan you may end up paying more in total interest. By stretching your payments over a longer period of time, your total interest cost could possibly be higher. Of course, it may help you more easily manage your current cash flow.

There are risks by using debt consolidation programs. If you’re using a home equity loan or line of credit to consolidate your debt, the consequences of falling behind on the payments can be disastrous. You could lose your home if it is pledged as collateral against your loan.
How to Choose the Best Debt Consolidation Programs
You should shop around to find a program that fits your needs. Local credit unions and banks you already deal with are a good place to start. They are a reliable source and will most likely give you a fair deal. You might also try a bank you aren’t currently working with. Be careful of scams though, when searching the Internet for debt consolidation.

When searching for a debt management company, look for experience, how professional the company is, their assistance and budgeting services. Try to find a local company you can communicate with without having to drive for hours to talk to your counselor.

The debt management industry is unregulated. Scam artist are out there waiting to charge your outrageous fees without informing you of the best solution for your situation. Try to find out some of their customers and talk to them. Get recommendations and research online if possible.
When you team up with a debt management company who is less than above board, you may be left feeling insecure. You should relate well with your counselor and understand what they suggest. That peace of mind should help you pursue your goals and your financial future more comfortably.

Also the debt management company your choose should be a be advise you on how to deal with angry creditors, whether bankruptcy is an option or how to consolidate debt or simply reorganize your bill payment schedule.

Remember, your main goal is to work towards a better understanding of your financial debts. You will want to learn how to take care of your own debts, assets, and financial goals through your counselor’s advice. The debt management and debt consolidation is only stepping stone towards your own financial self-reliance.

Debt Management UK: Filing For Bancruptcy? … Stop … “Think Again!”

Posted by | Posted in Debt Management Companies | Posted on 20-07-2009

We face financial crunches time and time again and therefore take loans to help us get through the situation. However, many a time we make a mountain out of a mole hill – making a small economic snag seems like an impossible accomplishment and so … we take loans again! In UK especially, taking a personal or consolidation loan has become a part of life. Often, misjudging our circumstances, we fall further and further into debt. And since we’ve always been told that there’s a solution to every problem, here is another concept that we have created, that has survived over time, it’s called Debt Management UK.

Sometimes, while in the process of paying up umpteen loans, the varying high interest rates, innumerable monthly payments to be sent out to different lenders and demands of everyday life begin to take their toll on us. This is why most of us fail to keep up with our regular payments. Result: constant harassing calls from our lenders, incessant collection visits and reminders and finally, legal notices. This is where Debt Management UK is commonly suggested. Debt Management UK is a process which involves informal negotiations with your creditors so as to achieve either a reduction in the interest, a reduction in the complete contractual payment or waiver of any additional charges like creditor fees, processing charges, etc.

A Debt Management process is initiated only once borrowers provide proof that they have insufficient funds to meet all the contractual niceties. This is followed by a negotiation with their creditors regarding their inability to repay the entire loan. Most lenders prefer a settlement with Debt Management UK because if they don’t, the next option for the borrower is filing for bankruptcy. No lender can get anything out of that! Most creditors understand the problem and offer solutions to make repayment easier. They may also waive off some part of the loan. Expert advice from credit counselling agencies makes the process a lot simpler. These agencies even negotiate with lenders on your behalf and help you repay your loans.

Points to remember for Debt Management:
1. Make a budget and keep to it:
While making a budget, be specific and detailed with it. Try your level best to stick to it. The more you write down and record your financial transactions, the more likely you are to stay on track. You’ll be amazed at how much money you spend on things you don’t really need. Your budget should define how much money you’ll send to each of your creditors monthly, how much you need for bills, and how much is left for flexible spending. Make sure you limit the amount kept aside for flexible spending.

2. Evaluate your debt situation:
Assess your financial standing – your spending and your savings. When taking your loans into consideration, remember to include the principal amount, the interest, creditor charges, etc. Include all other debt and owed amounts.

3. Clear your debts one by one:
While sorting out your situation, even though you cannot make the regular payments, try to send small amounts toward all your loans. Eliminate as much debt as possible. Start by sending slightly larger amounts to clear off the larger loans. Smaller loans will get sorted out with small regular payments.

4. Take expert advice if necessary:
When it comes to Debt Management UK, credit counselling agencies are the best places to turn to. Most credit counseling agencies are non-profit companies. Of course, there are fees involved. The idea is that you write one monthly payment to the agency, and they in turn distribute that money to your creditors. Credit counseling agencies are used to dealing with people with bad credit or poor credit, and can help you create a custom debt management plan (DMP) too. They can suggest money lenders that might be more willing to make a loan to someone with a lower credit rating.

When in a grave financial situation, never hesitate to consider Debt Management UK. If you don’t or if debt management UK too, fails to help you, then you will have to file for bankruptcy. Bankruptcy frees the borrower from all his debt so that he could start afresh. However, it leaves a bad impression on the credit score and the borrower will find it very difficult to obtain a fresh loan for many years.

Debt Management UK may be able to lower your monthly payments by 30-50%, stop the late fees and over limit charges, improve you overall credit and put an end to life full of debt. Get the help you need through Debt Management UK today. You will walk through the process and will be on your way to being debt free.