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Featured Debt Articles

Credit Card Debt In The United States
It's no secret that credit card debt in the United States is at an all-time high. The U.S. is a culture of spending rather than saving and with the increasing cost of living and the low minimum wage; it seems that no one is invulnerable to credit card ...

Debt Consolidation Plan - Your Way Out Of Debt
A debt consolidation plan be the solution to getting out of debt. Getting into debt has never been easier than it is in today's society. No one wants to wait until they've saved the money to buy the things they desire. Even though a debt consolidation ...

Tips On Reducing Your Current Debt
Nobody enjoys being up to their eyeballs in debt. I mean let's face it life is hard enough without having to worry about how you're going to pay bills that seem to keep piling up all around you. If you're feeling this way I can assure you it's not just ...




Debt Consolidator - How To Compare Debt Consolidators Online
 
Debt consolidation companies negotiate lower interest rates for your unsecured bills, such as credit cards. By reducing your interest rates, you can pay off your debts sooner. These debt consolidation programs don't use a consolidation loan, so you can avoid additional credit issues. The following guidelines will help you find a reputable company that will not take advantage of your financial situation.

Request Quotes

Whether a debt consolidation company is non profit or for profit, they will charge monthly fees to service your payments. Fees range from $14 to $69 depending on the number of creditors involved. Upfront fees or a percent of your monthly payments are usually a sign of a fraudulent non-profit company. For profit companies do charge a fee since they aren't subsidized by creditors.

There are several legitimate debt consolidation companies out there. You want to make sure you are getting the best fees, so don't settle for the first quote you receive. To get accurate quotes, be prepared with a list of creditors, account balances, and interest rates. You can also decide how many accounts you want to consolidate, leaving a couple out to use for personal or business reasons.

Expect Questions

The best debt consolidation programs will ask questions before they give you quotes. Only by knowing your financial situation can they determine how long it will take to pay off your bills.

You should also be wary of companies that steer you toward debt settlement if you can't pay their fees. Such programs don't improve your credit, and you also get charge fees for something you could do on your own.

Demand Pay Off Dates

One sign of a good debt consolidation program is their ability to offer pay off dates. Each account will have a different date since account interest rates and balances will vary. However, general dates, like less than five years, are a sign of a shady company.

As with anything, if the claims are too good to be true, they probably are. By researching companies and asking questions you will not only protect yourself from scams, but also find the best company to help you reduce your debt.

About the author:

See my recommended Debt Consolidation Companies online. Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan Guide, an informational website about various types of loans.


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Debt News


Gross Wins ‘Game of Chicken’ Shunning GMAC Debt Swap
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CEP News

Treasuries Advance on Speculation US Job Losses Are Worsening
Bloomberg - 9 hours ago
The advance trimmed this week’s losses as US stock-index futures dropped, stoking demand for the relative safety of fixed- income debt. ...
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Cablevision shares up after new debt offering
Reuters - Jan 8, 2009
Like many cable companies, Cablevision has a heavy debt load with around $11 billion of net debt and a market capitalization of around $5 billion. ...
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Houston investor who quit board had gambling debt
Houston Chronicle, United States - 2 hours ago
Lee said he only became aware of the lawsuit in December when the Bellagio hired a Dallas lawyer to collect the debt. Jeff Hunt, a spokesman for Lee, ...

The Money Times

US Rates to Stay Low as China Cuts Debt Purchases
Bloomberg - Jan 8, 2009
With less dollars flowing into the country, China’s need to buy US debt is reduced. The total amount of US government debt outstanding rose to $10.7 ...
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Fiscal Fitness ’09: One Phone Call, $198 in Debt Savings
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Canada’s C$32 Billion Debt Plan Likely to Be Approved
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Globe and Mail

Fed buys $1.4 billion of Fannie, Freddie, FHLB debt
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New Gold to buy back notes at discount to lower debt
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Emerging-Market Debt Funds Record First Inflow Since August
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Funds that invest in developing-nation debt took in $13 million in the week ended Jan. 7, after withdrawing $65 million the previous week, ING Financial ...
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