We have $8,000 in credit card debt; we live in GA. What’s the best non-profit credit consolidat. company here?
We live close to Blue Ridge. APR on credit cards are 23%. We are looking for a credit consolidation company that will help us lower APR. Thanks.
I know that credit card debit really is hard to get out of but it is really bad on your credit to consolidate it. Trust me I learned the hard way. Usually you can talk with the credit card people and get your rates lower or even talk with your bank on getting a card through them transfer the balances and have one payment that you can pay larger amounts on, when you can afford to. Be careful with the non-profit ones!! They do make their money some how to stay in business. Just remember tax time is coming and you may be able to pay a large sum on them. Good Luck!!
In New Jersey, I was VERY satisfied with the Consumer Credit Counseling Service. I don’t know what the have near Blue Ridge, which is in the north of the state, but you can call (800) 409-2389 and find out. Can’t hurt.
Contact Consumer Credit Counseling Services at 1-800-388-2227 they are the largest and oldest consumer credit counseling service in the nation and will work with your creditors to lower your interest rates and monthly payments and they are non-profit.
I used them several years ago and was debt free in 36-months.
While you are in their program your accounts will read as “Included in credit counseling” after you finish this notation will be removed. This will not affect your score but it will affect your ability to get more credit.
At the end of the program your score will be much better due to being out of debt and having a great payment history.
You aren’t looking for consolidation — that’s taking out one big loan to pay off the small loans. You want credit counseling. Check here for a NFCC member in your area: http://www.nfcc.org/. These are legit, non-profit companies that offer debt management programs. They don’t settle your debt. The negotiate lower interest and payments so you can pay off your debt.
While in the debt management program, it will be noted on your credit. However, upon completion, that notation will be removed and you will have decent credit.
There are two reputable companies that I know of. They will work with you on a payment for all of your credit cards and they will contact the credit card companies and work out a lower interest rate. They can drop the rates to anywhere from 2% to 8%. They are: Care One Credit Counseling. http://www.careonecredit.com/ and Consolidated Credit. http://www.consolidatedcredit.org/?PartnerID=1140. I used Care One and they were fantastic. My friend used Consolidated Credit and really liked them. Good Luck!!
You don’t need a debt consolidation company.
They can’t do anything that you can’t do yourself.
But it can be over whelming.
I highly recommend you check out Dave Ramsey. He has a radio show and comes on Fox Business network. He has several books. He has a strategy for paying off debt called the Debt Snowball. He also give a lot of tips for dealing with credit card companies and debt collectors.
The only cost to you – would be if you wanted to but his books rather than check them out in the library.
Why pay a debt consolidation company a couple of grand that you don’t have- when you can do it yourself. At the very least – please listen to his show every day for two weeks and check out his book The Total Money Makeover. Again – the cost is minimal and you may find – you can do it yourself.http://www.daveramsey.com/