Tag Archives: consolidation
Student Loan Consolidation
Student debt consolidation is the process of consolidating several types of loans into one debt. This results in reduced monthly payments- which results in a lot of saved money in the long run. Consolidation loans will have fixed rates- giving you an added benefit on saving to recover your debt.
Such services can be obtained by American Education Services consolidation- or AES for short. You can save up to 50% on your bill with this service- a very good value indeed. ACS consolidation is also available- and is much like AES in terms of how it works. Federal consolidation and Network consolidation also work in nearly the same way- giving you many choices. Not only can you save a good deal of money on your bill- but you get the added benefit of having just one bill a month- not several. This can reduce stress and let you route your energy to other problems, instead of worrying about which bills you should pay.
You can generally choose debts that will last 10- 30 years generally. You may get lower payments, but the total amount to be paid will be higher in the long run. It has been debated as to whether the government should allow such consolidation among the Federal consolidation service only. This would put some banks and companies at a loss, such as the AES consolidation or ACS consolidation, but may be better for students in the long run. Federal consolidation has a very good rate- and is often better than banks or other companies can do. You will also not encounter hidden fees or tricks- making Federal consolidation an easy choice. This isnt always the best way to go- as some companies actually do have lower rates. But make sure you get a second opinion before you decide on anything for certain.
With such consolidation, you can lower you monthly payments. However, you will want to debate the decision, as you will end up with 10- 30 years worth of debt to be paid. The consolidated debt into one bill can be less stressful, but often this is a small benefit when considering long term effects. You may wish to pay separate bills and have the freedom of paying off your student debts as fast as you can- certainly much faster than 10-30 years worth of debt.
If you are looking into student loan consolidation- make sure you look at your options first. Rushing into student loan consolidation can put you into a huge debt that will take you many years to recover from. If you are on the verge of bankruptcy, or desperately need the money, consolidation is the best choice for you- but keep in mind you will be paying your decision off for many years to come. If you are looking to simplify paying your bills, this is probably a bad choice- and this decision shouldnt be taken lightly. You should talk to a consolidation broker, or ask help with your bank for more information to see if this is right for you.
Debt Settlement, the Better Debt Relief Approach
In our struggling economy, indebted Americans are looking for a way to relieve themselves of financial and emotional stress. Many debt relief options have become available. Amongst them are the popular three: debt settlement, debt consolidation, and credit counseling. With these services being promoted so heavily, how can one choose and then not regret their decision later?
To make the proper choice, we must view these options from both good and bad perspectives, as well as individual situations.
Let’s start with the bad. Credit counseling and debt consolidation appear on your credit score stating that you are “currently enrolled in debt counseling program” which poorly reflects on you when applying for new credit. Debt settlement lowers your credit score because it requires a four month delinquency to negotiate. The accounts enrolled in debt settlement are closed (questionably bad as it can save many from repeating their mistake).
Regarding the benefits, credit counseling and debt consolidation programs allow you to be debt free within five years with a lowered interest rate (approximately 5%) saving you a good deal of money over time with the monthly payments being put into one single payment and slightly lowered. They also allow you to keep your accounts open (also questionable). Debt settlement allows you to be debt free within 12-36 months, while paying 55% of your total debt (in most cases) and 0% interest, resulting in savings of more than 60% because of no interest accrual. The payment is also consolidated in one single monthly program payment while being lowered substantially (by up to three times less).
Although debt settlement lowers your credit score initially, the purpose and goal is to get you debt free as soon as possible, and help you start rebuilding your credit score immediately – by staying on time with secured loans like mortgages and auto payments (which reflect the most on your credit score).
Most importantly, always remember to view a company’s Better Business Bureau profile for a high rating and a powerful track record. You can never be too careful about who you’re trusting your finances with!