If you are struggling with debt you may decide its time to consolidate. The trouble is debt consolidation takes many forms and finding the right form of consolidation can be tricky. This post is designed to act as a kind of introduction to the world of debt consolidation and how it can best help you become get free. This guide is by no means exhaustive, those guides will come later.
I will assume for the purpose of this post you have already worked out what you owe. There are three options available to you which I will discuss in more detail below. The first form of debt consolidation is what I call the ‘informal’ approach. By informal I mean without the assistance of the government (that will be discussed in more detail below) and possibly without any other third parties.
Informal Debt Consolidation part one: The loan (secured and unsecured or re-mortgage
If you are a homeowner and have equity in your property you may wish to consider re-mortgaging your property to pay of your debt. Prior to the Credit Crunch this was an immensely popular form of consolidation especially as re-mortgages could be organised either for those homeowners with a poor credit history. Since the Credit Crunch has had such a crippling effect on the economy this form of consolidation is more applicable to those with a good credit history. You could also look at the possibility of taking out a secured loan against your property to pay off your debts. I am not a huge fan of secured loans. Typically, you would be better off re-mortgaging as the interest is far lower and you may actually reduce your monthly payments as the length of your mortgage will have been extended.
If you are considering re-mortgaging bare the following points in mind:
· Do not go with the first company you speak to or even your existing lender initially. Shop about and see who gives you the best offer.
· Make sure you fully understand the fees you are going to be charged. Always read the small print and ask if you are unsure.
· Be aware that if you re-mortgage you are going to extend the amount of time you are paying back your mortgage. Factor that in to any future plans you have such as retirement and the like.
· If you decide to get a secured loan make sure you have factored in the repayments to your monthly outgoings. Failure to keep up with them may result in your property being repossessed.
Debt Management plans are a massively popular way of consolidating debt, the key is to find the right company. Please refer to this post for more details regarding this matter. Debt management plans work by you paying your monthly disposable income to your debt management company who will then forward a payment onto your creditors minus their fee. The idea is that all creditors will receive a fair payment all you need do is pay each month. I cannot stress enough how important it is to remain in regular contact with your debt management company regarding your finances. Do not assume that because you are with a debt management company they will be constantly fighting your corner. Make sure you reads your monthly statements and query if payment arrangements are being out in place and interest and charges are been frozen or reduced.
Debt management companies are not really regulated in a robust fashion. Hopefully, this is going to be addressed soon however as I have mentioned before some debt management companies are awful (I have worked for them) and will take your money and do little else. If you are planning in entering into a debt management plan see it as a two way relationship. You should work together to get rid of your debts, a debt management company will do the bulk of the work but you must also help yourself in the process. Many people judge a debt management company by how much they pay in total each month. Think of it this way, the less you pay the longer it will take your debts to be paid back and the longer you will be on a debt management plan for.
Here are a few important tips to think about if you are going to attempt a debt management plan:
· Could you do it yourself? True some debt management companies do know what they are doing. However, if you are disciplined and strong willed you maybe able to do the hard work yourself.
· How long are you going to be on your debt management plan? Anything over four years (without factoring in additional interest and charges) maybe too long and you may wish to consider alternative arrangements.
· How much is your monthly management fee? Anything over 17.5% of your total monthly payment is too much.
· Shop around. Check out iva.co.uk and iva.com. Look at other forums to see what people say about the company you are thinking of going with.
· Don’t assume that because you are on a debt management company everything will fine. Make sure they are doing their job call them, badger them if you feel you are not getting good service.
· Don’t for heaven sake take out anymore debt. It will not end well.
{ 4 comments }