Tuesday, 27 March 2012

Drawbacks Of Debt Consolidation Secrets

By Paul White


Debt consolidation offers a number of advantages, including lower interest rates and manageable monthly payments, but there are some drawbacks as well. First of all, some borrowers end up with an unbalanced budget and a longer mortgage term, which translates into reduced lifetime savings.

Second, resorting to debt consolidation is not the way to deal with poor spending habits. Overburdened borrowers should learn to plan for the long term and budget well. An easy consolidation loan is not the way to learn from financial mistakes and may lead to other credit problems and dire consequences in the long run.

Another drawback is that consolidation does not work as planned in all cases. Some financial companies that offer debt consolidation loans go out of business. Then, there is a risk that the financial company will pass the consolidation loan along to another lender. Borrowers in this situation may find themselves in financial and legal deep water. While this is the worst-case scenario, borrowers may be offered a higher interest rate.

One fundamental disadvantage of debt consolidation is the fact that borrowers take a new loan to pay off existing debts. Most experts advise against deepening debt by taking even more debt. Another problem is that many financial companies propose to consolidate all kinds of unsecured debt - credit cards, unsecured personal loans, etc. This makes sense at first because it simplifies debt, and borrowers have a single payment to make. At the same time, it is not wise to consolidate low-interest debts, especially debt with a lower interest rate than the consolidation loan itself. The fact that borrowers make one monthly payment does not automatically translate into savings. It is beneficial in that the borrower finds it easier to keep track of repayment.

Borrowers can choose from other borrowing solutions, depending on their particular circumstances. Borrowers who use a couple of credit cards may want to move most or some of their debt to the lowest-interest credit card rather than take out a debt consolidation loan. Other options include negotiating a deal with the financial institution, applying for an unsecured loan, and debt management programs. Personal loans are a good alternative to a second mortgage and a preferred choice of borrowers who are looking for ways to deal with credit problems. Make sure the interest rate you are offered is lower than that on your low-interest credit cards. Loan modification is another alternative to consolidation and allows borrowers to negotiate with lenders. In some cases, they will agree to develop a payment arrangement with more favorable terms. This may require some effort on the borrower's part, but it is an option for those who want to deal with debt on their own. A third option is to go with a debt management service that works as an intermediary between creditors and borrowers. Debt management firms negotiate with lenders and help borrowers come up with a reasonable repayment schedule.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment