Whats the Difference Between Debt Settlement and Debt Consolidation?

The Debt Settlement process involves negotiating with your creditors to settle your debt for amounts significantly less than you currently owe; typically debt settlement can settle your debts for 40-60% of your current balances. This will save you sizable amounts of money on debt principal and interest. It also provides you with the opportunity to pay-off your debts faster.

Debt Consolidation can be accomplished two ways. The first method is through a debt consolidation loan, and second through a debt consolidation service. A debt consolidation loan provides funds to consolidate all of your debts into one single monthly payment and is traditionally secured in the form of home equity. A debt consolidation loan reduces the number of payments you have going out monthly and can simplify your debt problem. However, a debt consolidation loan does not mean you are debt-free; the debts have just been transferred to a new creditor.

Hopefully, this debt consolidation loan will provide you with a lowered APR and allow you to pay off the new loan quicker. This may sound like a good solution to avoid bankruptcy and get out of debt; however, it can also damage your credit and cause you to pay back far more than if you had selected a debt settlement or debt arbitration program.

Debt consolidation services claim to provide assistance and guidance for people with debt and credit problems. They claim that they will work with your creditors to provide you lower interest rates and payments. However, these debt consolidation services spend millions of dollars each and every year on advertising and exist for one purpose only; to ensure that the credit card issuers get paid back every cent that is owed. They call themselves non-profit debt consolidation companies but, this can be misleading. The bottom line is that these "non-profit" debt consolidation companies are funded by the credit card companies that they are supposedly "negotiating" with to help you

Alan Barnes
IAPDA Certified Debt Arbitrator
President and CEO of Debt Regret
http://www.debtregret.com

In The News:


Debt Consolidation Site Introduces New Small Business Debt Solutions
Empowered News (press release)
A debt consolidation website provides an advantage to budding or old small businesses through small business debt relief solution. Adriana Spears directs you to a website where you could find help in solving your debt problems.
Credit Counseling Site Announces Its Debt Settlement Service As One of the ...PR Web (press release)

all 4 news articles »

DebtConsolidation.com Helps Over 100000 Consumers Choose the Best Debt ...
MarketWatch (press release)
NEW YORK, NY, May 21, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- DebtConsolidation.com, the top-ranking debt consolidation company, today announced that the company, in conjunction with quality debt relief companies, has helped over 100000 consumers deal ...
Will consumers take on personal credit card debt to make business purchases?Debtmerica Relief

all 6 news articles »

Brenda Shanahan: Four types of debt problems
Montreal Gazette
Q: I was reading your article about debt solutions and it was very interesting and helpful. I am wondering if you know any good accredited debt consolidation company that was reliable and could reduce my debt and stop interest?

and more »

Debt Guides to Tomorrows Future
SBWire (press release)
San Diego, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/22/2012 -- Debt consolidation is a great option for people who are struggling to manage multiple debts. People who benefit from debt consolidation are individuals who are paying back their debt at very high interest ...

and more »

Age UK raises debt concerns
ClearDebt
According to the organisation, the double-dip recession and wider economic turmoil in Britain and on the continent is driving up the number of people in need of debt consolidation advice. The charity commissioned a study by TNS, which found that the ...

and more »

Debtconsolidation.com Affirms Its Lead in Providing Credit Card Debt Relief ...
PR Web (press release)
Debtconsolidation.com, an information and referral source for debt management and credit counseling, cements its key position as a top debt management service provider after successfully helping 100000 consumers take control of their financial issues.

and more »

P323.4 billion Domestic Debt Consolidation Program Deal Managed by First Metro ...
MarketWatch (press release)
Manila, May 15, 2012 (ACN Newswire via COMTEX) -- The Philippine government's P323.4 billion Domestic Debt Consolidation Program won The Banker Magazine's Deal of the Year 2012 for SSA (Sovereign, Supras and Agencies) Bonds category in Asia Pacific.

and more »

Kansas City Star

Cutting debt, economic growth go hand in hand-Merkel
Reuters
| BERLIN May 24 (Reuters) - Budget consolidation and pursuing economic growth are two sides of the same coin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday, also reiterating her opposition to joint euro zone debt issuance.
Germany Leads G8 On Fiscal PolicyTax-news.com

all 305 news articles »

USA TODAY

Euro Falls to 22-Month Low After EU Leaders Clash on Debt Sales
San Francisco Chronicle
"There needs to be a greater focus on growth, but at the same time, there also has to be a credible long-term plan for fiscal and debt consolidation throughout the region. At the moment, you have neither," he said. The Dollar Index climbed to the ...
Euro Trades Near 22-Month Low Before European Composite IndexBloomberg
Eurobonds will not fix eurozone problems: Angela MerkelEconomic Times
Merkel Pressed on Debt Sharing as Opposition Chafes at AusterityBusinessWeek
The Sunday Business Post -Wall Street Journal -Money Morning
all 6,471 news articles »

Seven Real Tips for Getting Out of Debt and Avoiding Debt Consolidation Loans ...
Seattle Post Intelligencer
Many Americans continue to struggle with repaying debt and look to debt consolidation loans as the only option. Yet there are many other ways to reduce debt while maintaining credit and the little extras in life. As the numbers for consumer spending ...

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