It is truly sad that more people are not aware that it is very possible to settle credit card debt personally without ever having to deal with a legal representative. If the credit companies that you owe money to decide to take legal action against you, they will charge you with their no doubt costly legal fees. 

It would be wise to call the credit card companies yourself and try to work out a settlement agreement with them on a personal basis. The credit card companies really don’t want the situation to progress to the point where they have to take legal action, so they will probably be willing to negotiate even if your account has been delinquent for several months.

Start by trying to adjust your interest rate and lower service charges that have been applied to your account. Once you know what the credit company is charging you, you will be more prepared to negotiate effectively with them on a settlement.

In your efforts to reach a debt settlement with the credit card company you should focus your efforts on negotiating over the interest rate and service charges first, not discussing the principal. The credit card companies make their money off the service charges and interest rates on your account, so try to make a deal that benefits you both mutually.

Next Comes the Hard Part

The money that you spent on purchases that has already been paid by the credit card company, called the principal, is the hardest aspect of your debt to negotiate over with credit card companies. They don’t want to have paid for something and not have you pay them back.

Getting your way with negotiations over the principal is not easy, so don’t feel bad if the credit card company refuses to budge. Even getting the company to adjust your interest rate or service charges is difficult. Remember that the credit card company’s goal is to get their money from you, not repossess your things.

Regardless of what agreement you reach with the credit card company, you need to be prepared to follow through with your end of the deal. If you fail to meet the terms of your settlement plan, you can expect the credit card company to take aggressive action to get their money, not a second chance.

If you have excessive credit card debt, then you have probably not only seen the ads but been tempted to look into them. These are the ads that say you can terminate and wipe out your credit card debt legally. Before you buy into these companies, there is some information you should have that will probably help you to steer clear of such advertised services. 

These credit card debt elimination companies will tell you some things that are not entire true. For instance, many of them will claim that your credit card debt is the responsibility of your bank. They will tell you that when your credit was established and the limit on the card set, that the supporting bank was taking responsibility for the debts in much the same way as a co-signer would on any other loan. They will tell you that the credit card company may call you or even report you to a debt collector, but that they will not sue you for the amount. The problem with their theory is that if it were true, wouldn’t most people solve the problem of credit card debt by just not paying? Also, why would the banks even take the gamble on the cards with the huge risk out there that you won’t pay them?

Another way these companies will draw you in is by claiming that you can erase credit card debt through the use of hidden or obscure laws. They will tell you that they understand certain loopholes that protect you from having to pay the banks that you’re your credit. In the end, though, they are not willing to make any guarantees, so the process of credit card debt elimination starts to sound a little less credible.

However, if you get that far and still haven’t hung up on them, these credit card debt elimination companies will hit you with the big one: a program they want you to buy. Now, the program will supposedly be sure-fire, but they are also going to want their money up front (perhaps in case the sure fire debt eliminator isn’t so sure fire). So they will tell you that it doesn’t cost anything, except for what you are paying them for all of this top secret information they have.

So before you consider getting rid of your credit card debt through one of these debt elimination companies, take some time to educate yourself and to think about what they are telling you. For one, wouldn’t you think that most lawyers would be aware of these loop holes? If so, then you would probably save money by talking to your attorney first in a consultation. Also, would credit card companies be so prevalent if it was so easy to get out of what you owe on your cards? Probably not, since they are absolutely counting on you to make any money at all. The thing to remember is that if something sounds too good to be true, then there is a good chance that it is. That goes for debt elimination [http://www.dixiejournal.com/category/finance-news] as much as it does for any other scam you see out there. So, before you go forward with anything that is going to affect your finances, you may want to take some time to ask a lot of questions, research for yourself, and make sure you are completely comfortable with the entire process.

Get your credit card debt paid off before it takes over your financial health.

The first step is to be true and honest with yourself about your debt and how much you have. If you are purchasing more than what you are making, then you need to stop. Do not add anymore to your debt. Cash needs to be used rather than credit cards. If you do not have the cash for your purchase then do not buy it.

The next step is to start paying off the credit cards. Start by paying off the card with the highest interest rate first. Each month pay the minimum on all the cards except that one.

Pay that one credit card’s minimum plus any additional amount that you can. When you finish paying off that highest interest rate card, then move on to the next highest interest rate.

Keep doing this until you have paid them all off one at a time. This will take some time and commitment but it can and will be done.

One other step you can take is lowering the interest rate on your current credit cards. Many times all it takes is a phone call to the creditor and the rate will be lowered just by asking.

You can also try to transfer balances from one card with a high interest rate to one with a lower or zero interest rate. This will save you money all around.

If you are honest with yourself, set a budget and make a commitment to paying off your credit card debt, it can easily and successfully be done.

Sebastian

One of the first keys to using credit wisely is to avoid any unnecessary debt by using cash as much as possible instead of bank cards. There could be a time in your life when you find yourself besieged with high debt and credit card bills. If this is your situation do not worry because there are proven steps to get you out of credit card debt.

Stop using your bank cards for your purchases. One of the first steps you will need to take is to stop using these altogether. Immediately stop charging anything additional on credit cards. When you purchase items like gas and food with your credit card because it is convenient then your debt reduction increases. Your credit card isn’t a free gift card, so you do not want to treat it that way. You can begin with using your debit card or cash for small purchases like food and gas.

Many people find that they spend much less with this method. And if you can’t afford to put it on your debit card, you probably shouldn’t buy it. Pay with cash as often as you can. Destroy those credit card offers when they come in. Not seeking out new credit is one way to have debt reduction. When you decide to make a major purchase, save up and use cash. Create a budget and stick by it.

This may seem obvious, but one of the reasons your debt is out of control is that you keep adding to it. Debt elimination is when you stop using credit period. Don’t finance anything because the truth is that you can live without it. Cut up all of your credit cards right down to the last one. Don’t make any more excuses. It doesn’t matter that other personal finance sites say that you shouldn’t cut them up. Destroy all of them today. Stop rationalizing your need for them.

You don’t need plastic for anything. If you’re in any kind of debt, then credit cards are a trap. They will only put you deeper in debt. Later, when all your credit card debts are vanished and your finances are manageable, maybe then you can get just one credit card. The goal is to be debt free.

It is very necessary to find out exactly how much you owe on each credit card. You will want to pay more than the minimum payment in order to keep on top of your debt situation. Paying off the entire balance would be good. If you can’t pay off the entire balance, at least make a payment that is over and above the minimum that is due. Most of your minimum balance payment goes to interest and not principle. When you only pay the minimum you will never pay off the card or it will take years. Depending on the balance outstanding, add an extra fifty to a hundred dollars to the minimum in order to diminish the principal balance. As you are doing this, try and stay away from using your credit card.

Remember don’t just pay the minimum balance on your credit cards. If you have more than one credit card, focusing your hard work on paying off one card at a time while making minimum balance payments on the others is acceptable for now. When one card is paid off, make the same payments on another; do not use the extra money as spending money.

Something that you may want to consider is calling your credit card company and ask them for a lower interest rate. Believe it or not, this actually works sometimes because they would want you to continue paying whatever you can then to receive nothing at all.

If you are still having financial trouble paying your credit card debt then Contact your creditors. Contact your creditors quickly if you’re having trouble making ends meet. Explain to them why it’s difficult for you, and try to work out a tailored payment plan that will reduce your payments to a more manageable level based on your personal needs. It isn’t wise to wait until your accounts have been turned over to a debt collector. At that point, your creditors have given up on you.

Dealing with Debt Collectors can be very difficult. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is the federal law that dictates how and when a debt collector may contact you. A debt collector may not call you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. They also may not call you while you’re at work if the collector knows that your employer doesn’t approve of the calls. Collectors are not allowed to harass you, lie, or use unfair practices when they try to collect a debt. They must honor a written request from you to stop further contact.

Consider Debt Consolidation as a way to pay off all of your credit card debt. You may be able to lower your cost of credit by consolidating your debt through a second mortgage or a home equity line of credit. You can also get a debt consolidation loan and have one easy small payment that will fit your budget.

Debt management plans are very beneficial. If your financial problems come from too much debt or your inability to repay your debts, a credit counseling agency may recommend that you enroll in a debt management plan (DMP).

Brett

ConsolidatedCreditCS asked:

Consumer debt has doubled in the past 10 years. CNNfn interviews Howard Dvorkin, founder of Consolidated Credit (www.consolidatedcredit.org) about consumer spending and how consumers should be dealing with credit card debt.

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