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What is Credit Counseling?

If you’re looking for a means to break out of credit card debt and reclaim your financial independence, credit counseling may be an option to investigate. We’ll look at what credit counseling is, how it works, and why, if you have a lot of debt, it might not be the best option compared to the advantages of a debt settlement plan.

What Is Credit Counseling?

Because credit counseling aggregates credit card debt into a single, lower-cost bundle, it has benefits similar to debt consolidation loans. Credit counseling, unlike debt consolidation loans, does not require you to qualify for a loan. As a result, a strong credit score is not required to qualify for credit counseling.

This debt relief strategy is entrusting the management of your debt to a credit counseling firm (CCA). You pay the CCA, and they deal with your creditors on your behalf. The CCA’s purpose is to get your creditors to lower your interest rates and waive your penalties.

Your DMP payment is normally not much less than what you were paying to your creditors before, but the lower interest rates allow you to pay off your creditors in four to five years. If you have a lot of debt and are already having trouble making your monthly payments, a DMP payment may place a pressure on your finances.

In that scenario, you might want to think about a debt settlement plan that takes into account your financial situation. If you’re not sure how to figure out how much you can afford to pay, you should speak with a Cardinal Law Center Certified Debt Specialist. They may assist you by providing a free debt analysis, which will reveal what your debt settlement payment might be and how quickly you can anticipate to pay off your debt based on your circumstances.

How Does Credit Counseling Work?

If you have credit card debt and want to seek credit counseling, the first thing you should do is look for a credit counseling service. Here are some things to bear in mind regarding how credit counseling companies’ debt management plans (DMPs) work.

You should compare programs before opting to work with a credit counseling service because administrative expenses can vary.

• Your DMP will cost you roughly $75 up front. This is the expense of establishing the plan. Your monthly service charges, which can range from $24 to $55 per month, are another expense.
• Following your membership, you will make a single monthly payment to the CCA. You will not deal directly with your creditors from now on. These monies will be used by the CCA to pay off your debts and collect its fees.
• Most credit card issuers have agreements with CCAs, so if you’re enrolled, you’re usually secure from legal action.
• A DMP might run anywhere from three to five years. During this time, a notation on your credit report indicates that you are enrolled in a debt management program. Credit counseling can only have a minor effect on your credit score.

Lower interest rates and penalty forgiveness are two of the advantages of credit counseling. In most cases, you won’t be able to get any interest forgiven. If you don’t follow the terms of your DMP, your creditors can sue you for the whole amount of your debt, regardless of how much you paid through the DMP.

Is Credit Counseling Beneficial?

What is the Difference Between Credit Counseling and Debt Settlement?

Debt settlement is the only debt reduction option that allows you to pay off a portion of your debt. The purpose of ClearOne Advantage is to persuade creditors to accept less than the full amount owing on a debt – typically 50%.

Only debts that are likely to be settled at a considerable discount will be included in your debt settlement plan (DSP).

Is Debt Settlement the Best Option for You?

I appreciate all of your assistance in resolving my debt, and I’ve been speaking Cardinal Law Center’s praises since the beginning. You guys have gone above and above my expectations, and I’ve already referred you to a few others I know. Thank you very much for everything!