What is the difference between debt counselling and debt consolidation?
Credit counseling involves working with a financial professional to manage your debts and budget, while debt consolidation is opening new credit to pay off multiple existing debts.
- You are not allowed to have more credit while undergoing debt counselling.
- It does cost a little bit of money, but the fees are set by law.
- Your debts might take longer to pay off as a result of paying smaller amounts each month.
For most people, debt consolidation is the better choice. When comparing the two options, here's what to consider: With debt consolidation, you'll pay less in fees. Balance transfer cards typically charge a balance transfer fee of 3% to 5%.
Your counsellor will look at everything you owe and will negotiate with your creditors for a more affordable repayment rate and even better repayment terms.
Debt consolidation can be done on your own, and requires the opening of a new account, whether a personal loan or new credit card. A formal debt management plan, on the other hand, is created with a credit counselor and doesn't involve taking on any additional lines of credit.
Debt consolidation is ideal when you are able to receive an interest rate that's lower than the rates you're paying for your current debts. Many lenders allow you to check what rate you'd be approved for without hurting your credit score so you can make sure you're okay with the terms before signing on the dotted line.
Unless all the accounts are paid up or the consumer becomes entitled to a clearance certificate, the only way to terminate the debt review process, according to the NCR's Withdrawal from Debt Review Guidelines, is to apply to court for either the rescission of the debt review order if one was obtained, or for a ...
Fees for debt consolidation are around 4% with a debt consolidation loan and 3.12% with a balance transfer credit card, on average. The fees you need to watch out for when consolidating debt are origination fees on loans and balance transfer fees on credit cards.
It makes getting out of debt easier — and sometimes cheaper. That said, debt consolidation isn't a magic bullet. It can temporarily ding your credit scores or bring even more damage if you're not disciplined with your debt repayment.
Lenders might not advertise it, but most of them have a minimum credit score required to get a loan. If your score is less than 670, you might be out of luck for a debt consolidation loan. Even if you're over 670, a problematic debt-to-income ratio (more on that below) or payment history could derail your loan.
Do you have to pay for debt counselling?
Many debt management plan (DMP) providers charge a fee for their services but some don't. It's important to remember that if you don't want to pay a fee, you don't have to.
Eligibility Criteria for Debt Counselling
To be eligible for debt counselling, you must meet certain criteria. First and foremost, you must be over-indebted, meaning that you are unable to repay your debts in full. Secondly, you must be employed or have a regular source of income.
Debt counselling usually lasts between three and five years, depending on the amount of debt, the arrangements the debt counsellor is able to negotiate and what you can afford to pay each month.
While it's a helpful tool for some, typically four types of debt can be consolidated: credit card debt, student loan debt, medical debt and high-interest personal loan debt.
Student loans are unsecured debt. However, while these loans can be consolidated, they cannot be consolidated on a debt management program. Instead, you have to use specialized student loan consolidation programs that are specifically designed to address challenges with student loan debt.
You can consolidate multiple credit cards or a mix of credit cards and other loans such as a student loan or a mortgage. Consolidation does not automatically erase your debt, but it does provide some borrowers with the tools they need to pay back what they owe more effectively.
Your debt consolidation loan could come at a higher rate than what you currently pay on your debts. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including your current credit score. If it's on the lower end, the risk of default is higher and you'll likely pay more for credit.
Success with a consolidation strategy requires the following: Your monthly debt payments (including your rent or mortgage) don't exceed 50% of your monthly gross income. Your credit is good enough to qualify for a credit card with a 0% interest period or low-interest debt consolidation loan.
- Personal Loans. A personal loan is one of the most common methods of merging multiple debts into one. ...
- Home Equity Loans. With a home equity loan, you can borrow against your home's equity and use the money to pay off existing debts. ...
- Balance Transfers.
Not directly. While merely talking to a credit counselor won't impact your credit score, taking action on any debt management plans they recommend could.
Can you get your debt forgiven?
While it's highly unlikely that any credit card company will forgive 100% of your debt without it being part of a bankruptcy, you may be able to negotiate a settlement with your lenders in which they forgive a percentage of the balance you owe.
A debt management plan (DMP) isn't legally binding, so you can cancel it if you feel it isn't working for you. However, you may not get a refund of your fees and you'll need to make sure you have another way of dealing with your debts.
- Make a list of all your credit card debts.
- Make a budget.
- Create a strategy to pay down debt.
- Pay more than your minimum payment whenever possible.
- Set goals and timeline for repayment.
- Consolidate your debt.
- Implement a debt management plan.
| Debt Settlement | DMP Monthly Fee | |
|---|---|---|
| Freedom Debt Relief Also Great for Customer Satisfaction and Reputation | Yes | N/A |
| Money Management International Best for Small Debts | Yes | $0–$59 |
| Pacific Debt Relief Also Great for Low Fees | Yes | N/A |
| Apprisen Best Overall for Credit Counseling | No | $0–$45 |
Debt consolidation itself doesn't show up on your credit reports, but any new loans or credit card accounts you open to consolidate your debt will. Most accounts will show up for 10 years after you close them, and any missed payments will show up for seven years from the date you missed the payment.
