Pennsylvania - Government Debt Relief?
If you are overwhelmed with credit card debts, you may be seeking a government-funded debt relief program or government grants to to help you pay off debts. The fact is, many residents in Pennsylvania and elsewhere who are struggling with debts and hoping that the federal government can come to their aid - helping them as they did with big business and the banking industry. Unfortunately, the government does not provide grants or aid that are specifically designed to help consumers pay off debts.
But the good news is, if you are struggling with high-interest credit card debts as well as other types of unsecured debts (like medical bills, utilities, or department store charges), you have several debt relief options available - including debt consolidation, debt settlement, debt consolidation loans, or even bankruptcy. Both debt consolidation and debt settlement have become, for many consumers, widely-used alternatives to bankruptcy - which has a more damaging and longer lasting impact on your personal credit.
To explore your debt relief options, start here by requesting a free debt relief analysis and savings estimate - at no charge to you.
Getting Relief by Consolidating Your Debts
Debt consolidation, or a debt management plan (DMP), gives individuals and families the opportunity to combine, or consolidate, high-interest credit card and unsecured debts into one, more structured, and easier-to-manage payment plan made to a credit counseling agency. Credit counseling agencies, in turn, distribute those funds to credit card companies in the debt management plan.
When you enroll in a debt consolidation program, credit counselors will review your finances, debt amount, and income, and then determine how much you can reasonably allocate to paying down your debts. They typically create a strategy, and submit proposals - on your behalf - to creditors asking for a reduction in interest rates, or the elimination of any late fees and other penalties. Creditors that agree to extend more favorable payment terms are placed into the debt management plan.
The goal of debt consolidation is to help you allocate more of your funds towards paying the principal of your debts versus simply just paying the interest. If you want to learn how debt consolidation through credit counseling could potentially help you reduce your debts, answer a few, simple questions to request a free debt relief analysis and savings estimate.
Protecting Consumers: The Credit CARD Act of 2009
Even though the government does not provide debt relief grants or bailouts to consumers like you, it has made significant changes to credit card legislation to protect and maintain your rights. Signed into law by President Obama, the Credit CARD Act of 2009 requires creditors to provide 45 days notice before a rate increase. The Credit Card Act of 2009 also requires credit card companies to allow you to cancel the credit card in question and pay the card's balance at the older rate - not at the new, increased rate. In addition, the Credit CARD Act of 2009 bans credit card companies from retroactively increasing rates on a cardholder's balance in good standing for reasons (such as applying for new credit or purchasing a new car) that are not directly related to the card holder's payment history with that particular card.
How Much Could You Save When Consolidating Debts?
The reasons why many consumers have found themselves unable to manage and pay off their credit card debts are varied and unique. For some, the loss or reduction of income was the cause, while for others, it may have had to do with dealing with an unexpected personal crisis. As such, no one can say with absolute certainty how much savings you could potentially have, every month, when you consolidate your debts.
However, with debt consolidation, your savings typically depend on how much you originally owe, the current interest rates that you are paying, and any late fees or penalties. The bottom line is, it is up to you to regain control of your financial life and start managing your debts. Get a free debt relief analysis and savings estimate - today. Start now.
