Debt Relief Programs and Options
There are many options when it comes to addressing your debt problems. Debtmerica believes it provides better Alternatives to Consumer Credit Counseling, Bankruptcy or Debt Consolidation Loans.
Below are summaries of the various alternatives available to you so that you can make an informed and well-educated decision based on your own individual situation.
Assuming you are able to make all the monthly program payments, Debtmerica can offer Debt Resolution Programs that may help you resolve your debt in as little as 24-48 months without paying any fees until a successful resolution of a debt occurs. If you are experiencing a financial or personal hardship that is preventing you from paying your bills, the five most generally accepted debt relief options you have are:
1. Bankruptcy.
While bankruptcy is a legitimate route to get out of debt, it can negatively affect your credit for as long as 10 years and can be a very unpleasant experience emotionally. You shouldn’t consider bankruptcy as a simple “quick fix” to all of your financial problems, but rather as one of the many available solutions you may have given your individual situation. As of October 2005, congressional legislation made filing for bankruptcy more difficult and burdensome. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy could result in higher monthly payments and may last longer than an alternative debt resolution program. If you have questions about bankruptcy or are considering it as an option, we advise you to speak directly to an experienced bankruptcy attorney licensed in your state.
2. Consumer Credit Counseling (CCC).
A Consumer credit counseling program is a method of debt relief for those who are unable to make minimum payments and undergoing financial difficulties. However, CCC programs could take up to 6 years or longer to complete and your debt is not reduced when compared to a debt resolution program. You may still have to pay back 100% of the debt you owe plus interest. In addition, if you miss just one monthly payment, you could be dropped from the program altogether. Consumer Credit Counseling Services, on average, have very high rates of client cancellation, which does not bode well for their delivery of a successful debt management program. (see below for more information on CCCs). With that being said, a CCC program may be a viable option for those with under $10,000 in unsecured debt, are able to afford higher monthly payment obligations, and are well disciplined to remain in the program.
3. Debt Consolidation Loan.
This option may work financially if you have at least an above average or good credit rating and considerable equity in your home. If you have a very large debt balance and have been late on just one monthly payment, it is likely that your credit may be impaired. Also, with this option, you do not reduce or settle your debt to a lower amount than the original balance; you are only transforming it from unsecured debt to secured debt. While a debt consolidation loan coupled with a debt resolution program provides a very powerful solution, remember that debt consolidation alone does not reduce or settle your debt; it only shifts your debt from one place to another.
4. Continue minimum monthly payments to credit card companies.
Many people struggle to make their minimum monthly payments and this option could take over 30 years to pay back the debt you owe, costs thousands of dollars in interest alone, and could require you to potentially pay back over three-times what you now owe on these balances. This may be the least timely, most costly, and most economically disadvantageous way to get out of your unsecured debt (see below for more information). Keeping high balances on your credit cards may affect your credit in a negative way and could make it more difficult to obtain any other type of loan.
5. THE DEBT RESOLUTION PROGRAM
Debt resolution is an aggressive method that allows the clients who make all their monthly program payments to settle their debt for less than the original balances owed in as little as 24-48 months. Debt resolution programs are custom-tailored to provide you with just one low monthly program payment. We feel this option could be one of the fastest ways for you to resolve your unsecured debt while we work hard to minimize your stress burden.
Programs offered by Debtmerica are performance based, which means we do not receive any fees until a settlement has been reached. Debtmerica offers programs that either charge fees as a percentage of savings or as a total percentage of enrolled debt balances. Regardless of which program you enter, you can expect the total fees of the program to range from 20% to 24% of the enrolled debt amount by the time you complete the program.
If you are considering all of your debt relief options, and want to get out of debt, complete our easy and hassle-free 30 Second Savings Quote to see if a debt settlement program is the best option for you.
The projection assumes the following:
For example, if you $30,000 in credit card debt it may take you the following amount of time to resolve your debt

Your actual results will vary depending on a variety of factors, including your current balances, how much you can afford to save per month, and the amount that your creditors are willing to settle for. We make no guarantee that your debts will be lowered by a specific amount of percentage or that you will be resolve debt within a specified time period.
Debt Consolidation Loan
To be approved, you must have the ability to repay a larger home loan and also have an acceptable credit rating. Even if you do qualify, without debt settlement combined, your situation could likely get worse. Rather than helping you to reduce your debt through debt settlement, a consolidation loan may increase your debt burden. Here are some more facts that you may want to know about debt consolidation loans:
- You must qualify, which may be difficult given the recent mortgage reforms.
- It requires ownership of a home with considerable equity
- Closing costs are usually required upon closing or built into the interest rate
- Missing payments could cause you to lose your home
- You would pay back the entire balance of your credit cards, plus interest
- Payback could be 10-30 years or more depending on debt balance, type of loan, and your ability to pay
- You are paying off unsecured debts in favor of a new secured debt
- The debt consolidation loan reduces the equity available in your property for future use
Continue to Make the Minimum Payments or Don't Pay Anything at All
- You could pay almost 50% of your original balance to your creditor in interest costs alone over the first 36 months. Your principal balance may barely be touched
- If your credit card interest rate is 25% or higher, it may be almost impossible to pay off your debt by making the minimum payments
- With a high credit card interest rate, it would most likely take you over 20 years to become debt free - and that's if your balances don’t increase
- Until you pay off high balance debts, your ability to be extended credit becomes substantially more difficult.
If you have already stopped making payments to your credit cards or other creditors, you are negatively affecting your credit rating without reducing, settling or managing your debt successfully.
To see if you qualify for debt settlement, please fill out our 30 second savings quote form for a free, no cost or obligation consultation.
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Top Articles to Help You Lead A Debt-Free Life
- Debt Consolidation: “Debt Consolidation” is one of the most commonly misunderstood and misinterpreted personal finance strategies that consumers inquire about all the time. While some view it as a method of taking on new loans, others see it as a debt relief alternative. It is more important than ever for inquisitive consumers to have a very strong understanding of exactly what debt consolidation entails, and the impacts it can have on personal finances.
- Debt Relief: Debt relief is defined as a partial or total forgiveness of debt. When the term is used by the government, it usually refers to the forgiveness of debt to underdeveloped countries. Recently, it has begun to refer to the millions of consumers who are overwhelmed with debt seeking financial relief from their unsecured debt.
- Credit Card Debt: Credit card debt is an example of unsecured consumer debt, accessed through credit cards. Debt results when a client of a credit card company purchases an item or service through the card system. Debt accumulates and increases via interest and penalties when the consumer does not pay the company for the money he or she has spent.
- Debt Settlement: Debt settlement programs use a third party to negotiate lower balances and interest rates on unsecured debt. This type of debt management plan helps provide consumers an alternative to bankruptcy while reducing your outstanding debt.
- Credit Counseling: There are a numerous options for consumers who want to start getting their finances under control after accumulating large amounts of debt, which could inevitably lead to credit problems further down the road. Consumers who are in control of most aspects of their finances, but still feel like they could use additional help managing their debt burden, could certainly benefit from the assistance of a consumer credit counseling service.
- How Do I Get Out of Debt?: Now that the national economy is beginning to recover and people are having a better time dealing with their personal finances, many consumers who found themselves sunk deep in debt over the last few years may be asking themselves the question, “How do I get out of debt?” Fortunately, there are a number of avenues consumers can take to get out of debt, each with benefits and drawbacks depending on how quickly people need to fix their financial problems.
- 10 Tips to Avoid the Debt Trap: Have you ever thought about why so many of the people you know are struggling with debt? Do you ever wonder why banks keep lending to certain individuals, even when they are falling behind on their payments? Did you know that debt problems are a leading cause of major societal problems, such as stress, divorce and alcoholism?
- Credit Management: Many consumers are finding themselves buried under a pile of mounting debt. With interest accumulating month after month in addition to late fees being charged, many consumers are finding it difficult to make just the minimum payments on their credit cards. Although this may seem like an endless battle, with a strict budget and some discipline there are credit management strategies and solutions that will allow consumers to reduce or even eliminate their debt.
- Credit Card Debt Reduction: In recent months, many Americans have made a greater effort to seek credit card debt reduction and reduce the balances they owe, but some may not know where to start. Fortunately, there are several options available for consumers thathave a financial goal to achieve credit card debt reduction.
- Credit problems: Paying down high levels of debt is one of the best ways to improve credit problems and increase one’s credit standing. But many people cannot do that so quickly, especially in this economy. About one-third of a credit score is based off of a credit utilization ratio, which is the total creditbalances divided by the total credit limits. A great target is to use no more than 30% of one’s available credit.
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