Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Repairing Credit and Consolidating Debt

Unhappily for borrowers, debt consolidation is not the same thing as repairing credit scores. Consolidating debts does not mean they go away, and as long as they still exist, there will still be negative marks on your credit report that the majority of credit analysts will note.

Most borrowers believe that consolidating their debt loans will repair their credit – and debt consolidation companies foster this belief. Commercials and advertisements create the belief that just because you consolidate, this also means you are eliminating your debt – therefore, it stands to reason your credit will immediately improve.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. There is no way to get through the battle of relieving your debt without garnering some scars, but these advertisements do nothing but add confusion to what exactly is going to happen to your credit standing. Debt consolidation was originally offered to reduce interest payments for the borrower and consolidate all monthly payments into one manageable payment. This would then provide greater flexibility for the borrower.

At its foundation, the tie between credit repair and debt consolidation should be simple to understand. When several high interest credit cards, for example, at 25% interest, are consolidated into one, low-interest payment, then the amount of interest paid each month should be reduced and the balance of the card should be repaid more quickly.

Typically, even with the cost of a debt consolidation loan, the savings gained will have an immediate result on the borrower’s monthly expenses and could save thousands of dollars in the long run by the time the debt is paid off. Repairing credit and consolidating debt, if they can be utilized by the borrower, should only be used as a stop to the decline of their finances. When used wisely and with the intention to repay their debt in the most expedient fashion, lower interest rates will save a lot of money each month. Consolidating your debt can ultimately save your future financial destiny.

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