Friday, July 20, 2007

Debt Relief or Bankruptcy

Money is a tricky thing and sometimes can be hard to manage. As many of us watch our debt pile up and the interest keeps accruing it can become very overwhelming and devastating. These factors are magnified by the confusion that creditors create with tricky payment terms and hidden and outrageous fees. Needless to say, when you are in over your head, creditors take very little sympathy for you. They want their money, and they don’t care how they get it.

If you are one of the millions of people in this country struggling to keep your head above water it often feels like it’s you against the world. When you have severe debt, there are usually two options, enlisting the services of a debt relief organization or declaring bankruptcy. While many of us know the ground rule for declaring bankruptcy, debt relief organizations are still huge benefactors about which, little is known. Debt relief services offer a way out. They can help consolidate your credit card bills, tuition loans, and medical bills all into one monthly payment that you and the debt relief organization set together. If you are in debt this is an excellent way to reduce your debt.

By using a debt relief organization you should no longer receive those harassing phone calls from collectors. The monthly payment is a fixed rate and will never increase. You are no longer dealing with collections or a specific credit card company. The debt relief process works by consolidating all your bills, and the debt relief organization makes an agreement with your credit card company to make the payments upon your behalf. In turn you pay the debit relief organization your monthly payments. Thus taking you out of direct contact with the creditors and reduces you debt faster than you could on your own without interest continuing to pile up.

Your alternate option to using a debt relief service is to declare bankruptcy. By declaring bankruptcy you are protecting all of your inherit assets and stating that you can not pay your debt off. This relinquishes you from debt and without paying back the money you owe. However it is strongly advised not to go this route as recovery from a bankruptcy declaration will take seven years to recuperate from on your credit report. Although it looks like the easier of the two, declaring bankruptcy has severe long term consequences. The chances of you ever having good credit again are nonexistent. It will be extremely difficult for you to obtain a loan or even a credit card. Another thing to take into account is whether you will ever need to make a large purchase such as a car or home. If you declare bankruptcy you are not longer qualified to receive a loan. Though there are a handful of organizations that will loan you money, they will only do so at tremendously high interest rates and sometimes unethical business practices.

There may be other options than these listed here that would require special circumstances and considerations. However these are the general choices you have. By going with a debit relief organization you are ensuring a better future you and your family. Declaring bankruptcy has negative consequences and should be considered a last resort. Remember, working with a debt relief organization should take up to five years to get everything paid off but being debt free is a wonderful feeling regardless on how you get there.


http://www.add-articles.com/Article/Debt-Relief-or-Bankruptcy/3766