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Difference between Debt Consolidation & Debt Relief

Introduction

Do you want to know the distinction between debt consolidation and debt relief? Debt consolidation Los Angeles involves combining multiple debts (via a personal loan or balance transfer) to simplify monthly payments, lower interest rates, and pay off debt faster. Debt relief Los Angeles allows you to have your debt partially or entirely forgiven or canceled. It usually is if debt relief appears too good to be true. That is why it is critical to understand the distinctions between debt consolidation and debt relief and the benefits and drawbacks of each.


Debt Consolidation

Debt consolidation is a debt-reduction strategy in which multiple debts are combined into a single, lower-interest payment. Some common reasons for debt consolidation include:

·        To simplify your monthly bills.

·        To increase your disposable income by lowering your monthly payments.

·        To get out of debt as soon as possible.

Debt consolidation in Los Angeles  should not harm your credit score if you make your payments on time and do not incur additional debt. If you decide to apply for a debt consolidation loan, your credit score may temporarily drop due to the hard inquiry. However, if you can repay your debts by consolidating them, your credit score should improve in the long run.


Benefits of Debt Consolidation Los Angeles

·        Fewer accounts to oversee.

Consolidating debt entails reducing the number of payments you must make each month, the number of due dates you must remember, and other factors. Consolidation allows you to combine and streamline several accounts into a single payment.

·        Savings potential.

If your credit score has improved or the market has shifted, you may be able to get lower interest rates on a new account, lowering your overall debt repayment cost.

·        Budgetary relief.

Consolidation may result in a lower total monthly debt bill. For example, if you get a loan with a long repayment period, you can spread out your payments and lower your monthly payment. While a more extended repayment period means more interest charges, it may be the only option for someone struggling to pay their monthly bills.


Drawbacks of Debt Consolidation Los Angeles

·        Delaying the inevitable.

While debt consolidation can make payments more affordable, it does not eliminate debt. Moving balances may solve your debt anxiety, but you will still be responsible for making total repayments.

·        Credit can be an impediment.

Obtaining the best debt consolidation products necessitates good credit scores. If you have bad credit, you may be denied a debt consolidation loan, or the interest rate may be the same as the rate on your credit cards.

·        Fees.

If you are not careful, the fees for your new account may jeopardize your goal. Keep an eye out for expenses such as origination, transfer fees, application, and high-interest rates.


Debt Relief

Debt relief occurs when your debt is forgiven or canceled, either partially or entirely. The important caveat to remember is that people seeking debt relief in Los Angeles are frequently desperate, which isn't necessarily bad, but it can make you easy prey for scammers. Before you choose a debt relief program, make sure you understand:

·        Qualifications.

·        Fees that may apply.

·        Who you owe money to, and how much money is paid to those creditors

·        Tax ramifications


Benefits of Debt Relief Los Angeles

The benefits of debt relief in Los Angeles include professional financial assistance and the ability to help consumers use money management strategies to reduce their debt. Moreover, the disadvantages are that they do not guarantee results and sometimes use deceptive advertisements to entice consumers.


Drawbacks of Debt Relief Los Angeles

·        Results are not guaranteed.

The main disadvantage of debt relief is that no guarantee will reduce your debt. The FTC warns that many debt settlement programs claim to be able to reduce debts by up to 70%, but lenders are under no obligation to negotiate debts. Furthermore, if you stop making credit card payments because you expect a debt settlement, you may incur additional fees and add to your debt.

Conclusion

While debt consolidation is a type of debt relief (a broad term), the two are very different regarding the options available and how they affect your credit if you want to lower your credit card utilization ratio while maintaining your credit score. In that case, debt consolidation in Los Angeles may be the better option—as long as you're confident in your ability to make monthly payments. If you've already tried consolidation, are having trouble making payments, and aren't too concerned about your credit score, you can look into settlement and debt relief in Los Angeles. In contrast, people with debt issues must contact Financial Sanity Now Contact today for a consultation! 

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