Credit card debt is a dangerous epidemic. Did you
know the average American family has more than $8000.00 in credit card debt?
Credit card debt is a rapidly growing problem as Credit card companies make it
easier and easier for consumers to obtain cards and spend money. Creditors offer
enticing interest rates to join or to transfer balances from an existing
creditor or credit card. Credit card companies earn in excess of $65 billion a
year and nearly one third comes from late fees and over the limit charges. Do
you think these creditors have any incentive to help you reduce credit card
debt? Why would any creditor want to offer you credit card debt help? Remember,
if you are not paying an interest rate or late fees, a creditor is not earning
money from you. A creditor or bank earns fees by loaning people money and
charging them at a high interest rate.
When you transfer credit card debt
from one creditor to another, you should cancel the first card.
If not, you may run up that balance as well. Resist the temptation to purchase
everyday items like gas or lunch with your credit cards as this can lead to
serious credit card debt problems, particularly when you have a very high
interest rate. If you make only the minimum payments each month, you are mainly
paying interest only and little or no money is be applied toward your principal
to eliminate credit card debt. If this sounds familiar, you need credit card
debt help.
There are some things you can do on your own to
manage your credit card debt. For example, there is software that tracks your
financial records such as Quicken, by Intuit, or Microsoft's Managing Your
Money. These programs provide credit card debt help by organizing your bills and
even writing checks. Also, if you have a financial hardship, contact each
creditor and tell them you need your interest rate lowered. This will not reduce
your credit card debt but it will lower your monthly payments. The extra savings
could be used to eliminate credit card debt from other creditors. You can also
play one creditor off another. Tell one that another offered you a better
interest rate in an effort to help you reduce credit card debt due to a
financial hardship. Often, the second creditor will beat the interest rate
offered by the first creditor.
Another option you may want to explore is
debt settlement. A debt settlement company negotiates with a creditor on
your behalf to eliminate credit card debt. Many people fall behind on payments
due to a hardship like divorce, layoff, illness, or pay reduction. Unlike a
Credit Counseling programs or just an interest rate reduction, they can reduce
the entire balance.