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Debt Consolidation: Too Good to Be True?

By: LawInfo

Published: 12/2008

If you are overwhelmed with debt then debt consolidation might seem like a good idea and, in some cases, it is a good idea. However, in order to make sure that your money is protected and that you make an advantageous financial decision it is important to be aware of the potential problems created by some debt consolidation companies.

What is Debt Consolidation?

Simply put, debt consolidation companies allow you to take out one loan in order to pay off your other loans. Reputable debt consolidators offer the advantages of fixed or lower interests rates and the management of all of your debt in one loan.

Student Loan Consolidation

Colleges and graduate schools are expensive and many students come out of these institutions with significant student debt. Federal student loan consolidations are common and well regulated. It is often a safe and advantageous move for people with educational debt.

Other Loan Consolidations: Things to Be Concerned About

However, other types of debt consolidation are not as safe as student loan consolidations. People who wish to consolidate personal debt, such as credit card debt, should be thorough in their investigation of potential debt consolidation companies in order to make sure that they are making good financial decisions.

You should be concerned about anything that sounds too good to be true. You are probably considering debt consolidation because your debt obligations seem overwhelming and the monthly payments are choking your budget. So, it can be enticing when a company offers to lower your monthly payments by combining your multiple debts into one debt for a lower monthly payment. However, the terms set forth by many of these companies often lower your monthly payments but significantly increase the total amount that you will end up paying.

Another drawback to debt consolidation companies is that you often pay them significant fees to accomplish something that you could do on your own. There is no magic to the work that debt consolidation companies do. They restructure your loans by extending repayment terms, negotiating interest rates and paying off the highest interest rate debt first. You can do all of this yourself by simply calling your creditors and you can save yourself the debt consolidation company fees.

How to Protect Yourself

It is important to clearly understand whether your loan is a secured or unsecured loan. In other words, is the debt consolidation company requiring that you put collateral down for the debt? Typically, if the debt consolidation company is requesting collateral it will be your home that is used for that collateral. Are you prepared to lose your home if you cannot make your new monthly payments?

It is also important to carefully read and understand all of the terms set forth by debt consolidation companies. Sometimes, the lower interest rates or monthly payments are temporary and then rise significantly after the initial period has expired.

Once you understand the potential benefits and the common drawbacks of debt consolidation and you decide that you want to proceed with a debt consolidation program, it is essential that you research the potential companies and do business with an ethical and respected company. You can check a company’s reputation by contacting the Better Business Bureau or your state’s attorney generals office.

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