debt loan consolidation
Bank loan or debt consolidation program for credit card payoff?
Due to a family tragedy, my husband and I are currently in $26,000 of credit card debt. All of the payments are current and the cards are paid on time with the accounts still open (we are not still charging, though). We are looking to seriously pay this down before the interest eats us alive. My husband wants to take out a bank loan and pay the cards off that way, but I am wondering about the debt consolidation programs you hear about (I know some of those are scams and some are real). Any advice or experience?
A bank loan will require some form of collateral, like a house. If you can’t pay the loan, you lose the house.
Debt consolidation will trash your credit score.
You are better off negotiating with each credit card. Mention to them that you may have to declare bankruptcy due to the high rate and could they lower the rate. In most cases, they would do that.
