What is meant by the phrase consolidating credit card debt
03-Oct-2015 18:55
If you want to avoid interest on purchases after you make a balance transfer, you should plan to use a different card for those purchases.Taking out a debt consolidation loan Many banks, credit unions, and installment loan lenders offer these loans which collect all of your debts into one loan payment.This will allow you to make one payment and sometimes will result in lower payments.Warning: Many zero-percent or low-interest credit card offers only last for a limited amount of time.Make sure you understand exactly when the low-rate on your balance transfer will end.Also, understand whether there are any other fees or costs that can increase your payment amount, like a balance transfer fee or additional interest charges on new purchases made with the card.If you’re not sure of the best way to address your debt, a credit counselor can help you explore your options.You can also reach out to your individual creditors to see if they will agree to lower your payments.
If you have multiple credit card accounts or loans, consolidation may be a way to simplify or lower payments.After that, your lender may increase the rate you have to pay.They may also include hidden fees or costs that you would not have to pay if you continued making your other payments.Make sure you include all of the fees and interest you pay now.
Compare these payments with what you would pay if you took out the consolidation loan and make sure it’s a better deal.Many zero-percent or low-interest balance transfers are subject to a fee (sometimes called a “balance transfer fee”) The fee is usually a certain percentage of the amount you transfer.