As you are aware there can be several types of student loan consolidation for you. Broadly however there can be two categories. These are Federal Student Loan Consolidation Plan and Private Student Loan Consolidation plan for you. Consolidation is made applicable to both types of loans.
Stafford loans, private and federal, subsidized or not are prime subjects for such student loan consolidation. You can also consolidate the HEAL, HPSL and Parent PLUS loans availed. The PLUS loan includes the federal direct loans, consolidation loans, and direct loans. Other loans that could be consolidated are Perkins Loans and Nursing Schools Loans.
About the federal and private loan consolidation processes
Federal loans as well as the direct consolidated loans cannot be consolidated once again without obtaining or including additional loans. If you have already effected the student loan consolidation in respect of your undergraduate loans you can also add the graduation loans at later dates. Since these are additional loans such loan consolidation shall be permissible.
You may also like to consolidate the private loans you had obtained as student. Never ever try to consolidate federal with private loans that results in private consolidated student loans. Such consolidation will deprive you of many benefits you could obtain with federal loan consolidation process.
Drawbacks of consolidating federal with private loans
Several drawbacks occur when you try to consolidate federal loans with the private loans. Some of them are –
• With federal loan consolidation you can defer payments if you wish to resume your academic career. No such facilities are available under private loan consolidation plans.
• Forbearance despite all economic hardship is not possible in case of private loan consolidation though permissible in case of federal loan consolidation.
• No income tax deductions as in case of the federal loan consolidation interests are available in private consolidation plans.
• You have chances to be forgiven in case of federal loan consolidation that is not permissible under private loan consolidation plans.
• Like federal loan consolidation the military services, working as trainer in the economic development zones etc may not render you for any relaxation under private plans.
• Private loans do not die a natural death in case of your untimely demise. Your heirs and successors in interests would be responsible for repayment.
• Private loan consolidation rates are variable while the federal loan rates are firm and often better.
Federal student loan consolidation should be your first priority
If you are going for college loan consolidation your best bet would be to consolidate your federal loans first. The federal loan consolidation carries the best student loan consolidation rate and will be highly beneficial in financial terms compared to the private loan consolidations. Once you carry out your federal loan consolidation successfully it will boost your credit rating. In result you will become eligible for much better terms and conditions going for the private loan consolidation at a later stage.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Types of Loans That Can be Part of Student Loan Consolidation Plans
Sunday, December 14, 2008
How to Consolidate Student Loans - Federal Versus Private Loan Consolidation
Student loan consolidation can be used by student or parent borrowers to combine their multiple education loans into one loan with one monthly payment. As any student can take either federal or private student loans, he or she can also take a federal or private consolidation loan to make the education debt more manageable.
Both federal and private student loans offer significant benefits, but federal loans offer borrowers many benefits that don't come with private loans; for instance: low fixed interest rates, income-based repayment plans, loan forgiveness and deferment options. While some private lenders may offer them too, it usually is associated with some strings attached.
For those reasons, every borrower should always exhaust federal student loans options before considering a private loan. The same advice applies to consolidating student loans - always look at federal consolidation loan first and only if you don't qualify for a federal loan of it is not the right choice for any reason, and then seek a private consolidation loan.
It is important to remember that a federal student consolidation loan can't include any private loan. Moreover, if you consolidate your federal student loan into a private consolidation loan, you will lose your federal borrower benefits mentioned above (unless you private lender tries hard to get your business and includes them in the offer).
There are important differences between federal and private student loan consolidation.
First of all, with federal student loan consolidation, you will have a fixed interest rate, while private student loan consolidations are credit-based, which means that your consolidation loan rate will not be locked - it will be variable. So, while you will not have to go through credit check in order to apply for a federal consolidation loan, you will need it to secure a private consolidation loan.
Student loan consolidation rates are determined differently for federal and private consolidations. The interest rates for federal loans are set according to a formula established by federal statue. It's a fixed rate, based on the weighted average of the interest rates on each of your loans at the time you consolidate, rounded up to the nearest 1/8th of a percent and capped at 8.25%.
As private student loans are not funded by the federal government, they are subject to the terms determined by each individual lender (bank, credit union, other financial institution) and the market competition. In private student consolidation loans a borrower's credit is the primary factor in the variable interest rate offered to the borrower. As the base for setting the consolidation loan interest rate, the private lenders most often use the Prime rate or the 3-month LIBOR Rate, to which they add a margin. That margin varies from lender to lender and is applied according to the borrower's credit rating.
With regards to the interest rate on the consolidation loan, it's typical for both federal and private consolidation loan to include 0.25% rate reduction for automated debit payments.
Repayment of federal student consolidation loans begins within 60 days of the disbursement of the loan, with the payback term ranging from 10 to 30 years, depending on the amount of education debt being repaid and on other debts owned, as well as on the repayment option chosen by the borrower. Private student consolidation loans can also have repayment terms of up to 30 years, although they have fewer repayment options. Usually, repayment begins 30 days from the time your private student consolidation loan is funded.
While the most important factors looked at when deciding about how to consolidate student loans are the interest rates, borrower benefits and the terms of repayment, there are also other significant factors, such as: fees or cost to consolidate, prepayment penalties, loan amount limits, customer service, etc.
There are no fees or application costs whatsoever for processing and providing a federal student consolidation loan. It's against the law to ask for advance (up-front) fees for arranging a federal education loan or consolidating federal education loans. However, some federal education loans (e.g. the Stafford and PLUS Loans) may require some fees, but they are always deducted from the disbursement check. On the other hand, private lenders may charge fees for application and processing private consolidation loans. Some private lenders charge fees as high as 4% of the principal you owe.
Federal consolidation loan programs don't require a minimum balance to consolidate student loans; some private lenders require a minimum balance before they consider a borrower's application for consolidation. That amount varies from lender to lender, but usually is between $5,000-$7,500 in US-issued private education loans.
With both federal private consolidations, there are no penalties for prepayment - all payments in excess of scheduled payments will go directly to principal and that will help to repay your consolidation loan faster.
The application process for consolidation of private student loans differs from the federal consolidation. Sometimes applications for private consolidation loans may be easier to complete (often done online or over the phone). However, it's worth remembering that federal loans usually have lower interest rates, borrower benefits and better repayment terms than private student loans. Moreover, federal applications for both original loans and consolidation loans require FAFSA, so with the federal consolidation, your application is already partly completed.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Types of Online Debt Consolidation Solutions
Consolidation of all your existing debts into a single manageable loan is debt consolidation and your process can be made faster using online means. Unpaid debts are always frustrating and by choosing online debt consolidation you can breathe in peace. Online debt consolidation provides you a chance of paying a single loan to one lender instead of several lenders and multiple loans. All of us face financial crisis when there is a failure in debt repayment. Under this situation everybody needs assistance that could help us in getting rid of our debts burden. A simple solution that's suitable for every debtor is debt consolidation loan.
Online debt consolidation loans are categorized into two types, secured and unsecured online debt consolidation. You need to pledge collateral for the loan in secured online debt consolidation with low interest rate. An unsecured online debt consolidation does not need any security for loan eligibility. Normally in online debt consolidation loan a large amount is offered to you as a single loan. For online secured debt consolidation the loan amount offered is large with longer repayment period when compared with an unsecured loan. Though both the loans are offered with reasonable interest rates the unsecured online debt consolidation charges higher interest as the total risk of the loan is on the lender and there is no property for repossession by the lender.
Online debt consolidation assists you quickly for applying for as well as accessing the entire valuable information needed. You don't have to stand in long queues for the application process for debt consolidation. It provides you the flexibility of applying from your home or any location you are. Online debt consolidation is possible with a click on your mouse and proper search has to be done before finalizing the online company. Online debt consolidation provides you with different options and also various repayment schedules so that your debt burden is reduced and you can slowly become free from debts with your current financial capacity.
By consolidating all your past loans into one loan does not mean that you are paying high rate of interest for your debts. An online debt consolidation loan provides you loan with high rate of interest by which you can pay off all your existing debts. Alternately you may be asked to pay every month an amount to the providers of online debt consolidation, who then disperses the same to the creditors. By this method you can ensure timely payment of your debts. To avail online debt consolidation you must submit an online application form with all your debt details. After evaluating and accepting your online application the online debt consolidation company provides an expert for assessing your debts and repayment situation by taking account of your expenditure and income. The online debt consolidation company negotiates with the creditors for reduction in interest rates on debts. Generally a creditor accepts negotiation and reduces debts, interests or both together. Then you are given an option to take a single loan from any of the various online debt consolidation loans available or the company will receive a fixed monthly amount from you and disperse to the multiple creditors. An online debt consolidation company provides debt consolidation loans at competitive rates for bad credit scores too.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Get Rid of Credit Card Debt With Credit Card Debt Consolidation
As most of the Americans use the credit card for almost all of their payments it is estimated that 80 percent of the Americans are under debt. Debt consolidation Service is there to assist them to get out of your debts. It is always recommended to reduce your number of credit cards and by this you can stay away from debt consolidation, as there won't be many bills for payment.
Debt consolidation service is offered to everybody like merging all the overdue arrears of electricity, Internet, telephone and groceries bills together or clearing all the debts of credit cards etc. The best method for doing debt consolidation research is by short-listing some big names and comparing their quotes. Like all your financial transactions, it is very important that the debt consolidation loan provider is a reputed company.
A debt consolidation loan replaces all your other individual loans into a single one. Once your debt consolidation loan application is accepted, a specialist assigned for you will take the necessary further steps. Though credit cards are excellent financial tools for making easy payments and offer you the facility of not carrying cash wherever you go but if it is used indirectly and without proper planning, you may end with high debts owing to many lenders. On such a situation the credit card debt consolidation offers you great relief from your financial burden. If you use your credit card unplanned, you will run into huge debt and the excellent way of managing your debt will be from a debt consolidation service.
Debt consolidation offers various services that relieve your credit card debts and one among them is credit card debt consolidation. The most recent technique used for credit card debt management is credit card debt consolidation. You must realize that credit card debt consolidation does not offer you any loan but provides you assistance and services. Debt consolidation representative assigned by the debt consolidation company does all the work on your behalf and does everything including negotiations with your multiple creditors.
There are lots of advantages you get by choosing credit card debt consolidation services. The main advantage of credit card debt consolidation is that it brings financial stability in your life. The credit card debt consolidation representative does negotiation with the creditors and reduces the interest rate to a significant extent. He will also persuade them in reducing the other charge costs and penalty costs. Credit card consolidation will enable you to get rid off your mounting debts through credit cards within a short period of time. Credit card debt growth rate is reduced to a greater extent with the availability of credit card debt consolidation.
The credit card debt consolidation is commonly used as a tool by the credit card firms for attracting customers. You can get zero percent interest for a new credit card for the initial period (6-9 months) after you join the debt consolidation service of the provider. The lower interest rate for purchases is provided as an incentive for you. The interest rates are made low and the repayment period is also negotiated depending on your financial capacity. Ease of management is possible when you have fewer credit cards for use and that is a benefit of credit card debt consolidation. You can get other benefits like reward points, discounts and rebates through credit card debt consolidation. It will suffice if you make one payment per month for the consolidated loan.
Benefits of Non-profit Debt Consolidation Services
You can find two kinds of debt consolidation services; profit debt consolidation and non profit debt consolidation. The best place you can go is for a debt consolidation company to get rid of your debt. Non profit debt consolidation is a type of debt management program that exists for restructuring debts with high interest rates into a single loan avoiding the need for going to another loan. Thus, you can avoid many monthly payments and it also helps you have control of your financial state. As profit debt consolidation agencies charge higher rates, the best alternative is to go for Non profit debt consolidation service.
Cash loans, bank loans, IRS, credit card bills, student loans and medical bills are some of the debts that need non-profit debt consolidation solutions. If you are sure to make your regular repayments, debt consolidation mortgage is the alternative among other available options. They are offered against collaterals such as home or any other asset of value and are also tax deductible. Another option for debt consolidation is Consumer debt consolidation. On behalf of borrowers, the consumer debt management companies in this case negotiate with creditors for a consolidated payment at lower interest rates.
The non-profit debt consolidation company receives a share of amount paid by the debtor to the agency and this share is the main supporting source for the non-profit group and on the other hand the profit debt consolidation company does not receive this share. Even otherwise, this share percentage has dropped considerably and there is not much of difference between the two types. Alternatively the debtor is provided with the same monthly payment that are minimum with reduced interest rate whether it is a for-profit or a non-profit debt consolidation company.
You have a better edge over others when you go for a non-profit debt consolidation company. You can find a number of debt consolidation companies today. Therefore you have to plan for an extensive research prior to deciding a debt consolidation company. By all means, the safest way is to choose a non-profit debt consolidation company. A non-profit debt consolidation company guides you with the best possible options for debt consolidation and makes you debt free as soon as possible. Unlike a profit making debt Consolidation company, the motive of a non-profit debt consolidation is not to build personal profit at borrower's expenses.
A great advantage you get with a non-profit debt consolidation company is free debt counseling. This service helps you to be aware of the debt consolidation techniques and the value of finance and debt management. The main purpose is to avoid such debt situations in future and also for rebuilding your credit rating. Thus, choosing a non-profit debt consolidation company is an excellent move. However ensure that your company is really a non-profit organization.
Internet is one of the best sources of getting information about the debt consolidation companies and you can also choose the best company. You can find many non-profit debt consolidation companies that offer different debt consolidation services. You can check out the websites of the respective companies. Ensure that the chosen debt consolidation company can meet the total financial requirements related with your debts. After short-listing a few companies, you can visit various web forums, blogs and reviews on such companies so that chances of any fraud can be avoided.
Warning! the Hidden Truth About Dishonest Debt Consolidation Companies
Unnecessary debt consolidation fees
If you're in the market for a good debt consolidation company, chances are you're already struggling with money. You've fallen behind on your credit card payments again, lost track of the mortgage or simply just can't afford to survive with all the debt you've accumulated. So, the last thing you need when you turn to a debt consolidation company is another headache, right? But the truth is that there are plenty of dishonest debt consolidation companies out there who will take advantage of your situation and make sure they take you for a ride and suck as much money out of you as possible.
The first thing you'll notice about a dishonest debt consolidation company is that they will charge you unnecessary fees right away at the beginning of the consolidation process. Consolidation is a process whereby the debt consolidation company will contact all your credit card companies, arrange to pay off your debt to them or negotiate lower payments and thereby save you tons of money.
However, consolidation companies typically only make their money by arranging all of this and taking a cut of your savings as their profit. Dishonest companies will charge you upfront for these services. Do not be fooled. Find a company that doesn't charge upfront fees and save your money.
No consolidation plan? Try again!
Another easy way to spot a dishonest debt consolidation company is to ask them what sort of plan they're looking to establish for you—both now and in the distant future. Are they willing to tell you how they're going to save you money, how soon you can expect to pay off your debt and what will happen if you struggle to finish the consolidation plan?
Most reliable companies will immediately establish a debt consolidation plan for you and show you exactly how to can expect to pay off your debt. In many cases, they'll also explain that if you are to falter, stop making payments or not use consolidation properly, you'll be thrown off the program and back into your high interest agreements with creditors. How are you going to budget your money and make sure you can afford the new consolidation plan? An honest debt consolidation company will have all the answers and will be able to tell you exactly what to expect over the coming months and years.
Don't fall victim to companies that fail to establish a solid plan for you. Take your business elsewhere right away.
Ignoring the problem you have with debt
Has the consolidation company you've researched expressed to you that you have a problem with debt? Have they told you that you would no longer be able to use credit during the consolidation process? If they haven't, there's something wrong!
An honest consolidation company knows you struggle with debt and knows that you need a way to eliminate the debt and keep it away forever. A good diet plan wouldn't force you to eat healthy but let you keep junk food in the cabinet, would it? So, why should a consolidation plan help eliminate debt but let you keep credit cards in your pocket?
A good consolidation company understands this, while a dishonest consolidation company merely says enough to get you interested in their plan and starts capitalizing off it immediately. Be sure to look out for the sure signs of a dishonest credit card company before you enter into any agreement. You'll be glad you did.
Drowning in Educational Loan Debt: Will Loan Consolidation Save You?
It's the first of the month and you've received a fistful of bills for the many different student loans that helped pay for your education: Perkins, subsidized and unsubsidized FFEL or Direct Stafford, and PLUS. Your salary hasn't reached the six figure income you had hoped for yet. Each month you watch as your hard earned cash evaporates in educational loan payments while you live in a cramped studio apartment and drive a car older than you are.
You've heard about loan consolidation and the idea of making a smaller payment to one lender sounds like a dream compared to your current nightmare of feeding a seemingly endless stream of money to a number of different lenders. No contest--where do you sign up?
Rein yourself in for a moment. Consolidation may be the perfect solution to your financial woes and then again it may not be. So before you jump on the consolidation bandwagon, here are a few things you might want to consider.
Are Lenders Axing Consolidation Loans?
In an effort to remedy some inequities in the federal student aid programs, Congress recently enacted the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, which among other provisions, cuts lender subsidies that have historically been in place to encourage lenders to participate in the federal education loan programs. This legislation, in concert with the recent subprime mortgage credit crisis, has lenders taking a closer look at whether education loans continue to be profitable for them.
Higher education leaders anticipate that lenders may cut back on the Stafford and PLUS loan incentives and discounts previously offered to attract borrowers--and eliminate them altogether for consolidation loans. Consolidation loans, with the tightest profit margin of all education loans, may even be on the chopping block for some lenders while others may increase the minimum balance that qualifies a borrower for a consolidation loan.
Even if lenders back out of the consolidation loan business, consolidation is still available through the federal Direct Consolidation Loan program, but the government doesn't offer the incentives and discounts that lenders have long been using to attract borrowers.
Are Interest Rates Coming Down?
Stafford Loan and PLUS variable interest rates, which are based on a formula that includes the interest rate of the most recent 91-day T bill, change every July 1; rates are expected to drop significantly on July 1, 2008. This decrease should make the educational loan variable interest rates very attractive. Because the interest rate for a consolidation loan is calculated using a weighted average of all interest rates for all of the loans you would include in consolidation, you may want to wait until after July 1 to make a more informed decision.
Consolidation: Thumbs Up or Down?
To consolidate or not to consolidate: that is the question. But there's no easy answer.
Consolidation may be a good idea if:
• You have a variable interest rate and would rather have a fixed rate. This may be a good idea but you might want to wait and consider it only if interest rates start going back up. And, what happens if variable interest rates stay down or drop below your fixed rate?
• You have a variety of loans and lenders and would like to have only one lender. One problem--you may have to 'pay' for the convenience by accepting a higher interest rate on some of your loans.
• You need more flexible repayment options. Repayment options available through consolidation are:
Standard - fixed monthly payments.
Graduated - start out with low payments and increase every 2 years.
Extended - for amounts greater than $30,000, either a fixed or graduated option.
Income contingent - based on annual income and total loan debt, with a payment adjustment every year as income changes. The FFEL program offers income sensitive repayment, which bases monthly payments on a percentage of income.
Although the Stafford Loan programs offer flexible repayment options, the Perkins Loan program currently does not. Note: An income-based repayment option will become available for FFEL and Direct Stafford, Perkins, Grad PLUS, and Federal Consolidation (less undergrad PLUS) loan borrowers on July 1, 2009.
• You absolutely need to ease up on your monthly payments. Beware of this option. A lower payment generally means a longer repayment period and paying more interest over time.
Consolidation may not be a good idea if:
• Any of the loans you plan to include have cancellation or forgiveness options that may be lost if you consolidate.
The Perkins Loan Program, for example, has a cancellation option if you teach in certain public school service professions or subject areas or in certain designated low income schools.
Portions of a Stafford Loan may be eligible for cancellation if you teach full time for five consecutive years in a low income school. (Under certain circumstances, this option may also be available for consolidation loans.)
• Your current lender offers rebates (such as an annual reduction in your interest rate) for successive on-time payments. You would lose this option if you consolidate and, as previously mentioned, lenders may be phasing out incentives for consolidation loans.
• You consolidate during your grace period(s). The remainder of your grace period is lost.
• You've already substantially reduced the amount you owe. Because consolidation generally extends your repayment period, often with an increased interest rate, you may ultimately end up paying more.
Research and Conquer
Unfortunately the answer to whether or not consolidation is right for you is…"it depends." To find out, collect information about what federal loans you have (Perkins, FFEL, PLUS, and Direct Loan programs) by accessing the National Student Loan Data System (nslds.ed.gov). Collect information about any private educational loans you have directly from your lender(s). Take the loan information and find an online consolidation loan calculator to help you determine how your loan repayments may change through consolidation.
Then ask yourself the following questions:
• Am I willing to pay higher interest or extend my repayment period and pay more interest over time?
• Am I going to lose any loan cancellation options or incentives for which I'm currently eligible?
• Can I afford my current payments without consolidating?
• Would consolidation actually make my payments significantly more affordable?
• Does the 'lower payment now' benefit offset the 'pay more for longer' downside of consolidation?
You can see that the decision whether or not to consolidate is not black and white. It is an individual decision--it may work for some and not for others. Because there are long term implications to consolidation, do your research and weigh the pros and cons carefully. When all of the evidence is in, you should be able to decide whether or not a consolidation loan is the answer for you.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Debt Consolidation Loan
The typical debt consolidation loan is a type of unsecured personal loan where the only collateral that you have to offer the lender is yourself. Debt Consolidation loan shortly means, exchange of one loan for another. Debt Consolidation loan can be taken anytime if you feel you cannot afford your monthly payment. When you have several high interests debt you can consolidate it into one lower, fixed rate loan.
Debt Consolidation loans are various sorts of credit types that you are able to use in order to consolidate your debt. There are several different types of loans out there that will allow you to consolidate your debt in different sorts of ways. These ways include second mortgage debt consolidation loans, such as a home equity line of credit home loan, or cash out refinance debt consolidation loan, or even a credit card balance transfer is available to help consolidate debt that you have built up over a period of time.
There are several different types of debts out there that can be consolidated through debt consolidation loan in different sorts of ways. Debt Consolidation loan can be of two types unsecured and secured debt consolidation loan. In unsecured debt consolidation loan they have higher interest rates as without collateral and a solid credit rating, the borrower is considered at high-risk. So consolidating this loan can give you low interest rate than you are paying rite now. Whereas in secured debt consolidation loan you can get low interest rates even with bad credit as the property is provided as collateral. These loan can be got easily as the creditor is at less risk. So its beneficial to both creditor and debtor. The added advantage would be, it will also improve your credit score as subsequent payments are made to pay off the new loan.
The type of debts which most people look to consolidate are bill debts. Nearly half of Americans are currently dealing with the devastating stress of unmanagable bills and unsure whether they'll be able to make ends meet each month. So bills consolidation loan is solution to your bills debts problems. It would simply lower your monthly payments by applying one interest rate to the whole debt amount, which is generally lower than the collective rate as too many different payments mean different rates of interest.
There are special debt consolidation loans for student and military debts. Student debt consolidation loan may be a great way to lower your interest rate and to allow you only one monthly payment to one lender. Another is Military Debt Consolidation Loan. These military debt consolidation loan programs will allow you to make monthly payments in a timely manner and will also allow you to take advantage of having an easy budget to maintain.
Get your Low Interest Debt Consolidation Loan for Free !!!
Debt consolidation is an excellent way to reduce the amount of outstanding bills that you needed to pay or even lower the interest rates of your current bills or perhaps even to get some tax relief from it. By utilizing debt consolidation you are capable of getting relief from your current budget. It will allow you to bring down your current monthly payments on your debt and to as a result have more cash available in order to spend on other things that you may need. Not only this, but some of the options available to you will also allow you to get some tax benefits in the process.
If you end up taking out another loan you need to make sure that you stick with it, or else you could very well end up going even further into debt and hurting yourself. To succeed you need to make certain that you change the spending habits and budgeting that got you into this situation. You also need to be careful not to empty out the assets of your home equity as you may need that cash in a pinch one day.
Following these simple steps can allow you to take advantage of debt consolidation and to be a step ahead of the game. Debt consolidation is designed to help those individuals that have piled on a fair bit of debt to relieve the burden of multiple bills and to allow them to focus on budgeting and managing their lives. Debt consolidation can help anyone that is looking to get back on the path of financial freedom if they are able to have the wisdom to stick to it.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Your Options for Federal Student Loan Consolidation Plan
Several types of the Federal Student Loan Consolidation are available for you and it is your option depending on your requirements and budget. There are for example the Federal Stafford Loan Consolidation, the Federal PLUS Loan Consolidation and also the Federal Direct Loan Consolidation plans. In addition there are the Perkins Loans, Heal Loans and FEELP loans etc that you could avail.
One thing that you should bear in mind is that a person who obtains a private loan consolidation plan to get out of the loan burden will not be eligible for Federal Student Loan Consolidation plans any more.
About the Stafford Loan Consolidation Process
The Stafford Loan Consolidation Plan is one of those fixed rate programs of refinancing that consolidates all your existing loans into one. The question obviously is about the benefit of such loan consolidation. A recent study report has established that Stafford Plan could save you money by reducing your loan payments by 53%. For exact calculation of the savings you earn you can take the assistance of one of the online calculators available.
Informative websites online can provide you with the desired information relating to the Stafford Loan Consolidation. They provide you with step by step guide in processing the loan consolidation. Conversely you can opt for the readymade information packet.
Your Stafford loan consolidation requirements
To be eligible to avail the benefits of the Stafford Loan Consolidation you must not be a defaulter of loans. You also should have graduated or enrolled less than half the time required. Once you are found to be eligible you can extend your loan periods up to 30 years thereby reducing your payments and enhancing your earnings.
Like most other student loan consolidation plans the benefit of Stafford plan is to reduce your monthly payments and interest rates. You pay only one consolidate installment towards your outstanding dues once you enroll under the plan. In any case 53% reduction in payments and 06% savings in terms of interests is huge saving that could be beneficial in creating assets and wiping out the loans.
Plus Student Loan Consolidation process basics
Plus Student Loan Consolidation plan is more practical and enables you to consolidate your federal loans obtained for the education of your children. All outstanding dues now become a single loan. Benefits of Stafford and other plans like reduction in premiums, extension of period of repayment to 30 years etc are also available under this plan.
The best benefit that you derive with the Plus Student Loan Consolidation plan is reduction in the interest rates by 25% instantly. This will result in huge savings and you will be able to clear up your loan burdens much faster with additional savings created.
Your requirements for being eligible for the Plus Loan Consolidation are that you must have a minimum of $20,000 as the PLUS loans. In addition you must have received the entire disbursements involved in the current year so that you do not have to wait for your son or daughter to complete their graduation.
Therefore your College Loan Consolidation plan should be such that you get the best consolidation loan student and pay the minimum deriving the maximum of the benefits.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Direct Student Loan Consolidation Could be the Best of the Lot
When in order to reduce your existing loan burden you decide to opt for the student loan consolidation, you will have to decide the plan that is most suitable for you. Direct student loan consolidation is considered best for many experts owing to its unique features.
The traditional advantages derived are flexible plans of repayment of your loans and reduction in the interest rates, and lowering of premium by 53%. However the feature that makes such direct student loan consolidation process unique is the deferment and forbearance options that you get.
Types of direct student loan consolidation
Like others there are also various types of direct student loan consolidation plans. These are -
* The Stafford and PLUS loan consolidation plans.
* Direct Stafford and PLUS loan consolidation plans.
* Direct loan consolidation plans.
* Obtaining loan bills from the Center for direct loan servicing.
* Ford Federal program for direct loan consolidation.
* Direct lending school loan consolidation program.
The uses of the direct student loan consolidation
Obviously when you opt for the direct loan consolidation plan or any such student loan consolidation plan you will be concerned about the interest to be paid. Internet has solved the problem of getting the required information altogether. You can have all the information on student loan consolidation interest rates on line using the Internet.
Two methods of obtaining the information to learn about the benefits of the direct student loan consolidation plan are requesting for the free information packet or going through the step by step tutorials provide by many consolidators on line. There are also independent reviews available reading which you can form your opinion.
Apply online for direct student loan consolidation
Good news for you is that neither you will have to run to the federal or private provider's offices nor you have to go for a mediator who will perform all tasks for you. You can simply log on to the website of the consolidator and get the required information, apply online, and get approved also online.
Of course you may have doubts and it is better to have them cleared instead of suffering at the end of it landing with wrong choice. This can be effectively achieved by going through the frequently asked questions sections of the website where you have logged on for online application and approval.
Direct Student Loan Consolidation benefits
Traditional benefits available in respect of all other student loan consolidation plans like lowering the premium, extending the repayment period up to 30 years, and reducing the overall payments are available in direct student loan consolidation plan.
You will however have to fulfill certain requirements to be eligible for the direct student loan consolidation. For example you must have federal student loan worth $10,000 and must not have defaulted at any time.
Student loan consolidation process with lower rate of interest would be a great relief for the otherwise financially constrained family. They will now have more savings to look after divergent interests of the family members. That is why lowering the student loan consolidation rates are extremely essential to save your economy from disaster.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Frequently Asked Questions About Student Loan Consolidation
A person who goes for the student loan consolidation may have a few questions in mind to ask about such consolidation process. You may be concerned about the student loan consolidation interest rates so that you can pick up the best among them. Conversely you may be concerned with the payments you make while your loan consolidation is in process.
The first question that comes to your mind always is why consolidate. The answer is that you consolidate your student loans to reduce the monthly premiums, get the principal reduced, enhance your savings so that you could use the extra money fruitfully or repay the loans much earlier than the scheduled dates.
Best time to go for consolidation student loans
If you can consolidate your student loans immediately after your graduation within the grace period you are likely to derive the maximum advantages out of such consolidation. The basic advantage of consolidating loans in the grace period is that you can lock down the lowest interest rates payable. Such consolidation is one of the best options when you try to improve your monthly cash flow or extend the repayment time span. The best part of it is that you can easily get some additional discount financially benefiting you in the process.
You will however have to pay on your loan dues while your loan consolidation is in process. Normally the process of student loan consolidation can take time in the range of 30-90 days. It is extremely important that you do not become a defaulter during this period which will render you ineligible for such loan consolidation.
Effects of the time taken for student loan consolidation
Since your consolidator will keep up to date track of your loan transactions the consolidation will be accordingly revised basing on the payments you have made since you submitted your application. The time span could be faster at 30-40 days or a bit delayed at 80-90 days.
Normally the period taken for processing and approval of your student loan consolidation application is dependent on the payoff statements and the response of your lenders. The Loan Verification Certificates, also called the LVCs may take some time to come from these lenders. However they will come and you will have your loan consolidated and previous accounts closed.
There could even be some circumstances, though rare, where you could sell your loans to others.
What do you do in case you are ineligible for student loan consolidation?
Under certain circumstances you may become ineligible for student loan consolidation. Such situations are –
• When you have already consolidated your loans earlier.
• If your loan amount is less than $20,000.
• When you owe repayment to only one lender.
If you are perturbed about the steps to be taken in such cases you may try one of the following options –
• You may consider some private student loan consolidation plan.
• You could refinance your home or some other properties to pay off the loan amount.
• Best student loan consolidation rate can give you income tax exemptions.
• You may obtain a personal loan from a bank or credit union.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Student Loan Consolidation - How does it Work?
Student Loan Consolidation - How does it Work? Student loans are a great source of financial aid for students who need help paying for their education. Unfortunately, students often leave college with burdensome debt. In addition, they often have multiple loans from different lenders, meaning they are writing more than one loan repayment check each month. The solution to this problem is loan consolidation.
What is loan consolidation? Loan consolidation means bundling all your student loans into a single loan with one lender and one repayment plan. You can think of loan consolidation as akin to refinancing a home mortgage. When you consolidate your student loans, the balances of your existing student loans are paid off, with the total balance rolling over into one consolidated loan. The end result is that you have only one student loan to pay on.
Both students and their parents can consolidate loans.
Should I consolidate my loans? Loan consolidation offers many benefits:
-Locks in a fixed, usually lower, interest rate for the term of your loan, potentially saving you thousands of dollars (depending on the interest rates of your original loans) -Lowers your monthly payment -Combines your student loan payments into one monthly bill
In addition, consolidated loans have flexible repayment options and no fees, charges, or prepayment penalties. There are also no credit checks or co-signers required.
You should consider consolidating your loans if the consolidation loan would have a lower interest rate than your current loans, particularly if you are having trouble making you monthly payments. However, if you are close to paying off your existing loans, consolidation may not be worth it.
How will the interest rate for the consolidated loan be? The interest rate for your consolidated loan is calculated by averaging the interest rate of all the loans being consolidated and then rounding up to the next one-eighth of one percent. The maximum interest rate is 8.25 percent.
To figure your interest rate, visit loanconsolidation.ed.gov for an online calculator that will do the math for you.
How much can I save? How much you save by consolidating loans depends on what interest rate you get and whether you choose to extend your repayment plan. According to Sallie Mae, the leading provider of student loans in the United States, consolidating student loans can reduce monthly payments by up to 54 percent. However, the only way to reduce your payment this much is to extend your repayment plan. You typically have 10 years to repay student loans, but, depending on the amount you're consolidating, you can extend your repayment plan all the way up to 30 years. Remember that if you choose to extend your repayment term, it will take longer to pay off your overall debt and you'll pay more in interest. There are no preypayment penalties, so you can always choose to pay off the loan early.
Am I eligible to consolidate my loans? In order to consolidate your loans, you must meet the following criteria:
- You are in your six-month grace period following graduation or you have started repaying your loans -You have eligible loans totaling over $7,500 -You have more than one lender -You have not already consolidated your student loans, or since consolidation you have gone back to school and acquired new student loans
The following types of loans can be consolidated:
-Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans -Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans -Direct PLUS Loans and Federal PLUS Loans -Direct Consolidation Loans and Federal Consolidation Loans -Guaranteed Student Loans -Federal Insured Student Loans -Federal Supplemental Loans for Students -Auxiliary Loans to Assist Students -Federal Perkins Loans -National Direct Student Loans -National Defense Student Loans -Health Education Assistance Loans -Health Professions Student Loans -Loans for Disadvantaged Students -Nursing Student Loans
Where can I get a consolidation loan? You can consolidate your loans through any bank or credit union that participates in the Federal Family Education Loan Program, or directly from the U.S. Department of Education. The loan terms and conditions are generally the same, regardless of where you consolidate. You may want to check first with the lenders that hold your current loans.
If all your loans are with one lender, you must consolidate with that lender.
If you decide to consolidate your student loans, remember that you can only do so once unless you go back to school and take out more loans. Therefore, you will want to make sure you get the best deal the first time. The interest rate will be the same from all lenders, but some lenders may offer future rate discounts for prompt payment and a discount for having monthly payments directly debited from your account.
Can my spouse and I consolidate our loans together? You can consolidate your loans together, but it is not a good idea for a couple reasons:
-Both of you will always be responsible to repay the loan, even if you later separate or divorce -If you need to defer payment on the loan, both of you will have to meet the deferment criteria
When should I consolidate my loans? You can consolidate your loans any time during your six-month grace period or after you have started repaying your loans. If you consolidate during your grace period, you may be able to get a lower interest rate. However, since you will lose the rest of the grace period, it is a good idea to wait until the fifth month of the grace period before consolidating. The consolidation process usually takes 30-45 days.
This article is distributed by NextStudent. At NextStudent, we believe that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and we're dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding as easy as possible. We invite you to learn more about how to get Student Loan Consolidation at http://www.NextStudent.com .
Student Loan Consolidation And Getting The Best Rates
Student loan consolidation has many benefits. Before you sign up on the dotted line, you should know how to get the best student loan consolidation rates. If you are tired of too many bills and monthly due dates, it may be time to find the best student loan consolidation you qualify for.
How Student Loan Consolidation Works
Here is typically how a student loan consolidation works. When a student first applied for several loans from several different agencies and student loan providers, they each gave a different interest rate and term for paying back the loans. The idea of student loan consolidation, is to take all the different student loans and put them into one easy convenient loan. You them only have to make one monthly loan payment every month, instead of several loan payments every month over time. This saves the student both time and money. Having a lower interest rate and less checks to write every month are a couple of advantages of doing a student loan consolidation.
The most obvious way to get the best student loan consolidation rate, is by having great credit. It's easy to get great student loan consolidation rates with a credit score over 660. But, there are several ways to get the best student loan consolidation rates.
Know Your Credit Before Shopping For Student Loan Rates
By doing a simple Google or Yahoo search on credit and credit scores to find the information you need to check out your credit score. This really should be your first step to getting the best student loan consolidation rates. With knowledge, you will get the best student loan consolidation rates for your financial situation.
Student loan consolidation rates can vary from person to person. The student loan consolidation rates offered will be based on your financial situation and credit score. With a credit score under 600, you will have a tough time getting a good student loan consolidation rate.
Refinancing And Home Equity Loans Used For Student Loan Consolidation
With a home equity loan, you can get the best student loan consolidation rates possible with good credit. Secured by your home, a student loan consolidation can help get rid of your high credit card rates and loans. You will have less bills to pay, with the best student loan consolidation rates to lower your interest on several loans.
Refinancing your home mortgage may be an option to get the best student loan consolidation rates.
The important thing to remember with home equity loans and refinancing, is to be logical and don't let your emotions get the best of you. You may get the best student loan consolidation rates available, but you still have to pay back the loan over time.
It's best to take the time to sit down and research all your options that are available to you to get the best loan and interest rate.
5 Benefits of Student Loan Consolidation
1. Lower Monthly Payments. Depending on your student loan situation and the type of lender you choose, you may be able to lower your monthly payments by up to 50%
2. Having Simple Loan Payments. By consolidating your student loans, you only have one loan payment per month and one check to write. This is very beneficial if you are writing several checks every month to multiple lenders.
3. Having Fixed Interest Rates. With some federal consolidation loans you can have a fixed rate for the life of your student loan. It's best to do research to see what the best interest rates and term you are eligible for. You can check online to calculate the interest rate on a new student consolidation loan based on the rates of your current student loans. You can then round up to the nearest 1/8th of a percent of the weighted average of the interest rates on your eligible student loans.
4. Extending Your Payment Period. You may have a lot of student loan debt. With federal consolidation loans you may be able to extend the payment term up to 30 years. It's a good idea to realize you will end up paying more interest over the life of your student loan consolidation. The idea is to get some leverage until your career takes off. You can focus on making money instead of several monthly loan payments.
5. In School Consolidation Programs. While still in school, eligible students can lock in a low rate. This would put you into repayment status, but since you are still in school, you are automatically put into deferment. The drawback of consolidating your loans while in school, is that you lose your 6 month grace period. The solution to this would be to request forbearance for up to 1 year on your student loan consolidation. Here again you can do some research and get more information online.
Resources Online For Getting The Best Student Loan Consolidation Rates
With today's Internet resources, you have an advantage when looking for the best student loan consolidation rates online. Take time to get educated on the process of getting the best student loan consolidation rates, and you can save yourself thousands of dollars on the student loan consolidation rates available, with just a few clicks of the mouse.
The idea is to combine all your current debts that you owe into one large debt with the lowest interest rate possible. Instead of making monthly payments on several high interest loans ranging from 12% to 28%, you can make one payment each month to one company.
Today's career minded students can get help with the burden of having several student loans. You can focus on your career, instead of losing sleep over paying several monthly loan payments. Student loan consolidation can be the solution with many advantages. With today's Internet technology, you can get a student loan consolidation quickly and easily.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Do You Believe Any of These Top 10 Myths About Debt Consolidation?
Most people facing growing debt and limited resources have probably looked around for financial solutions and heard a little bit about debt consolidation. Debt consolidation is a great financial option to overcome overwhelming debt, but it is not right for everyone. But before you can figure out if it is right for you, you have to realize that some of what you may have thought about debt consolidation ... is wrong.
Of all the financial plans available for people dealing with overwhelming debt, debt consolidation is probably the most valuable and the least understood. In fact, you may already believe some of these common myths about debt consolidation. Find out the truth!
Myth #1 Debt consolidation is the same or similar to debt management, debt settlement, and bankruptcy.
Truth Debt consolidation is nothing like those other programs. In truth, it is not so much a "program" (you can even do it on your own, if you know enough) but more of a strategic approach.
In debt consolidation, you lump all of your debts together and repackage them. Debt settlement and debt management typically involve dealing with a company or counselor and the object is to reduce the amount you owe. Bankruptcy is a legal proceeding that involves a date with a judge.
Myth #2 Debt consolidation reduces your debt.
Truth No, it doesn't. If you owe a total of $80,000 on several credit cards and loans and you consolidate that debt, you still owe $80,000.
Debt consolidation does not re-negotiate, settle, write off, or reduce any of your debt. What possible advantage is re-organizing your debt like that?
If you have a lot of loans at high interest rates, repackaging those higher-interest debts into one larger loan at a lower rate reduces your interest and the amount you have to pay. This means you can either pay less a month or (even better) pay the same amount but get the debt paid off sooner.
Myth #3 Debt consolidation will hurt my credit score.
Truth Done properly, debt consolidation will not impact your credit score or credit report negatively. In fact, debt consolidation may even improve your credit score! That's because you'll be paying off a bunch of smaller loans and any time a loan is paid in full, that helps your credit score.
Myth #4 Debt consolidation requires getting help from an outside agency or a lawyer.
Truth While there are companies that specialize in debt consolidation programs, you do not have to use them to consolidate your debt.
Of course, if you want to consolidate your debt on your own, you have to know a bit about how to do it and what the options are. But it can definitely be a do-it-yourself project for people good with money (or who are willing to learn enough to get good with money).
Debt consolidation is also not necessarily visible to outsiders. Your bank, the credit bureau, and other parties may not even be aware that you have consolidated debt.
Myth #5 Debt consolidation is something for financial losers and lightweights, not for people who know how to manage money.
Truth This is the most far-out myth about debt consolidation. Debt consolidation is a principle that is used in business and by the super-wealthy all of the time. It is a way of organizing and structuring your debts in a way that is most advantageous to you.
Myth #6 Debt consolidation is just robbing Peter to pay Paul; you're just getting more debt!
Truth Debt consolidation is indeed a way for you to pay off one debt by getting another debt. But not all debts are equal.
As an example, let's say that you owe $10,000 and the loan is set up so that you have to pay 22% interest. For example, let's suppose that I go to my credit union and work out a deal to borrow $10,000 at 12% interest. While both debts are still in the amount of $10,000, the debt at 12% interest is a better deal for me. I won't have to pay as much per month or, if I make the biggest payments I can, I can pay it off sooner.
Myth #7 Debt consolidation requires you to be a homeowner.
Truth There is a grain of truth to this, in that owning a home definitely offers an advantage to anyone who wants to consolidate debt. (It doesn't matter if your home is paid for or not, but you do need some home equity.) However, you can consolidate debt without owning a home, too.
Myth #8 Debt consolidation will make it harder for me to get future loans.
Truth In most cases, it is unlikely that anyone but a forensic accountant could figure out that you consolidated your debt (unless you go through a debt consolidation companythat might leave a paper trail).
If you borrow money in one loan and then take out another, more advantageous loan to pay off the first one, you're more likely to leave a paper trail of somebody who pays off debt responsibly. It is more likely to make you a desirable creditor.
Myth #9 People who consolidate debt just wind up digging themselves in deeper in debt!
Truth It is absolutely possible to consolidate your debt and then keep spending and get yourself in a big mess. That's why you need good information and a plan to pay off your existing debt, manage your finances now, and start planning for your financial future.
There is no reason that debt consolidation cannot work to get you out of debt for good, but you have to have a plan.
Myth #10 Debt consolidation will allow me to write off some of my debts and it will stop bill collectors from calling.
Truth Let's take these one at a time.
Unlike bankruptcy, debt consolidation will not allow you to write off any of your debtnot a penny of it. Whatever you owed as a debt before debt consolidation is the amount you'll owe after debt consolidation.
The advantage is just that you structure it in a more favorable loan. You do not get existing debts cancelled or decreased! Now it's true you can work that out in other debt management solutions (debt settlement lets you reduce debt, bankruptcy will let you write some debt off) but they come at a very high price. Both of these approaches will have a negative impact on your credit score, will make it hard for you to get future loans, and stay on your record for quite a while. Bankruptcy, in particular, is an extreme solution that involves an actual court proceeding and a judge who has the authority to make certain decisions about your financial situation (including forcing you to sell some items to pay off debts).
Debt consolidation can only stop bill collectors indirectly. Here's how: let's say you have six debts and you're getting calls all of the time. If you consolidate your six debts into one large debt consolidation loan at more favorable terms, you'll pay off all of those debts. Bye-bye, bill collectors!
However, if you don't pay off your new debt consolidaiton loan on time, the bill collectors will start calling again.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Credit Card Debt Consolidation: Finding The Right Program - Advantages And Disadvantages
You never know when and who would need help from a credit card debt consolidation program. Sometimes unexpected circumstances can lead to financial difficulties which in turn would lead you to consider debt consolidation. Some of these circumstances are loss of job, loss in business, death of an earning member and so on. If you are finding it hard to pay off your credit card loans, then it is wise to consider debt consolidation. This is much better than bankruptcy. This article will help you with steps in finding the right credit card debt consolidation program, make you aware of the advantages and disadvantages of debt consolidation so you can decide whether credit card debt consolidation is the best option for you or not.
Basics of Debt Consolidation
Debt Consolidation is a big loan that will pay off your credit card loans. There are several ways these debt consolidation programs work. The most popular way is to take one lump sum amount of money from you (the borrower) and distribute it to your credit card companies (the lenders). All your loans will be consolidated into one payment usually withdrawn directly from your bank on a fixed date every month. These programs make the card holders life easier.
As a general rule, if you have many credit cards from different companies with high interest rates, then debt consolidation can help you manage your debt with only one bill and much lower APRs. These debt consolidation companies negotiate a lower interest rate for you and this can save a lot of money in the long run. This will work out in your favor if you have credit cards with APRs of around 30% because the debt consolidation programs can reduce these interest rates to between 12% - 18%. These programs require a monthly administration fees, which is usually around and this will come off your savings. Remember if the admin fee does not come off your savings, then it is not a good idea to sign up for a debt consolidation program.
So it looks like everything about the credit card debt consolidation is positive. Well, it is not always the case. There are a few advantages and also disadvantages of debt consolidation programs. You have to find a balance between them. The fact is that credit card debt consolidation companies do help you in paying off your debt. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of these programs.
Advantages
1. Decreased payment amounts: The monthly payments will be less than what you were paying before debt consolidation because you are paying off the loan over a longer duration.
2. Simpler to manage: After you signup in the debt consolidation program, you will have a relief from reading your credit card statements, deciding how much to pay for each credit card and then making the payments one by one. Usually, the company will withdraw the money directly from the bank and you will not have to be concerned about late payments.
3. Decreased interest rates: This is one of the major advantages for many credit card owners. Some of the debt consolidation companies bring down the interest rates much lower than the current ones. This can save lots of money for you.
4. Debt Management tips: Many of the good debt consolidation give lots of free tips on managing your debt. They draw out a plan on debt management. These tips are invaluable. They even mail out booklets on debt management.
Disadvantages
1. Lower FICO scores: Many experts debate that debt consolidation does not have any effect on credit (FICO) scores the fact is that debt consolidation has a negative effect on the credit scores. Enrolling into debt consolidation will always be reflected in your credit history. Most credit repair companies mention that it is difficult to increase your credit score if you are currently working with a debt consolidation program. Your credit scores can be raised after you have paid off the loans and are not currently in any debt consolidation program. Even if you can remove one credit card from the debt consolidation program that can help you increase your credit scores.
2. Higher Payment: Since your payments are made over a longer duration of time i.e. in more number of the years, then you will end up paying more in the long run. One way to prevent this is - if your financial situation has improved, then you can pay off larger sum of money. Most of times there will be no penalty for paying off the debt sooner than the agreed number of months. Before enrolling in a credit card debt consolidation program, you can confirm if there is a penalty or not for paying off the debt sooner than the agreed number of months.
3. Credit cards inactivation: If a credit card payment is enrolled in a debt consolidation program, then that particular card account will be inactivated. i.e., that credit card can no longer be used.
4. Negative Impact on Future Loans: Once you have enrolled in a credit card debt consolidation program, this will remain in your credit history. So, all future loan requests (new credit card applications, home loan, car (automobile) loans etc.) will involve references to your debt consolidation. i.e., the lender will have knowledge about your participation in debt consolidation program. Some people are very uncomfortable about this but it is up to you decide. Your credit history is a private record and will be provided by credit score companies only on a need-to-know basis. If you apply for home loan, then the chances of getting rejected is higher and if you get accepted, then mortgage broker will ask for explanation. Again all these conversations are kept confidential.
So, the question is - when should you consider a credit card debt consolidation? If you are paying high interest rates around 30% on a credit card, you have many credit cards, you are unable to make payments or your are barely able to make just the minimum monthly payments, you are finding it difficult to manage all the payments etc., you must consider signing up for a credit card debt consolidation program. After reading through the advantages and disadvantages mentioned earlier, make decision about signing up or not signing up for credit card debt consolidation program.
How to find a good debt consolidation program / company?
Signing up with the right debt consolidation program is critical for saving money and successfully consolidating your debt. There are a good number of scams in the debt consolidation business so it is in your best interest to proceed cautiously to prevent being victim of a scam. Here are some very good sources of finding the right debt consolidation program.
1. References from friends and relatives: It is best to ask your trusted friends if they have any recommendations for reliable credit card debt consolidation program i.e., if they have enrolled in one of these or know of anyone who enrolled in one and is satisfied. As mentioned before, there are many scams and so with this option, you can feel safe. This should be your first option.
2. Television advertisements: Most of big and established companies run advertisements on TV. These are companies that have a lot of experience and have been successful with debt consolidation. But it is a wise thing to research the company. Look for their website and check for their standing in Better Business Bureau (BBB) and must have been in existence for a few years. Also, search http://ripoffreport.com website for this company - this website where victims of scams post their experiences.
3. Mails: When you are unable to payoff debt on time, you will receive mails from some companies that will offer help with debt consolidation. These companies have permission to access some of your basic information. The good thing here is that your fit their profile of enrollees and that is why you received a mail with their credit card debt consolidation services. As mentioned earlier, research these companies using the same methods described above.
4. Telemarketing phone calls: Typically, telemarketing phone calls that you get is because your debt situation is such that it fits the requirement of their enrollees. If you receive a phone call, remember to never enroll in the first phone call. Note down all the details of this company such as the websites, contact person and phone number to call. Research the company extensively as mentioned above.
5. Online Research: Research the internet for good credit card debt consolidation companies both non profit and profit companies. Once you create a list of possible companies, research the companies extensively. Talk to these companies until you are comfortable about enrolling with them.
For a few months or years, if you can handle the disadvantages of credit card debt consolidation programs, then enroll in a program. Debt consolidation can get you out of your current debt problems and save you a lot of money by lowering your interest rates but if you do not spend judiciously, then you will be back into the same debt problems and this cycle will never end. So the long term solution to debt problems is to change your spending habits and live slightly below your means. Remember you need to manage the money / debt and NOT let the money / debt manage you.
Types of Loans That Can be Part of Student Loan Consolidation Plans
As you are aware there can be several types of student loan consolidation for you. Broadly however there can be two categories. These are Federal Student Loan Consolidation Plan and Private Student Loan Consolidation plan for you. Consolidation is made applicable to both types of loans.
Stafford loans, private and federal, subsidized or not are prime subjects for such student loan consolidation. You can also consolidate the HEAL, HPSL and Parent PLUS loans availed. The PLUS loan includes the federal direct loans, consolidation loans, and direct loans. Other loans that could be consolidated are Perkins Loans and Nursing Schools Loans.
About the federal and private loan consolidation processes
Federal loans as well as the direct consolidated loans cannot be consolidated once again without obtaining or including additional loans. If you have already effected the student loan consolidation in respect of your undergraduate loans you can also add the graduation loans at later dates. Since these are additional loans such loan consolidation shall be permissible.
You may also like to consolidate the private loans you had obtained as student. Never ever try to consolidate federal with private loans that results in private consolidated student loans. Such consolidation will deprive you of many benefits you could obtain with federal loan consolidation process.
Drawbacks of consolidating federal with private loans
Several drawbacks occur when you try to consolidate federal loans with the private loans. Some of them are –
• With federal loan consolidation you can defer payments if you wish to resume your academic career. No such facilities are available under private loan consolidation plans.
• Forbearance despite all economic hardship is not possible in case of private loan consolidation though permissible in case of federal loan consolidation.
• No income tax deductions as in case of the federal loan consolidation interests are available in private consolidation plans.
• You have chances to be forgiven in case of federal loan consolidation that is not permissible under private loan consolidation plans.
• Like federal loan consolidation the military services, working as trainer in the economic development zones etc may not render you for any relaxation under private plans.
• Private loans do not die a natural death in case of your untimely demise. Your heirs and successors in interests would be responsible for repayment.
• Private loan consolidation rates are variable while the federal loan rates are firm and often better.
Federal student loan consolidation should be your first priority
If you are going for college loan consolidation your best bet would be to consolidate your federal loans first. The federal loan consolidation carries the best student loan consolidation rate and will be highly beneficial in financial terms compared to the private loan consolidations. Once you carry out your federal loan consolidation successfully it will boost your credit rating. In result you will become eligible for much better terms and conditions going for the private loan consolidation at a later stage.
Why Student Loan Consolidation?
Why Student Loan Consolidation? Due to the rising cost of higher education, a large number of students have been forced to finance their education by getting student or education loans. While student loans are easy to get and come with the cheapest rates of interest, paying them off is not so easy for the vast majority of students who find themselves facing mountains of student loan debt.
People generally find it tough to pay back student loans because the loan installments are not calculated keeping in mind other types of student loan debt. Most students also accumulate a number of other loans like huge credit card bills and car loan, which also require financing upon graduation. The best way of getting out of this kind of debt trap is to go in for student loan consolidation. A student loan consolidation program can be a lifesaver for a student and can totally turnaround a negative student loan debt situation to one of good fortune.
There is no logical reason not to seek out student loan consolidation. By finding a student loan consolidation program that meets their personal student loan debt needs, students can avoid defaulting on payments which will leave a permanent red mark on life long credit history. This would make it difficult to get any kind of financing when necessary in the future. On the other hand, by undertaking student loan consolidation, there is the opportunity to easily reduce student loan debt or in some cases eliminate the student loan debt while obviously at the same time streamlining finances and budget. Most student loan consolidation programs also offer credit counseling, which will help you in managing your finances wisely in the future.
The student loan consolidation company pays off all of the student loan debt. This means that the student loan consolidation program payment will be the only payment obligation and can be paid off in easy monthly installments. Students have the option to pay back student loan consolidation charges over a period ten to thirty years. With student loan consolidation, student loan debt has been reduced or eliminated with future obligations becoming due at a time when more earning power is likely. To apply online for student loan consolidation where student loan debt lenders compete and where students can lower their monthly student loan debt payment up to 70 %, students visit: Studentdebtconsolidationprograms.com
Student loan consolidation programs are presented with the goal of reducing student loan debt with students in mind.