Credit Card Debt – How to Avoid It

Consolidate credit card debt by taking out a personal loan or doing a credit card balance transfer. Consolidate credit card debt with tips from a consumer credit counselor in this free video on personal finance management. Expert: Maria Enomoto Contact: www.gotdebt.org Bio: Maria Enomoto works as a credit counselor for Consumer Credit Counseling services in San Jose, California. Filmmaker: Bing Hu

In March 2009 it was reported that Americans owed in excess of US $945 billion in credit card debt. Although this amount is a reduction on the previous quarter’s results, the figure is still exceptionally high and around 25% higher than ten years ago. In August 2009 there were just under 120,000 consumer bankruptcy filings which was 24% higher than the previous years. With credit card debt soaring so high people are prepared to turn to bankruptcy as the solution to their financial pressures. Another solution is negotiating credit card debt.

If people are having trouble managing their debt, then debt negotiating services can assist and currently their services are very much required. It can be a difficult time emotionally to try and settle the debts when the money isn’t there to cover them. Financial Institutions will make numerous phone calls and send legal letters to find out when they will get their funds. This can feel like a lot of pressure at the time which in the end can be too much for one person to handle. As most of us lack the negotiation skills required to defend ourselves in this situation the experts in the negotiating services can be beneficial on so many levels.

When Financial Institutions or the credit card issuers feel that the debt is uncollectible they may sell off their liability to debt collection agencies at a huge loss. Getting some money is better than nothing and they also save on the staff’s wages that were trying to collect the money. The collection agencies try even harder to get back what they paid for the consumer’s debt and anything they receive after that is profit. So before it gets to this stage it is worth negotiating credit card debt with the Financial Institutions. Many will be happy to change the repayment to a considerably lower amount as this will be more profitable to them compared to the losses made from no repayments or the low sale price they offered to the collection agencies.

Negotiating credit card debt can be a very positive outcome for both parties. There will be less pressure on the borrower if the monthly repayment is reduced which could lead to a greater ability to repay the entire credit card borrowing.



By: Renee Dunn

I recieved a 1099c form from a credit card company for a settled credit card debt. The amount is for $10,000. I only make $31,000 per year. Will I end up owing on taxes due to being in a different tax bracket?Will the debt finally be gone?

I have a friend in FL that is filing bankruptcy. I thought they passes a law a few years ago that stated you could not include credit card debt in bk. Is that true? They are telling me that you can include credit card debt.