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A Guide to Choosing the Best Debt Management Company

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Debt management companies can be sorted into two piles straight away; charitable, public sector types and private sector, fee-paying types. On the one hand, the free, charitable types may seem more appealing. After all, you don’t have to pay them to help you. You are given an appointment with someone, be it at the the Citizens Advice Bureau, National Debtline or the Consumer Credit Counselling Service, who can go through your situation.

However, as debt has become such a popular topic these days, there is no guarantee that you’ll be seen quickly and as we know, the sooner you tackle your debt problem, the better. In fact, these debt advice agencies are actually facing major backlogs of individuals looking for a solution to their debt problem. Once the advice stage is finished, that tends to be the end of their service too.

On the other hand, private debt management companies, like Debtsolver, will be able to see you more quickly, help you to find the right solution to your debt problem and then administer the debt management process and payments for you too. This is something which the public sector advice companies.

It’s also worth remembering that the advice stage of the process will tend to be free. As ever, you’re encouraged to shop around for the best deal. When you find a debt management company that suits you, they’ll administer your repayments on your behalf. You make a payment to them and they distribute it amongst your creditors. It’s this service that you’ll be charged for but the payment will be included with your debt repayment.

Some important points to remember.You should be focussing on getting out of debt as quickly as possible. This will save you money in interest. So, always try and make the biggest repayment and creditor contribution that you can realistically afford. It’s important to be realistic though; if your repayments aren’t reasonable, you’ll just get yourself into deeper debt trouble.

Pay close attention to the amount that you’re being charged. Also, be sure to read the small print carefully for any hidden administrative costs. Never pay for advice up front either; hear what everyone has to say first.

Make sure that the extent of the service is made clear to you from the outset. You want to know exactly what you’re getting for your money. Most importantly, find out the extent of their administrative responsibilities and whether or not you will have the support of a dedicated debt management advisor throughout the entire process.

Debt advice: 6 tips for getting rid of your debt

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Having debt is quite normal these days. Because of sky-rocketing prices, it is almost impossible to be debt free. And the ironic part is that even if you want to apply for so-called ‘good debt’ like a home loan, you need to have debt in the first place. So how do you cope? How do you manage your debt in a responsible, pain-free way? Here we offer some debt advice on how to remain debt free:

1. Jot down all those creditors you owe money to and how much you owe

Most debtors are in the dark about how much they owe and simply pay their debt every month out of habit. You get your statement and pay your creditor without even knowing where your money is going and how much you still need to pay. You need to sort out your finances in order to become debt free. Get on top of your bills and statements and try to organise your finances. This debt advice will help you know how much you will be paying and for how long.

2. Work out your incomings and outgoings

Write down what you have coming in on a weekly/monthly basis and what your expenses are. Determine how much money you have left over. This money could be used to pay off debt quicker, eliminating unnecessary interest rate fees.

3. Contact your creditors

In this way you can work out any reductions or extended payment dates if you are struggling with repayments. Most creditors are fairly understanding and will most likely accept a smaller amount or give you an extension. Explain your situation and circumstances and they will surely help you in any way they can.

4. Cut back

This is something that most people struggle with. Cutting back on spending obviously means more money to pay off your debt quicker. Try to save every cent you have and you will see how quickly this can add up to a substantial amount.

5. Take advantage of free source and online debt advice

You can get free, impartial debt advice online and offline if you know who to speak to. Your bank will be able to put you in contact with a financial expert giving you generalised debt advice. Also, speak to others – family and friends – about how they remain debt free or how they manage their money.

6. Work out a budget, and stick to it

Plan what you are going to pay off one at a time. Set financial goals and targets and stick to them. Living on a budget may seem dull, but it is the best way to pay off your debt and enjoy financial freedom in the future. Remember to set yourself realistic and manageable goals.

Author bio

This article was written for Harrington Brooks and offers debt advice on how to get rid of debt.