How Do You Get a Bill Consolidation Loan with No Collateral?
There are several ways to get a bill consolidation loan with no
collateral. However, let's discuss one of the most commonly used
bill consolidation loans.
The most popular no collateral loan is referred to as a credit
card debt consolidation loan. What people generally do is
transfer as many debts as possible onto one credit card. It's
much easier to keep track of one company and one payment than it
is multiple companies.
There are several reasons this option is used. First, there is
no long process approval and mounds of paper work to go through.
This type loan does not require that you put up collateral.
In addition, many major credit card companies offer very
favorable terms for consolidating all your bills onto their
credit card. They offer two compelling reasons:
1. They offer you several months of payments with no interest.
You should be able to get a twelve-month no interest option.
2. They normally offer you a much lower interest rate at the end
of the twelve-month grace period. This is usually much lower
than your current interest rate.
This is very attractive for many people that have no collateral
for a loan. However, there are some very definite drawbacks. Be
sure to read the fine print of the agreement. There are usually
three potential problems:
1. If you fail to make a payment on time, the grace period may
immediately end. However, that's not all. You will more than
likely be given a higher interest rate than you would get at the
end of the twelve-month period. Therefore, you could be worse
off than you were before you started the consolidation loan.
2. If the credit card payment does not process correctly, your
payment will be considered late. The same penalties described
above are applicable.
Note: It is very important that your write down and document
every payment you make. Write down the day you paid, the amount
you paid and the check number you used. If any problems occur,
you can have the facts and figures available to dispute the late
payment.
As a side note, consider using an online payment option. Online
payments can be used to automatically pay your bill on a
specific date. They also track what was paid and when.
3. If you go over your credit card limit, there will be
problems. They range from penalties and extra fees to
termination of your grace period.
If you decide to use a credit card bill consolidation loan with
no collateral, be sure to make your payments on time. Ideally,
you should pay as much as you can each month. This can
significantly reduce your debt over the twelve-month period
because all of your payment is for your debt with no interest
charge. Also, don't make any additional charges on your credit
card. You want to reduce your debt, not increase it.
Now that you know some pros and cons for getting a bill
consolidation loan with no collateral, do your homework. It
would probably be wise to talk with a debt management counselor
to get an outside objective opinion.