Google

10 Signs You May Need Credit Counseling


Debt management programs can be of real help for people that discover they cannot face their debts. At first, they will attempt to solve the situation all by themselves by cutting down on spending and keeping a close eye on accounts. If this doesn't work then it is time to ask for help from a financial expert. The sooner you admit you need help from an expert, the better will be for your future. The best time to seek the advice of an expert is before the appearance of most of the important 10 signs you may need credit counseling. You should already be worried when one or two signs appear. Of course that there are not only 10 signs you may need credit counseling but, these 10, are the most important. When you see more than a few of 10 signs at the same time, know that the situation is bad and getting into a debt management program could be the right solution for you.

There are not a fixed number of signs that can tell you your debts are slowly killing your financial life, but in the following lines we will try to present the most important 10 signs you may need credit counseling. The most important sign is loosing your job or the possibility to loose it. The first thing you think of when you loose a job is how you will pay all your bills. In such a situation it is best not to loose your cool. You may think you just need to start looking for a new job and the bad situation will be solved. In case your next job does not come in the near future, the best thing for your financial situation would be to ask the advice of a credit counselor; even for the most desperate situations he will certainly have a solution. You should also be worried when your credit card balances are increasing while your monthly income is decreasing. This would mean that, in short time, you'll not be able to pay your monthly minimum payments. This is another sign that you need credit counseling; if paying the minimum amounts required on your accounts is a situation that lasts a short period of time, and then the problem is not that bad. But if the situation repeats itself over and over again, this is a sure sign you may need credit counseling.

When you discover that you have more credit cards then you need, know that this is one of the 10 signs you may need credit counseling. You have more cards then you need because you're trying to pay an existing card with the cash advances obtained from other new cards. Another situation that could indicate you need the advice of an expert is when you're constantly charging monthly more than you pay. If this is the first sign of financial trouble many people will try to work it out on their own by working overtime or taking a part time job. As we said before, if the situation is for a short period of time and you manage to get out of trouble all is fine but if it continues for a longer period this is another sign that you may need credit counseling. Also, if you start getting letters or phone calls about late bill payments, you should be worried at once.

These 10 signs you may need credit counseling do not appear all at once; in time, one after the other, they will eventually appear. But it is mostly important to recognize them all, admit you have a problem and ask for help. There are situation in which the signs mentioned before appear at a certain moment but the person in trouble cannot see them or refuses to see them. More than that, people in financial trouble don't know how much they owe and don't want to find out. This is another sign that financial counseling is needed. The situation could get worse in case all this financial problems are not made known to the spouse as well. And, sometimes, when trying to hide such a bad situation, people in trouble are using their savings to pay off the monthly bills.

The best advice for people that are experiencing this kind of trouble is to not let all the signs accumulate. When few of them appear and repeat themselves for a longer period of time, wise people should ask for advice from a financial expert that will surely have few options to get them out of debts.

This article has been provided courtesy of Creditor Web. Creditor Web offers great credit card articles available for reprint and other tools to help you search and compare credit card offers.

MORE RESOURCES:

RELATED ARTICLES

Finance - Money, Money
Finance is a big word for some of us. It's a little scary.
Identity Theft - Dont Think You Are Immune
As identity theft becomes more prevalent, the need to regularly check your credit report is very easy to see and understand. Two big headlines in the news recently point to how closely tied your credit report and identity theft are.
Fair Isaac Corporation Credit or FICO Score
As I am not from the US, I had no idea what FICO meant before researching it. FICO stands for Fair Isaac Corporation, a company based in California.
Credit Score: The Brightest Feather In Your Financial Cap
Credit scores are the most important aspect that determines your financial future. Carrying a good credit score is an asset and can pave your future towards greener pastures.
Credit and Its Cost
What is Credit? Credit is money granted by a lender (or creditor) to a debtor (or borrower) whereby the lender defers receiving payment of the debt for a period. In exchange for the credit allowed, the lender will get back the money lent plus interest.
SuperCharged Secret 5, Credit Card Utopia
LIVING IN CREDIT CARD UTOPIALet's just take a brief moment to recap:If you've been following along on this journey with me, learning the 5 Super-Charged secrets to Credit Card Utopia, then you now know 4 very important things:You now know how to take advantage of zero to low interest credit card offers.You now know that there is safety in numbers, and you know the magic "Who's Who" of the major credit card companies.
Credit Cards - The Top 3 Things You Need To Know
Today there are so many different credit cards available, student prepaid, low interest cards etc. that it has becomes a real hassle to find the right one that will suit your needs.
How To Use Your Credit Cards Wisely
Are you one of the thousands pulling your hair out trying to figure out how you're going to pay your credit card bills? Using your credit cards wisely and sensibly will help you avoid financial problems and establish a strong credit rating, so here's some information to help you get your credit card problems under control.Credit cards are convenient for buying things now and paying later.
Your Credit Score
Credit scores: all lenders use credit scores to determine interest rates and credit limits.The credit scoring system was developed in the early 1950's.
How a Credit Card Can Be Your Friend
We have all heard countless stories of people over their heads with credit card debt-maxing out every card they own, then only being able to afford the minimum monthly payment. High interest payments shackle people to their debt for years, not to mention the significant income drain the finance charges have on their families.
Credit Report Hassles
There is no end to the amount of pain that your credit report can cause you. If you have a bad credit history this is something that can follow you around and wreak havoc on your life without you even knowing it.
The Credit Card Surprise That You Need to Look Out For
Companies that issue credit cards want to make a profit. No one disagrees with that.
Credit Card Balance Transfers Explained
What is a balance transfer ? A balance transfer can be explained simply as a balance transfer! When a balance is transferred usually from a credit card, but possible from a bank account or loan to a credit card with a offer interest rate (usually 0%) for a set period. It does not have to be the entire amount.
Different Types of Credit Cards and Features - Part 1
Just as there are too many credit card companies to count, there seems to be just as many different credit cards, all claiming to offer you the best possible deal. Since no two people are alike, not all programs and incentives will work the same for everyone.
Understanding Your Rights Under The Equal Credit Opportunity Act
It wasn't all that long ago that lenders blatantly discriminated when it came to approving credit for women and minority groups. Women were actually asked personal and demeaning questions like, how many children do you plan to have in the future or are you on birth control?Despite the fact that they were entering the workforce in record numbers, single women were often required to get a cosigner or denied credit altogether.
Shoppers Beware - Tis The Season
It's the number one complaint from consumers and it only takes a moment for you to become a victim. While you search for holiday bargains, identity thieves are searching for targets - unsuspecting consumers.
Bankruptcy vs. Credit Counseling: What Should I Do?
Credit Counseling and bankruptcy are both ways to relieve the stress of debt. However, they are very different and it is important to understand both before making a decision as to which is best for you.
4 Steps to Creating Good Credit
As a consumer you've learned the importance of establishing a good credit rating with your lenders. Whether you are shopping for a new home or auto, or searching for the best deals on insurance, your credit worthiness will be judged by your credit rating or credit score.
How to Repair a Bad Credit Rating
If you have a bad credit rating, then you might find that your ability to get financing, loans, and even some jobs is greatly diminished.Once you have a bad credit rating, it might seem like there's nothing that you can do about it? but you don't have to believe that.
Make Sure Your Credit Report Is Correct to Improve Your Interest Rates And Lower Insurance Premiums
Did you know that you could make sure to get the best rates on your auto and homeowners insurance simply by having a good credit score.Additionally a great credit score will allow you to get the best interest rates on your credit cards, car loans and even your home mortgage.