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Debt consolidation

Consolidating debt is growing in popularity. The signs of this are everywhere. From television advertisements, to letters in your post box, offers of debt consolidation abound. Debt consolidation is a huge business and the primary reason for new personal loans is debt consolidation.

The offer can be very attractive. You get to pay off all your various high interest debts and instead, you owe one tidy lump sum to one lender at a much better interest rate. Caution is advised however. Often, the payments can last for years, and the debts seem to just stay as they are rather than getting paid off. If this is the case, debts that could have been paid off in months, end up being drawn out over years, with all the interest this entails. Another concern about debt consolidation is the false sense of security it offers. Many people who have been worried about their various debts often feel a huge relief at getting the whole lot transformed into one sum, and feel like they can continue to rack up more debts. Debt consolidation does not, in any sense, mean that the debt has been paid off. It is a fact that many people who consolidate their debts get into more debt once they can afford it again.

Most debt consolidation takes the form of a personal loan repayable at fairly good rates over a number of years. The most common items to be repaid are credit cards, followed by car payments and home improvements. In 2006, over one third of all loans will be for debt consolidation.

When deciding what personal loan to opt for, consumers must do their homework. Rates vary significantly from lender to lender and a slightly lower rate can have a large impact on the total amount repayable. There are many personal loans to choose from these days and rates are very competitive so you should be able to find a loan with a good rate that suits your needs.

Many people do not realise that they can take advantage of any bank or lender’s loan offers. They do not have to take a loan from their existing bank. If you see a better rate from another bank or institution, and the rates are good, and you trust the lender, that is the loan you should go for. Every year, consumers could save over £2,000 on a £10,000 loan simply by opting for the most competitive rates. Many people stick to their bank for personal loans even though the rate is poor. The evidence of this is that the high street banks have over half the market in personal loans while offering generally higher rates than some of the alternatives.

Consolidating Debts with a Loan

If it seems advertisements for debt consolidation loans are everywhere, it is because consolidated loans are big business. The primary reason for people taking out personal loans over the next year will be for debt consolidation.

The promise is a good one--you pay off all your high interest bills, such as credit cards, for a lower monthly payment than you pay now. However, consumers need to be wary, as the payment terms may be for much longer than anticipated, which leads to years of interest payments. Consumers need to ensure they are not being taken for a ride. Another serious issue with debt consolidation is a false sense of security. Once multiple debts are consolidated into one, it can seem as though the debt has been eliminated, which is far from the truth. It is estimated that most people who take out a consolidation loan actually end up in more debt; that paid-off credit card is just too tempting.

Most personal loans are debt programs used to pay off high interest credit cards, with car payments and home improvements following. Nearly one in three loans taken out in the UK in 2005 will be to consolidate existing debt.

When considering a personal loan, consumers need to shop around for the best rates. A low rate could make a significant impact on the amount paid in interest over time--literally thousands of pounds. With the popularity of this type of loan, however, competitive rates are available, and shopping around can be worth the time and energy. Shopping around also helps customers find a loan that best fits their needs.

Debt consolidation loans are not "one size fits all," and as more consumers become aware of this, the better rates and terms they will be able to obtain. Some banks offer personal loans starting at 5.7 percent. Many potential loan customers erroneously believe that they have to be a current client of a bank to secure a personal loan through that institution. This is incorrect, and this belief alone leads to many customers paying too much in interest on their loans.

For example, on a £10,000 loan, consumers could save up to £2,291 in interest payments by using a market leading loan provider as opposed to a high-street bank. As a result, high street banks have approximately half of the market while offering some of the least competitive rates.

Debt consolidation loans are often secured by personal property (such as a home) with variable rates. This means that you run the risk of losing your home with a fixed or variable rate loan if you are unable to make payments. It is wise to calculate monthly payments over the length of the loan and determine if this is the best option for you. If so, careful research into all the options can be very cost effective.

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