Question : Any one had experience, good or bad, with contacting a Christian Debt Consolidation company?
Credit card debit, college loans and medical bills are at critical levels and am way over my head. Trying to make monthly payments, but that is not enough. Not eating out or wearing new clothes, just not making enough money. Considering turning to a debt consolidation service, but not sure about who would be safe and secure to go through. Thanks for any input.
secured debt consolidation

Best answer:

Answer by Edward W
I am guessing you listen to Dave Ramsey on the radio. While he gives some great advice (over and over and over again), he is a paid radio personality.

*ANY* (I cannot stress that enough), ANY debt consolidation will look worse on your credit report than the debt you already have.

Both my wife and I have years of banking experience, so trust us on this. Mortgage lenders see consolidations as *the* largest red flag going for lenders.

The reason for this is:

Consolidation companies do not loan you the entire sum need to pay off your debt. Instead, they negotiate with your lenders a ‘mutually beneficial’ arrangement of between 30-60% of the debt amount. The consolidation company then starts you on a loan for the full amount, while they pay pennies on the dollar for your current debt and everyone except the consolidation company loses.

Best method:

Call your creditors and negotiate a lower payoff amount yourself. You will not likely get the 30-60% that consolidation companies get, but it will likely be much lower than current.

Keep in mind, every dollar you negotiate less than the current debt you owe them, you are essentially stealing from them. You may not feel bad about this, as they make money screwing others, but right is right.

Pay your debts and stop going into debt. The only way to ever be free in any country.