Debt Articles

Best Debt Consolidation Loans: Compare Your Options

Compare the main ways to consolidate debt: personal loan, balance transfer, and home equity. See which option fits your situation and budget.

How to Spot Debt Relief Companies to Avoid

Learn the red flags of a bad debt relief company and how to check one before you enroll.

Pros and Cons of Debt Settlement

Weigh debt settlement's real pros and cons, such as credit impact, fees, taxes, and success rates. Learn when it's worth it and what to try first.

She Settled the Debt. Then Came the Tax Question.

Renata settled her first account and saw $3,200 forgiven. Then a friend mentioned taxes. Two accounts left, a question with no clean answer.

She Stopped Paying. Now: Hire Someone or Do It Herself?

Priya has $35,200 in debt and two months of stopped payments. A settlement company would take around 25% of what she owes. DIY costs nothing — but is she...

How to Avoid Debt Relief Scams

Learn the red flags of debt relief scams, the federal rule on upfront fees, and how to verify a company before you pay. Get steps to report a scam.

How to Consolidate Credit Card Debt: 3 Ways to Simplify Your Payments

Learn how to consolidate credit card debt with a loan, a balance transfer, or a debt management plan, and find out which option fits your budget.

Does Debt Settlement Hurt Your Credit? What Really Happens

Debt settlement can lower your credit score, but the damage isn't permanent. See how it works, how long it lasts, and how to protect your score.

Free Credit Counseling: What It Covers and How to Spot a Legitimate Agency

Free credit counseling explained: what a session covers, what it costs if you enroll in a plan, and how to spot a legitimate nonprofit agency.

Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit 2026

How to get a debt consolidation loan with bad credit: which lenders work with low scores, how to spot a scam, and what to do if a loan isn't right.

Best Debt Consolidation Companies: How to Choose the Right One

The best debt consolidation company depends on your situation. Compare loan-based and nonprofit DMP options, and learn how to vet any provider.

Are Debt Consolidation Loans a Good Idea?

Debt consolidation loans could lower your rate and simplify payments, but not always. See when they help, what they cost, and when to look at alternatives.

What Is Debt Relief? Your Options Explained

Debt relief is an umbrella term for ways to get help with what you owe. Compare DMP, settlement, consolidation, bankruptcy, and how each affects your credit.

Still Current on Payments — Two Options at a Glance.

Marcus has $28,400 in maxed credit cards and hasn't missed a payment. Now he's wondering if staying current is the wrong move.

How Debt Settlement Affects Renting, Loans, and Financial Access

Wondering if debt settlement hurts your chances of renting or borrowing? Here’s what landlords and lenders actually check, and what stays off their radar.

The Collections Process in Debt Settlement Explained

Collections doesn't stop when you enroll in debt settlement. Here's how falling behind, charge-off, and collector contact actually work, and what the law limits.

Why Does My Debt Have to Go to Collections Before Settlement?

Creditors aren't usually willing to settle a debt if you're still making payments. Learn why your accounts need to be past-due before debt settlement is an option.

Will Debt Settlement Prevent Me From Renting an Apartment?

Debt settlement doesn't block you from renting. Here's what landlords actually see on your credit report, and why missed payments matter more than the program.

How to Cancel a Debt Settlement Program and What to Expect

Cancel your debt settlement program in three steps and know what happens to your money, your debts, and creditor contact after you leave.

Why Won't Debt Settlement Companies Let Me Cancel?

Tried to cancel your debt settlement program and got pushback? Here's what federal rules say about your right to leave, and what canceling actually costs you.

Can You File Bankruptcy on Student Loans?

Filing bankruptcy on student loans is possible—but it takes an extra step. Learn how the adversary proceeding works, who qualifies, and what to do if you don’t.

How Much Does Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Cost?

Chapter 13 starts with a $313 filing fee, plus attorney fees, a trustee fee, and other costs. Learn what you’ll pay—and how most fees could fit into your plan.

Getting a Mortgage After Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy doesn't end your path to homeownership. Learn how soon you could apply for a mortgage, what lenders consider, and how to prepare your application.

Do Debt Settlement Companies Just Make Calls I Could Make Myself?

DIY debt negotiation is real. But debt settlement companies aren't charging for phone calls. Here's what the fee actually covers.

What Happens to Debt in Divorce

Debt doesn't disappear in a divorce. Learn how marital debt is divided, which spouse is responsible, and how to protect your credit and finances.

Why Debt Settlement Fees Feel Higher Than Expected

Debt settlement fees have three parts, and a debt settlement company isn't allowed to collect them upfront. Find out how they work here.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Timeline: What to Expect

Chapter 7 bankruptcy typically takes 3 to 4 months from filing to discharge. Here's what happens at each stage—and what could extend your timeline.

Sample Answer to Summons for Credit Card Debt

Received a summons for credit card debt? Learn what to include in your answer, see sample language, and understand your options, including settlement.

When Can a Credit Card Company Sue You?

Credit card companies could sue after 180 days of missed payments—but lawsuits aren’t inevitable. Learn what triggers legal action and what to do about it.

What Debt Settlement Companies Actually Do vs DIY Negotiation

A debt settlement company does more than make phone calls. Here is how the work compares with handling negotiation on your own.

Help With Credit Card Debt Over $10,000

Carrying over $10,000 in credit card debt? Learn which relief options fit your situation, from debt management plans to settlement to bankruptcy.

Do I Still Owe Creditors After Paying the Settlement Company?

If you’ve been paying into a debt settlement program, your creditors haven’t been paid yet. Here’s how the money actually flows and what settled really means.

How to File Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Learn how to file Chapter 13 bankruptcy step by step—from credit counseling and gathering documents to the repayment plan and discharge.

Their Fees Are Wild—Why Debt Settlement Costs Add Up

Debt settlement fees are calculated based on your enrolled debts. Find out more about debt settlement company fees here.

How to Get Out of Debt with Bad Credit

Bad credit limits your options, but it doesn’t eliminate them. Here are the realistic paths out of debt that don't require a high credit score.

How Does Paying a Debt Settlement Company Actually Work?

Your monthly payments don’t go to your creditors. Here’s where the money actually goes, what happens while it sits there, and how a debt gets resolved.

Rebuilding Credit After Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy damages your credit but doesn't ruin it for life. Learn how to check your reports, choose the right tools, and rebuild step by step.

Rebuilding Credit After Chapter 7

Your discharge is behind you. Here’s what to expect for your credit reports and a plan to rebuild your credit going forward.

How to Handle $25,000 in Credit Card Debt

Carrying $25,000 in credit card debt? You have options whether you’re still current or already behind. Learn which path forward fits your situation.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Exemptions: What You Can Keep

Chapter 7 bankruptcy exemptions protect your home, car, and essentials. Learn how federal and state exemptions work and what property you could keep.

Chapter 13 vs. Debt Management Plan: How to Choose

Comparing Chapter 13 bankruptcy and a debt management plan? Learn how each works, what they cost, and how to decide which fits your situation.

5 Financial Hardships That Qualify for Partial Debt Forgiveness

Facing job loss, illness, divorce, or another crisis? Learn which 5 financial hardships could help you qualify for partial debt forgiveness.

What Actually Happens to My Money During Debt Settlement?

Worried about where your money goes in debt settlement? Federal law requires it to be held in an account you own. Here’s what the law says.

What Is the Dedicated Savings Account in Debt Settlement?

The dedicated savings account in debt settlement is held in your name at an FDIC-insured bank, not by the debt settlement company. Learn how it works and what you control.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Chapter 13 bankruptcy lets people with regular income repay debts over 3 to 5 years while keeping assets. Learn how it works, what it costs, and who qualifies.

Bankruptcy Alternatives: Your Options and How to Decide

Behind on debt or worried about it? Bankruptcy isn’t the only option. Learn which alternatives you could qualify for, afford, and that actually fit your goals.

How to Get Out of Debt on a Low Income

Debt on a limited income is hard, but real strategies could help. Learn to budget, choose a repayment method, and find relief options that fit your situation.

Credit Card Lawyer: When You Need One for Debt

A credit card lawyer could help if you've been sued, harassed by collectors, or can't resolve your debt alone. Learn when to hire one and what to expect.

How to Get Out of Debt With No Job

Lost your job but still have debt? Learn what to do first, which debt relief options could still work with no paycheck, and what to expect if payments stop.

Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: Which Is Right?

There are two types of bankruptcy: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. Find out here which could meet your needs.