At Bills.com, our goal is to help you make better-informed financial decisions and be confident in the decisions you make. We do this by creating and offering to you free of charge relevant, highly curated content and working with lenders and other providers of products and services (“Service Providers”) to present you with options based on your individual needs and circumstances.
We do not collect any fees or compensation from consumers; rather, we are affiliated with and/or compensated by the Service Providers that participate on our website. These Service Providers, not us, take applications; make credit decisions; offer, originate and make loans; negotiate loan terms; and/or offer debt settlement services. Our list of Service Providers, below, is neither exhaustive nor are the products and services they offer available in all states.
Bills.com Approved Provider Network:Debt consolidation loans, credit card balance transfers, and debt relief options are common ways to consolidate credit card debt. Find the method that best fits your credit and financial situation.
Credit card consolidation is a way to combine some or all of your debt into one payment. A personal loan is the most common form of debt consolidation. You can use a credit card consolidation loan to pay off multiple debts and save money, by reducing your total costs to pay off your debt.
According to the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB), "Consolidation means that your various debts, whether they are credit card bills or loan payments, are rolled into one monthly payment. If you have multiple credit card accounts or loans, consolidation may be a way to simplify or lower payments".
Other options for credit card consolidation include a 0% introductory APR balance transfer and HELOC or other home mortgages. If you are struggling with debt then consider debt relief solutions that consolidate your monthly payment, such as a debt management plan or debt settlement program.
Credit card consolidation's primary goals are to pay off your debt faster, save money, and maintain affordable monthly payments. Your best credit card consolidation solution depends on your financial details. Choose a solution based on your credit score, cash flow, and assets.
Here are four steps to help you consolidate your credit card debt:
Create a list of all of your debts. Include your balance, interest rate, and monthly payments. Check your bank statements, credit card statements, and a credit report to review all of your debts and find the relevant information.
Monthly payment affordability is a critical factor in consolidating debt. Can you afford your monthly payments and maybe even make larger ones? Or are you struggling and you can't afford the current minimum monthly payments on your credit card? If you don't have the answers to those questions, then start making a budget.
Your credit score is crucial to finding a debt consolidation solution. For example, credit card consolidation loan rates are more attractive if you have an excellent credit score. If your credit score is low, then you might need to consider other alternatives. You can find your credit score through a lender or an online service.
Although balance transfer and personal loans are generally unsecured debt solutions, some credit card consolidation programs use assets. Do you own a home? If so, do you have sufficient equity? You need to know the current value and the amount of mortgage debt. Other assets to check are savings accounts for secured loans or retirement accounts for a secured consolidation loan.
A common way to consolidate credit card debt is to borrowing money from a bank, credit union, or online lender. The new loan is used to pay off your current credit card debts.
Credit card consolidation loans are a fairly straightforward product. The new loan is used to pay off existing credit card debt. Debt consolidation loans are generally repaid over two to five years, although some lenders offer personal loans up to 7 years. Interest rates vary greatly and can range from about 5.99% APR to 35.99% APR. The most significant factor is your credit score. If you have an excellent credit score you can qualify for the best rates. If your credit score is poor a debt consolidation loan is going to be expensive.
Pros:
Cons:
If you have excellent credit, you can consolidate credit card debt through a balance transfer offer. Today, if you shop around, you can find offers with a 0% introductory interest rate for as long as 21 months with no fees. Consolidate your existing credit card balances to the new account if you can make serious progress on paying off your debt during the low-interest period.
When comparing balance transfer offers from different credit card issuers, debt, pay attention to the following terms, and read the fine print:
Pros:
Cons:
Is your debt consolidation goal lower monthly payments? Do you own a home with equity? If so, then check out a home equity mortgage to consolidate your credit card debt.
A cash-out refinance mortgage, a or (HELOC) is a credit card debt consolidation options worth checking out.
There are several types of home equity mortgages. A cash-out mortgage consolidates your current mortgage, and you use the additional cash to pay off your credit card debt. A home equity loan (HEL) or a home equity line of credit (HELOC) doesn't affect your current mortgage and lets you utilize the new loan to consolidate your credit card debt.
Mortgage loans have low monthly payments because interest rates are low, and the repayment period is extended. It is possible to qualify with a relatively low FICO score, sometimes as low as 580. Your total mortgage debt cannot exceed about 80-85% of your home value. For example, if your home is worth $240,000, and you currently owe $150,000, your current available equity is $90,000. However, assuming lenders allow up to 80% loan to value ratio, you could borrow another $42,000 to consolidate debt.
Pros:
Cons:
Credit counseling agencies offer a different form of credit card consolidation, one that consolidates your monthly payment. Their process starts with a confidential assessment of your debt and overall financial situation. If they feel that you can lower your credit card interest and afford the payments, they will offer a debt management plan (DMP).
A DMP consolidates your unsecured debts so that you make one payment each month. The Credit Counseling company that provides the DMP collects your payment and splits it up, sending payment to each of your creditors. They negotiate new interest rates, and in many cases, your plan administrator can get your creditors to waive penalties and fees, reduce your interest rate, and lower your monthly payment.
Typically, you pay off your debts through your DMP in three to five years. You're usually required to close your credit cards and refrain from seeking new credit until you finish your plan.
Pros:
Cons:
While not a traditional credit card debt consolidation solution, debt settlement is a program that consolidates your monthly payments. It is offered by professional debt help companies to help people who are suffering from a financial hardship that leaves them unable to make all their payments or are close to reaching that point.
Debt settlement works on unsecured debts such as credit cards, medical debts, and unsecured personal loans. You stop making payments to your credit card companies and consolidate all of your payments into a special account. A debt settlement program negotiates with your creditors on your behalf, working to settle your accounts for less than you owe. Historically, creditors are willing to forgive part of what you owe if you have a hardship and are not making your monthly payments as agreed.
The repayment period is about 3-5 years. Fees vary but are around 20-25% of your enrolled debt. Reputable companies do not collect upfront fees, and you pay only when a settlement is achieved.
Pros:
Cons:
Since there are different credit card consolidation solutions, it is hard to talk about universal pros and cons. You need to weigh each program on its own merits and make sure it is a good fit for your situation. Here are some handy tips to consider before consolidating your credit card debt.
If consolidating your credit cards improves your financial situation, then the answer is yes. Credit card consolidation simplifies your payment schedule and generally has a fixed payment.
Consolidate your debt only if the monthly payments are affordable. When comparing options, the two main benefits to compare are lower overall costs and the amount of time to pay off debt. Not everyone has the same needs, so consider these scenarios when deciding if you should consolidate credit card debt.
Here are three reasons you shouldn’t consolidate your credit card debt.
Start your FREE debt assessment