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But thank goodness, there are many people out there that are scared of the step. They take the time to thoroughly understand what consolidation really means. In many cases, the consolidation company simply requires you to take out a second mortgage or a home equity loan. If you do this to pay your debts, you are simply moving your debts around. Yes, you get a lower interest rate, but now your home is at risk. If you continue to charge on your cards, you will be in big trouble.
If you were to lose your job or have an emergency, you don't have to find a way to pay your debts. You have to find a way to keep your home. It is a serious situation.
Some debt consolidation loans don't actually offer you a better interest rate than the individual creditors will. If you are really serious about paying off your debt, then you can often negotiate with the individual creditors for better interest rates. These rates can often be more favorable than those charged by debt consolidation companies (who are probably throwing a fee into your rate).
Consumers with serious debt mistakenly assume that one loan looks better than several outstanding debts on a credit report. However, most consolidation efforts will have a negative effect on credit ratings at first. This is becuase a key portion of your score is made of the length of time you have accounts open. If you close all your accounts for a new consolidation loan, you are cutting your credit history.
Don't just assume that consolidation is the magic solution. You have to realize that your spending is what got you into this situation. Getting a loan will not magically solve your spending issues. Over time, new debt will reappear. Make sure that you are really truly ready to change your habits.
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Understanding Debt Consolidation