Debt settlement or Debt consolidation, which option is better and makes more sense?
This is the most frequently asked question by many individuals with debts and looking for ways to get out of them.
Both Debt settlement and Debt consolidation are financial strategies used to manage your debt load, but they function differently and are used to resolve different issues.
In general, debt settlement reduces the total amount of debt owed, while debt consolidation reduces the number of lenders you owe.
In fact, according to Supermoney, consumers who enroll in debt settlement programs reduce their debt by 33% on settled accounts, including fees.
So does this make debt settlement a better option or debt consolidation should be your choice? Let us find out!
Key Takeaways
- Consolidating debt is one of the best ways to get rid of the stress of juggling multiple debt payments each month.
- You need to have a good credit score to get your debt consolidated.
- Debt settlement is considered a risky option, and most financial experts recommend it only as a last resort.
What is Debt Consolidation?
Debt Consolidation is a form of debt relief that replaces your old debts with a new loan.
It typically combines multiple debts into a new consolidation loan to make it easy to pay.
This loan only has one single monthly payment with a lower interest rate.
Consolidation loans are given through banks, credit unions, and online lenders, and you make all your debt payments to the new creditor.
Consolidating debt is one of the best ways to get rid of the stress of juggling multiple debt payments each month. 1
Types of Debt Consolidation
Here are the different types of debt consolidation that you can choose from:
- Cash-out refinance on your mortgage: This option allows you to take on a new loan on your house with better terms and can be used to pay off your old loan and other debts or expenses. This option comes with associated fees but offers a way lower interest rate.
- 401(k) loan: You can get a low-interest loan against the money present in your 401(K) retirement account. However, it is bound to loan terms and withdrawal limits.
- Balance transfer credit card: You can transfer your current credit card balances to a new credit card with 0% APR. The offers last for up to 12 months, and during this time, you do not have to incur heft interest charges on your credit card balance.
- HELOC or Home equity loan: You can get a line of credit using a HELOC, and you can use this money to pay off your debts, but this comes with a variable interest rate and is not the best option. In a home equity loan, however, you can get cash against your home equity and can get low interest and fixed amount terms.
- Personal loan: You can take a personal loan to pay off your debts. To be eligible, you will only need a steady income, a good credit score, and a low DTI ratio.
What is Debt Settlement?
Debt Settlement is another effective debt relief method, but it uses an entirely different approach.
Think of it as a form of debt forgiveness where your creditors agree to accept a lesser amount of what you owe.
It typically involves going delinquent on your bills and negotiating with the creditors for a smaller percentage of your owe.
If you successfully reach an agreement with your creditor, you can pay the settlement amount in a lump sum or installments to satisfy the debt. 2
Key Differences between Debt Settlement or Debt Consolidation
| Comparison | Debt Consolidation | Debt Settlement |
|---|---|---|
| How Does it Work? | It focuses on reducing the number of creditors by combining your debts into one debt with one interest rate. | It focuses on reducing the total amount of debt to what is owed. |
| What Does it Cost? | The interest rates of consolidation loans vary from lender to lender. You may have to pay a loan origination fee. | It costs nothing if you do it yourself, but debt settlement companies usually charge a fee of 15% to 25% of the total debt amount. |
| Impact on Credit Score | Debt consolidation can cause a slight dip in your credit scores, but it will help you improve your credit scores over time by reducing your credit utilization ratio. | Debt settlement can significantly affect your credit scores because it involves going into delinquency on your debts. |
Pros and Cons of Debt Consolidation
Pros
- It helps you reduce the number of creditors by combining your debts into one new loan.
- You’ll be paying the lowest interest rates, which means you will pay your debts faster.
- Combining multiple debts in one account helps simplify paying your bills.
- It helps you build a solid financial position by improving your credit scores by reducing your utilization ratio.
Cons
- It does not reduce or eliminate your original debt, and you can only reorganize the payment plan with different terms.
- To get a debt consolidation loan, you must have a good credit score
- If you have a poor credit score, you will likely deny the loan or get higher interest rates.
- It is time-consuming and may take 2-5 years to make you debt-free. 3
Pros and Cons of Debt Settlement
Pros
- Help people with overwhelming debts pay less on the amount owed and get relief from the unbearable debt faster in 2-4 years.
- Help people prevent their debt from being sent to collections or sold to a debt collection agency.
- It can help you avoid bankruptcy which can stay on your credit report for a lifetime.
- Help people avoid being sued for their credit card debt or going through a lengthy contentious proceeding.
Cons
- Debt settlement companies usually charge hefty fees, generally a percentage of the amount you owe.
- Debt settlement will negatively impact your finances and affect your credit scores for your future employment opportunities, loan terms, and credit availability.
- Lenders may refuse to accept the settlement offers made by the debt settlement companies.
- Even if your creditor agrees to a reduced payment, you’ll have to pay taxes on the reduced debt.
- Debt settlement companies often encourage people to stop paying their creditors until they negotiate the terms. Those late fees are added to the debt you already owed, making things worse.
- Potential for scams. 4
How To Consolidate My Debt?
- Get your finances on track: Determine how much debt you owe, what is the interest rate, and repayment terms, check your credit score, etc. All this information will make it easy for you to decide which debt consolidation option best suits you.
- Choose which option works best for you: After you have all the details related to your debt handy, find out which debt consolidation option you should go for. For example: if you have only a little debt that you think can be paid in a year, then you should go for a credit balance transfer. A personal loan might be more suitable if you have a steady income and an excellent credit score.
- Compare various offers & choose a creditor: Check and compare the rate, terms, interest rate, etc., to find the best creditor for yourself.
- Get your documents ready: Ensure that you have all the relevant documents handy such as your income proof, debt record, employment record, etc.
- Wait for approval: After document submission and other formalities, wait for the approval. If you are not approved, look for issues and fix them before applying again. 5
Debt Settlement Vs. Debt Consolidation: Which one is a Better Choice?
Both options are great for managing debt but have their unique challenges and drawbacks, and both options can be right or wrong choices depending on the specifics of your financial situation.
For instance, if you need a solution to make your monthly payments more manageable, Debt consolidation would make sense to you.
It offers more control and visibility over your debt and gives you more determination to pay off the debt.
Why you might choose it: Debt Consolidation
- To reduce the number of debt payments, you are juggling
- To get a lower interest rate
- Want to improve your credit score
Debt settlement is considered a risky option, and most financial experts recommend it only as a last resort.
The risk factor is high because you can withhold loan payments that can damage your credit scores for up to 10 years.
Why you might choose it: Debt Settlement
- If your account is already long delinquent and your creditor threatens to file a lawsuit.
- Your credit score is already damaged, and you have so little to lose.
- If your debt has spiraled to a point where you have exhausted all options and still cannot find a way out.
Wrapping Up
No one likes to be in a dire financial situation. If you feel you have accumulated a lot of debt and making a monthly payment towards them is becoming impossible, then debt settlement or debt consolidation might offer some help.
In this guide on the differences between debt settlement and debt consolidation, we broke down how the two differ from each other, what are the pros and cons of each, etc. We hope this was useful.
FAQ
Which is better debt consolidation or settlement?
Which is better depends on your financial situation.
If you have a good credit score, then debt consolidation might be good for you because you will be more likely to get lower interest rates and better terms with good credit.
However, if your credit score is poor, then settlement will be better for you. 1
Can I negotiate debt settlement myself?
Yes, you can do debt settlement negotiation yourself and save yourself the unnecessary cost of hiring a third party.
For this, you will need to do your research, explain your financial circumstances to your creditor, and be able to negotiate in a polite way. 6
Will debt settlement damage my credit score?
Yes, settling your debt can lower your credit score and it can remain on your credit report for seven years, making it hard to get loans in the future.
Amit Gupta is the founder of National Planning Cycles, a company that helps startups, individuals, and small businesses with their financial planning. He has a vast amount of experience in the finance sector, having managed Google Play accounts for some of the world’s most successful unicorns. Amit is an expert in his field, and he uses his knowledge to help others achieve their individual goals.
ARTICLE SOURCES
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