Debt Settlement Information - Making The Right Decision

Author: Hector Milla

If you are overwhelmed with debt and are unable to pay your bills, a solution to your financial problems can be debt settlement.

When struggling with finances, it can be very hard to make the right decision for yourself. In today's weakened economy, many people are considering and choosing debt settlement as their financial relief.

Aurora Lillo Editor of the "Best Debt Relief Programs" website -- http://www.BestDebtReliefPrograms.net -- pointed out;

“…Debt settlement allows you to consolidate all of your debt while at the same time reduce the total amount that you owe. Your debt is combined into one easy monthly payment. Your payments are negotiated to an amount that you can afford each month and calls and letters from credit collectors are stopped. A debt settlement plan gives you great relief on current outstanding debt…”

If you do not know where to turn to find financial relief, debt consolidation should be considered when trying to make the right financial decision. It is great if you have a few large amounts of debt that you are wanting to combine or if you are looking for financial assistance and guidance to help get you back in control again. With debt consolidation, you will learn what needs to be done to consolidate debt as well as learn what not to do in the future to find yourself in this situation again.

By choosing debt settlement you will:

~be free of debt within just a few years.
~be able to focus on rebuilding your credit.
~pay off debt at a lower amount.
~negotiate the impact of your credit score.
~avoid harassing collection agencies.
~avoid bankruptcy.
~have just one single payment each month for all combined debt.
~have all extra charges eliminated.
~avoid any lawsuits.

“…A debt settlement program can be the best decision for your problems, both financially and emotionally. Not only will you get yourself out of get, but collection calls and harassments will stop. Your debt will soon be paid off and you will be back to financial freedom…” added A. Lillo.

Further Information By Visiting; http://www.BestDebtReliefPrograms.net

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/debt-consolidation-articles/debt-settlement-information-making-the-right-decision-1631388.html

About the Author

Hector Milla runs his corporate website at http://www.OpsRegs.com where you can see all his articles and press releases.

Collections and Bad Debt: When to Settle

Author: Jay Delgado

If you have bad credit, the first thing you need to do is go back and start paying off your old debts, right? Wrong! While there are some circumstances where it is in your best interest to pay off collection accounts, there are also some circumstances where it is in your best interest NOT to pay.

First, let us talk about when you should pay off debts that have been passed to a collection agency. Assuming that the debt is yours and has been validated, you should pay off debts that have been placed into collections recently. Not paying could lead to a lawsuit. Worse yet, your past-due account could be sold to collection agency after collection agency resulting in a negative entry on your credit report each time. Under these circumstances, you should pay. But that does not mean that you should pay the full amount. With the exception of student loans and child support, you can settle your debt for 35 to 65% of the balance owed.

If your debt is older than four years old, it is probably in your best interest not to pay. Why? Statutes of limitations run out in most states after four years. This means that you can no longer be sued for the debt. Old debts do not carry as much weight on your credit report as new debts; you might not be doing yourself a favor by paying off past debts. In fact, paying off an old debt could cause your credit score to go down. This is because new collection accounts have more of an impact on your score than old accounts. When you pay off an old account, the date of last activity is made current which makes the old debt look like a new collection account.

Should you ever settle accounts that are more than four years old? Only if you can settle them for substantially less than the balance owed. Never pay more than 40% to settle an old debt. Be careful and never agree to any repayment plan unless you are absolutely certain that you will and can follow through with it. If you make any type of payment or agreement, no matter how small, the statute of limitations starts over again.

Do not get trapped into thinking that you have to pay off your debts entirely to repair your credit. In many cases, it is not in your best interest to settle. Collection agencies know this. That is why they are so willing to settle your debt for pennies on the dollar. Keep in mind, though, that they are going to try to recoup as much of the debt as they can. Do not take their first offer at face value. If your debt is older than four years, you have the power. If it is less than four years, they do. But do not give up without a fight. Many collection agencies will settle a new debt at a reasonable price.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/credit-articles/collections-and-bad-debt-when-to-settle-385182.html

About the Author

J Delgado is an expert in helping individuals restore there credit. To find out more about having foreclosures, bankruptcies, late payments and other derogatory items removed from your credit report contact him at creditexpert@scrupyourcredit.com or at: http://www.scrupyourcredit.com

Consumer Credit Counseling Vs Debt Consolidation

Author: Hector Milla

Those that are in debt will have a number of options they need to weigh regarding how they can get out of the situation they find themselves.

Thankfully, there are a number of recourses they can take to deal with their scenario. One method is credit counseling and the other is debt consolidation. Some may wonder which one is better than the other. In order to do this, it is best to clearly define what each method is and what they entail.

Hector Milla Editor of the "Credit Card Debt Counseling" website -- http://www.CreditCardDebtCounseling.biz -- pointed out;

“…As some may already know, a consolidation process involves renegotiating the credit that is owed and then consolidating them through a financial service company that will make the payments on your behalf. Such companies will often negotiate to lower interest rates, lower monthly payments, and sometimes even negotiate a settlement of a particular amount of the debt…”

With a credit counseling service, there really is no renegotiation that occurs. Instead, the company will look at the debt that you owe and compare it to your income and your expenditures. From this, a better judgment can be made on how to meet your monthly obligations based on advice on how to handle your budget.

“…Which one of these is the better method? Well, it all depend on your situation. For most, it would be much better to go the counseling route if feasible. Why is this? The various steps associated with debt consolidation can all have a negative impact on your credit rating. In some instances, the impact could be severe and in other instances it could be minor. However, an impact would be felt. By going the counseling route, you could avoid such a problem…” added H. Milla.

Of course, there will be instances where counseling is not feasible. Simply put, you may not be able to make your budget work. Therefore, renegotiation and consolidation will be required.

Further information about how to get the most of your credit counseling process by visiting; http://www.CreditCardDebtCounseling.biz

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/consumer-credit-counseling-vs-debt-consolidation-1508697.html

About the Author

Hector Milla runs his corporate website at http://www.OpsRegs.com where you can see all his articles and press releases.

Regardless of nationality or ethnicity, there is one thing that is so common among citizens and residents of the USA, and that is none other than debt. According to expert research, the personal and consumer debt of the residents of the USA has gone up by almost fifty percent since the 1950s. The figures have become truly alarming.

And being in debt in the USA is an alarming situation indeed. It is not only your reputation as a debtor that is injured, causing you humiliation and embarrassment in certain situations like when debt collectors start calling, but other areas of your financial life are also affected. Your spending power and creditability is hugely affected by the level of your financial liabilities. For some people in other parts of the USA, even their employment, the very source of income that they need in order to get out of the red, is put at risk.

If you are a debtor in the USA and if you are thinking of going into debt settlement, you should go for it and remember that you are not alone in your plight. Your situation is not unique; you would be surprised just how much of your fellow residents in the USA share your situation. Moreover, there are other people who are willing and capable of getting you out of the mess you are in by assisting you in every step of the debt settlement process. All you need to do is to find a reputable debt settlement agency in the USA.

Finding a reputable debt settlement agency in the USA can be a tricky process, however. Many people in the USA are in debt, and so some enterprising people have found that running a debt settlement agency a lucrative business. Many of these companies promise a lot but are not really capable of keeping their promises in helping you settle your financial obligations.

How can you make sure that the debt settlement agency in the USA that you are going to engage is a good one? The first thing you would need to check is the company’s reputation. A debt settlement agency in the USA with a good reputation is one that delivers what they have promised. You can do this by asking around among your friends and family – people whose opinion you trust. You can also do a search on the Internet on the debt settlement agency that you are thinking of hiring. Ask for references as well if you can.

Because debt settlement agencies in the USA are businesses and as businesses they need to make some sales, their sales people often say many big things and make so many big promises. Among the promises you are likely to come across while searching for a good debt settlement agency in the USA is that your credit rating will improve in a matter of weeks. This is not true. The negotiations between the debt settlement agency in the USA and your creditors may take months, even years, to complete. Debt settlement in the USA always takes some time, and any debt settlement agency that says otherwise is only trying to pull wool over your eyes.

Check these links to learn more:

http://www.commercialdebtcounseling.com

http://www.commercialdebtcounseling.com/business/business-y/business-index.shtml

With consumer debt at an all time high, increasing numbers of people are looking for a way to financial freedom. As a result, the popularity of the debt settlement company is growing at a steady pace. A debt settlement company offers one of the quickest ways out of debt today. These companies, sometimes referred to as debt negotiation companies have arbitrators that negotiate directly with your creditors to have your unsecured credit balances reduced.
 
When you are looking to get relief from your debt problems, a lot of people tend to feel that the only good solution is to go about getting credit counseling or to even file for bankruptcy. What a lot of these people do not realize is that there is a little known about process that is known as debt settlement. The goal of debt settlement is to allow you to not only meet the requirements and needs of your creditors for less than what they say that you owe them but to also save you as much cash as possible throughout the process of it.

One of the many reasons why a lot of people choose a debt settlement institution is because their amount of debt amounts are highly out weighing what they are capable of managing in order to back the full amounts to avoid having to file for bankruptcy. Another reason as to why a lot of people choose to go about a debt settlement company is simple because they are way too fed up with the credit card companies because they are constantly increasing the interest rates to unfair advantages and they refuse to lower it no matter how much you try and get them to.

However, the absolutely number one reason as to why people choose to utilize a debt settlement company is to relieve the burden of being in debt. The burden of debt becomes such an overwhelming thing that their biggest goal is to become debt free and as a result it outweighs the thought of what could happen to their credit profile if they do not act upon it immediately. This is why the debt settlement process is something that is gone after when trying to accomplish the goals of getting out of debt and staying out of debt.

It becomes absolutely needed to eliminate your debt before trying to improve your credit score. This is because thirty percent of your score is determined by your debt to credit ratio so if you happen to have a lot of outstanding debt your score will be a lot lower than it should be which as a result can hinder your chances of getting anywhere financially. Your credit profile is a good indication of your history in terms of payments and late payments and such but it is one hundred percent possible to improve your score over a period of time because in the United States everyone gets a second chance at doing that.

Banking and financial institutions would love to keep you locked into the state of mind that your credit score is the absolutely most important thing in your life. Do not get suckered into feeling this way because it's their way of fearing you into doing things their way. It is by all means an important part of your life but in no way should you allow it to dominate your life and make it so that it is the only thing that you care about. These financial institutions do not really care about you; all they care about is making more money. Why else would they raise your credit limit on your credit cards in order for you to charge more things to it? It is because they know that you are likely to fall into some sort of debt like most Americans and as a result they will make more money off of you and your debt.

When you are looking about the different options and as debt settlement comes to pass you realize that it is your choice to become debt free. There are typically two different types of companies that can help you in becoming debt free over time. The first one is the type of Debt Settlement Company that you see advertised everywhere that happen to not be lawyer based. The others are law firms that happen to have a debt settlement service as one of the things that they offer to people.

When you are searching for a debt settlement company there are some important things that you really do need to consider before choosing the right one that will help you become debt free. There are even some things that you should steer clear from if you want the best possible help for your current financial situation.

The first thing that I would like to point out is that any of these companies should be able to save you at least half of your debt including the fees that you have to pay and the paying of your creditors. While on your own you can typically save around half of that without too much effort on your behalf, getting any more relief than that will require a fair degree of experience that you do not have. One thing you need to be aware of when attempting to speak to someone from any debt settlement company is that you should always do your homework first. There are some companies out there that just want to make as much cash as they can off of their clients without any true regard for their own problems. These people say just about anything that you want to hear in order to get you signed up with their programs.

One way to see through all of the best is that some of these companies will tell you that you can set up a monthly payment for any amount that the client wants. This payment will usually be quite low and for a lot longer period of a time that many of the more reputable companies will allow you to have. This obviously will remove the purpose of what you are trying to accomplish because the longer the period of time you have to pay off a loan the more interest that will pile on and the more you will end up having to pay back as a result.

When you are looking about the different options and as debt settlement comes to pass you realize that it is your choice to become debt free. There are typically two different types of companies that can help you in becoming debt free over time. The first one is the type of Debt Settlement Company that you see advertised everywhere that happen to not be lawyer based. The other is law firms that happen to have a debt settlement service as one of the things that they offer to people.

A lot of people get into the mind set that there is a magic way to fix any of their problems quickly. These bad companies understand this need and typically are very good at catering to that and as a result sign up thousands of people on a yearly basis. Be careful of what they tell you because at first it may sound like a great deal but they do not usually include how much it will cost you in the long run. The first thing that you need to ask them is if their claim of savings includes their companies; fees or not.

You should also make certain that you have a realistic time frame for paying back your debt. There is a huge benefit in going with a debt settlement company in that you can become debt free in a short period of time instead of paying the minimum payments to your creditors which with interest takes quite a long period of time to finish up. You should most definitely pick a debt settlement company that is going to focus on getting you debt free in two or less years only. This is because by stretching your payment plan further than three years time you will never get the full benefits that you are seeking out due to increasing interest piling on. The longer the program is that you sign up for the more debt you will end up having to pay out of as a result of it.

You should also make certain that the collection calls will be stopped from being made. One of the bad aspects of these debt settlement companies is that in order for your creditors to be willing to let you pay less you are going to have to fall behind on your payments to them. As a result of this you will end up getting several calls from collection agencies. This can be very annoying and just straight up aggravating. So when it comes to getting these calls stopped the only way that you can legally get them to is by having a lawyer from the debt settlement company to represent you.

As a result of this they must contact your lawyer or they will be faced with a law suit otherwise. If you are told from your debt settlement company that you can have these calls stopped to make certain that they have a lawyer to aid you in this. By law a collection agency does not have to deal with the debt settlement company unless they provide you with an attorney. If they tell you to just send a cease and desist letter to the collection agency, be careful, because you will leave them with no option but to serve you with papers to appear in court and as a result could end up being sued.

You need to make certain that the company you go with is a reputable one. To start with you should check out the better business bureau to see if they have any negative comments regarding their business practices. After this you should consider how long they have actually been in business as a general rule of thumb is that a company that has been in business for over ten years in good standing should give you some sense of peace in knowing that they know what they are doing and have helped a lot of people in the years past.

If the company you go with is only a year or two old be wary of this because there are lots of fly by night operations that sign up lots of people knowing that they are not going to be able to help them just to get the collection fees and when that is over and done with they close up shop and start a new company. If you end up going with a law firm you should obviously make sure that they are registered with the state bar association. If you have a problem and complain, they could lose their license, so it is in their best interest to help you if you go with them and do the best job that they can do for their clients.

The warning signs are pretty obvious because if a company has a poor record with the better business bureau it would be best to stay away. If the company is fairly new be sure to do your homework before going about getting their services as it would be in your best interests.

Even though debt settlement is a very smart way to go about getting out of debt just like anything you need to be careful with the place that you go with. If you read this guide carefully you will have a leg up and know how on how to choose the best possible company that can help you and your situation. You too can soon be out of debt completely and have a huge weight lifted off of your chest.

Source: http://www.debtneutralizer.com

If you are looking for ways to get out of your credit card debt, bankruptcy does not have to be the answer. There are a few tips you can use to avoid bankruptcy and find debt relief.
For more information, please complete the Free Debt Evaluation form on the left or contact us at 714-585-2353 or debtneutralizer@gmail.com.

Does it seem that you are buried alive under debts? Do not worry. Just go through this article for some effective steps to debt settlement. It is very common that peoples searching for a hard surface to stand straight, as they have covered themselves into debts. At the time of urgency, they just take loans without thinking of repayment. When the refund time comes, they do not have any place to hide. It sounds very harsh, but this is the fact. Anyways, things will go on like this day after day. Still, there are some effective steps to debt settlement that will relieve you.

While following the effective steps to Debt settlement first important point is, to set your mind. Before getting into the field make you funds, which will help you to keep a record where you are spending and what the amount is. Through this method, you can check the increasing debt, and the amount you saved can be filled against the debt, to make it less. Never opt for debt consolidation companies. Although it seems to be a good way, it actually brings more problems. If you visit a debt consolidation company they will charge a fee, and you will find the work they are doing can be done by you too. One thing you can do is to call up one of them, and show the payment pattern which suits you better.

Thirdly you need to be aware of your own rights. For proper knowledge about the rights you posses and which you should always enjoy, you can go through the Federal Trade Commission Rights. It will help you to get a fair idea of how to keep your credit score good. Whatever faults you made previously, you need not pay for that through your entire life or even for a long time. Look out for a free service called credit counseling to get relief from Debt. This free service will guide you and make you understand about all the effective steps to get out of such situations. With the help of credit counseling, you will be able to keep in touch with the companies who will provide you solutions in future as well.

After making several attempts, you still cannot perhaps find a suitable way out. In that case, when the above-mentioned steps make no sense, you can also opt for a debt consolidation loan. Often we fail to make ourselves free from a worse situation. This is not necessary that a debt consolidation loan will offer you some cheap rates, but you can at least get some fresh air. Things would not go so easy if you need to pay to several creditors. It is much better to pay to one person/organization without paying a large amount of interest. Therefore, you need not be afraid anymore as you have many options to recover your debt.

It is not impossible to get relief from debts, just go through the effective steps to debt settlement carefully.

The answer to the above question cannot be answered emphatically with a yes or no; it is dependent on the amount of credit card debt owed, and an individual’s ability to consolidate the debt themselves without outside help.

For this type of individual, lumping all debt into one package and paying one company to rescue them from debtor’s prison is not a good idea. It is a good idea when no other choice is available and the debtors are hounding them for payment.

Outside help not necessary

Héctor Milla Editor of the "Best Debt Relief Programs" website -- http://www.BestDebtReliefPrograms.net -- pointed out;

“…Involving others in outside help to get debts paid off quickly is a waste of time if these individuals have the wherewithal to do their own financial planning; if the debt is small and amounts to only a little belt-tightening to get it under control, it would be foolish for them to waste time and money with debt relief organizations; if they have good rapport with their creditors at their local bank and are assured of getting a loan to pay off the money owed at lesser interest rates, then for them it would not be necessary…”

When help is needed

If debtors are at the point of a nervous breakdown over the phone ringing with accusatory voices demanding they pay up, getting help with a creditable debt consolidator makes good sense. The cost of the interest rate which undoubtedly will be high, will be cheaper than going berserk and furthering their debt by hospital bills.

Certifiably reliable companies

If those with substantial debts have talked over their plan of paying their credit card debts with a reputable financial advisor, one recommended by the Better Business Bureau, help is worthwhile and is to be advised.

Smaller debt loads are manageable with budgeting

When debts are manageable and those responsible are able to fight back at bullying and hound and don’t mind challenges and are good at planning and budgeting, then going further into debt is not for them. They have learned a valuable lesson in how not to overspend. They can decipher the fine print and can transfer to a lower interest rate credit card company on their own, then they don’t need extra help from outsiders.

Understanding the rules governing debt collecting.

“…Those who fully understand that the law is on the side of those being harassed by unlawful and menacing collectors, and who are meeting the demands of paying the debt in a forthright manner and with the least amount of interest, do not need further debt advising. They are guided by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act that puts limits on contacts by collectors. Debtors may not be called before 8 am, while at work or after 9 pm. And requests in writing to no further harassment, must be honored…” H. Milla added.

Further Information By Visiting; http://www.BestDebtReliefPrograms.net

One of the worst aspects of being in debt is the seemingly endless calls from creditors trying to get money out of you.  It is the nature of the calls that is one of the most stressful factors.  People are often angry that they have not been paid, so can be rude and even threatening at times.  When you simply do not have the money to pay your creditors what you owe them, you are left in a very difficult situation because all they want to hear is how you are going to give them their money.

Debt collection agencies are often used by creditors to collect debts, and some of these organisations do have a reputation for being a little over enthusiastic when it comes to finding ways to squeeze money out of people.  They often work on a commission only basis so their incentive is that if they do not collect on the debt they do not get paid.  That is quite an incentive and has led to some bad practices by a few agencies.

The only way to stop creditor harassment is to take action to settle the debt.  Creditors will not go away if you try to ignore their calls, but they will stop chasing you if they know you are actively engaged in a process that will allow you to repay your debt.  If you engage with your creditors and let them know exactly what your circumstances are they are likely to be more understanding.  If they see that you are seeking expert help in order to tackle your debt, there is a greater chance that they will be open to negotiation in terms of finding a way forward.

There are several possible ways to deal with consumer debt problems, and the best one for you will depend on how much you owe, how many creditors you have, what kind of debt it is, etc.  Debt management plans are used a lot by people with fairly serious debts who have a decent income that can be used to make regular payments to a debt plan.  For those people whose situation is worse than this, perhaps struggling to keep up with payments on large amounts of debt, the best answer is probably debt settlement.

Debt settlement is sometimes the only way to deal with very serious debt because it involves actually writing off a large part of it.  Instead of just working out how to repay the full debt in a different way, debt settlement is about negotiating a large reduction on the total amount owed, in exchange for settling the rest of the debt quickly.

Creditor harassment stops when you start debt settlement because the debt settlement company deal with your creditors for you.  All you do is make a monthly payment into a separate fund where your money is left to grow.  When a settlement agreement is reached with a creditor this pot of money is used to make the payment to them.

For UK residents, debt settlement is not something generally available, because there is another solution introduced by the government which fulfils the same function.  An IVA is a formal arrangement that involves you making a fixed monthly payment for the duration of the IVA (usually up to five years).  At the end of the agreement any remaining debts get written off, which can mean wiping out a substantial chunk of debt.

If you decide to use debt settlement or an IVA to put an end to creditor harassment you will need to carefully select a good company to work on your behalf.  It is important to be careful about choosing a well respected and proven company as there are quite a few out there now that cannot be relied on to actually improve your situation.  To be sure of using a good company just follow advice for recommended companies and apply to as many as you like before deciding which is best for you.

Debt negotiation is when someone negotiates with lenders and creditors to have the total debt owed lowered. This can be done alone or can be done by a debt settlement company that will negotiate with creditors on the clients behalf. Debt that can be negotiated include department store credit cards, collection agency debt, medical bills, credit cards, and other unsecured personal loans.

Which Lenders To Deal With

When it comes to debt settlement and negotiation you will find that smaller lenders are far more likely to talk. If you have debt with large financial companies you may have better luck using a professional.

Why Would a Creditor Take Less Then Is Owed

If you are considering debt negotiation or debt settlement then you probably have looked at bankruptcy as well. Creditors will take less then is owed when they suspect that the debtor is a candidate for bankruptcy. It's better for them to get 60% of what is owed over nothing at all.

Things You Can Do Before And During The Negotiating

Showing good faith is important to lenders and creditors. They will not negotiate with you if you show terrible financial judgment. If you purchased a new LCD TV three months ago then good luck in trying to get the creditor to talk. If they see that you are making an honest attempt to get your finances back on track they may be a little friendlier.

Be polite as they are the ones in control so being difficult will only make things worse. Tell The Truth Let your creditors know about your situation and be honest.

Set realistic goals before you even talk to your creditors. You should set a budget where you breakdown your expenses and income. See exactly how much you can afford and set that as your breakeven point. Explain to the creditors that if you have to pay more then this you will end up in the same situation. Why settle if you won't be able to afford the settlement payments.

Be persistent and keep records of every letter you send the creditors and send the letters registered. You may have to contact them multiple times before they will even talk to you.

Debt settlement is good alternative to bankruptcy for many consumers struggling with high credit card debt. In most cases, consumers will hire a professional debt settlement company to work with their creditors to pay off their debt at a reduced amount. Fees often range from 15-25% of the amount saved.

But do you need to pay a company to settle your debts?

For most people, it is a good idea to hire a professional company. There are several reasons:

1 - The creditors usually take a professional more seriously

2 - These companies often have relationships with the creditors and will be able to get you a better deal

3 - While the process is not difficult, it does take time, effort, and patience.

However, if you are ready to take on this task by yourself, here are a couple of tips to help you through the process:

• Realize that settling a debt is like negotiating anything - you need to give something in order to get something.

• Just because you feel that you are offering a good deal, does not mean the person you are negotiating with thinks the same way. So, you may have to make several offers before one is accepted.

• Many people think that protecting their credit score is a key point - but the goal of debt settlement should be getting out of debt (why would the creditor give you a discount AND good credit? You can certainly try, but don't be surprised if this part of the offer is not accepted).

• In most cases you will need to pay in one lump sum, not payments (see the first point above). So you will need to have some money in reserve.

• If you are not already behind on your payments, you will need to stop paying to gain leverage. After all, why would the creditors give you a discount if you are paying on time? Take this money and set it aside for your settlement payment.

• Finally, be patient. Negotiations can take time. But the longer you can hold out, the better deal you will get.

If this does not sound like something you can accomplish on your own, then you should seriously consider hiring a professional debt settlement company.

Otherwise, get ready to roll up your sleeves, make a few phone calls (letters are not as effective), begin negotiating.

And start making plans for using the money you save wisely, and avoid getting into credit card debt all over again!