It can be difficult to pay off high-interest credit card debt, especially if you have many credit cards with large balances.
A debt review plan may be the answer for you if you’re having problems getting out of debt on your own.
It can make it lot easier and faster to get out of debt under the correct circumstances.
Let’s take a look at how the plan works and how you can determine whether it’s the best option for you.
What is Debt Review in South Africa?
A debt management plan, commonly referred to as a debt review programme, is a debt relief solution meant to assist Canadians in repaying their debts.
A credit counseling agency is in charge of administering it.
It reduces or eliminates interest by consolidating your debt into a manageable payment plan.
As a result, you can pay off your debt in as few as 60 payments and save money while doing so.
What Is a Debt Management Strategy And How Does It Work?
- To get a free debt and budget examination from a certified credit counselor, you contact a credit counseling organization.
- The counselor will help you decide if a debt management plan is the right fit for your situation after analyzing your debts, credit, and budget.
- If this is the case, the counselor will work with you to come up with a monthly payment plan that you can afford.
- The counseling team will then contact your creditors and work with them to lower or eliminate the interest rates that have been charged to your debts.
- Your plan will officially begin once all of your creditors agree.
- Every month, you make a single payment to the credit counseling firm, which they distribute to your creditors as arranged.
- The account will be cancelled as each credit card is paid off.
- After you’ve paid off all of your bills, you’ll be through with the programme and can start living debt-free.
What Types of Debt Can I Include?
- Unsecured personal loans
- Personal lines of credit.
- Credit cards
- Store credit cards.
- Debt collection accounts
- Short-term installments
- Cell phone bills, not currently in use
Advantages and Disadvantages of Debt Review in South Africa.
The main advantage of a debt management strategy is the money it saves you.
Minimizing interest makes it considerably easier and faster to pay off your debt.
Balances that would normally take years, if not decades, to pay off can be paid off in as little as 60 payments.
A debt management strategy can cut your monthly payments while also lowering your overall credit card payments by up to 50%.
You should be aware of the disadvantages of a debt review plan.
Your credit record will reflect that you are paying off your loan on a modified payment schedule.
This mark will be on your record for two years after you finish the programme.
You also won’t be able to utilise the credit cards you used to sign up for the programme.
Once the cards have been paid off, they will be closed.
Advantages
- Interest costs should be reduced or eliminated.
- On average, you’ll be debt-free in 36-60 installments.
- Make a single, manageable monthly payment on all of your debts.
Disadvantages
- While engaged in the programme, you are unable to use credit cards or apply for new credit.
- Once your credit card debt is paid completely, your account will be cancelled.
- From the moment you complete the programme, it will be noted on your credit record for two years.
In comparison to other debt relief options, debt review plans have advantages.
As an example, unlike consumer proposals and bankruptcy, it does not leave a permanent public record.
You also shield your assets from being sold to cover your debts if you file for bankruptcy.