Does Debt Consolidation To Pay Off Credit Card Debt Affect Credit Score?

It's easy to get into credit card debt. Paying it off, on the other hand, can be the hard part. If you're facing a growing mountain of debt, it's important that you find a way to get the debt under control before it becomes too much to handle.

Many people are turning to debt consolidation in order to get their financial lives under control. Debt consolidation companies are designed to help consumers pay off their debt by working with lenders to reduce the consumer's interest rate and outstanding debt. In turn, the consumer pays a certain amount of money each month to the debt consolidation company which is then paid to creditors. Over time, a consumer's debt is eliminated.

Reducing your debt with professional help can greatly increase your ability to pay off your debt. However, it's important to note that it can have an adverse affect on your credit score. Why? For several reasons:

-Your accounts, though paid off, may show that they were "settled" on your credit report. This happens when your creditors agree to reduce your outstanding balances. Accounts marked as settled have a negative impact on your credit score.
-You pay the consolidation company who then pays your creditors on your behalf. This could mean that payments are made past your due date, leaving your with late payments on your credit report. This also has a negative impact on your credit report.

Consolidating your debt can mean a lower credit score. However, it's likely that your credit score is already less-than-perfect due to your debt load. What's important is that you're making an effort to reduce your overall debt. Credit scores change constantly and it's likely that your low credit score will increase over time, especially if you're reducing your debt load. The bonus? Reducing your debt will leave you with the financial freedom you need to create an emergency savings fund and live out your dreams without the constant stress of bills.