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Saturday, March 1, 2008

Student Loan Consolidation Companies- Things To Keep In Mind

With the advent of student debt consolidation, a number of student loans consolidation companies have appeared, each one offering a number of payment programs to ease the tension of student debt. While all of them may sound like a dream come true, it is worthwhile to do some research before diving into a student loan consolidation plan.

Student debt consolidation is often a last resort for students who see student loans piling up year after year. Eager to deal with debt issues quickly so they can focus on their course work, many students may blindly sign for the first student loan consolidation program they come across. Before opting for any sort of student debt consolidation, do a background check to see if these student loan consolidation companies are offering you what you really need.

Read The Fine Print

As with any financial program or set up, student loan consolidation companies have their own set of fine print and it is imperative that you read these before signing. When reading through the documentation, look for the kind of interest rates that are being offered and do some calculating. Oftentimes, interest payments can exceed the amount of the actual loan.

Remember that these kinds of student debt consolidation programs can extend for as long as twenty years. The last thing you need is to be saddled with a debt program you are unsatisfied with for two decades. Make sure you are completely clear about what you are signing up for.

Dos And Don'ts For Student Debt Consolidation

There are a number of important tips you can keep in mind when sifting through student loan consolidation companies. Avoid companies that ask for large fees upfront. If there are any initial fees, make sure you know what they are for. Don't let the company rush you. Shop around and compare financial packages before committing to anything.

Before signing, make sure you have a physical checklist of everything covered in the student loan consolidation program. Check with the Better Business Bureau to ascertain whether the company has a track record you are comfortable with. Also, ensure that the company is accredited by the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies.

With so many student loan consolidation companies, it can be hard to decide which one suits your needs best. By following these simple rules and doing a little research, you will be able to find a company that offers a student debt consolidation plan that works for you. Having the right debt management package can make a world of difference in ensuring a stable and bright financial future.

Student Debt Consolidation Loan - Make Debts Payments Easier

A student takes many loans to meet rising expenses on studies. This often results in lots of loans to be cleared. But the problem arises when the student has to fork out higher amount each month towards these loans payments. So there is little amounts left for other expenses apart from the problem that student may come under debts soon. The remedy is to opt for student debt consolidation loan.

A student debt consolidation loan implies that all debts of the students are merged under one new loan. In other words, the student now pays low monthly payments towards the consolidation loan. This makes the repayment of debt fairly easier.

There are Federal student debt consolidation loan available to the student. Federal debt consolidation allows for consolidation of all Federal student loans like Stafford and PLUS loans. These loans are usually given to students who have at least $7000 of outstanding amount as debt against their name.

As far as repayment plan for student debt consolidation loan is concern, there is standard ten-year plan available to all type of student. This plan is ideal as it enables in clearing debts early and at the same time you pay low monthly amount towards the new loan. But in case you want to further reduce the monthly outgoings, then repayment plans for 12 to 30 years are also available. These alternative plans include graduate repayments, income contingent repayment for direct loans only and income sensitive repayment plans. In case you do not opt for these plans than it is understood that you are taking a standard ten-year repayment plan. But note that though your monthly payments get chopped down, you will end up with higher overall interest payments towards the loan. Also, you would be carrying the debt burden for many more years.

If you have private loans, you can consolidation them under a private lender. There are host of private lenders providing student debt consolidation loan under secured or unsecured options. Secured debt consolidation loans come against some collateral and are of lower interest rate. Unsecured loans for debt consolidation are of higher rate of interest as no collateral is taken from student. Both these loans are given to bad credit students also, who made payment mistakes in the past.