Debt Consolidation: Friend or Foe?

Debt consolidation has become big business in this country over the last several years. Consumers with the good conscience to avoid filing for bankruptcy are turning to debt consolidation in hopes of saving their credit and getting out of debt sooner. But is it really necessary to turn to a debt consolidation company? Critics of the programs offered through most debt consolidation companies would, of course, tell you no.

Many debt consolidation companies have gained a bad reputation. This isn't really surprising considering that some debt consolidation companies have filed for bankruptcy protection themselves. Several have claimed to be non-profit and been shut down for circumstances surrounding hidden fees.

Debt consolidation companies have gotten such a bad name as of late that some don't even call themselves debt consolidation companies any longer. It's doubtful they believe that it's hard for consumers to recognize that they are in fact debt consolidation companies. However, so many have been warned to stay away from debt consolidation companies that it's probably a smart business move on the part of any debt consolidation company to keep the term out of the company name.

You may have seen the word "Christian" in the name of some debt consolidation companies. Obviously religion has little to do with debt consolidation and this is seen simply as a sales tool to play on the moral obligations a lot of people hold when it comes to borrowing money. The fact that so many companies are stooping to the level of claiming to be a religious organization should make it pretty plain to see that there may be some question as to the ethics of companies like this.

Debt consolidation, negotiation, settlement, whatever you want to call it, is a personal choice. What doesn't work for the critics, may change your life. It's important to check out the debt consolidation company thoroughly if you choose to go this route, but don't say you weren't warned to think twice about debt consolidation if you do, in fact, get burned.

Timothy Gorman is a successful webmaster and publisher of Debt-Relief-Solutions.com. He provides more credit counseling, bankruptcy and free debt consolidation information that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

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U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey speaks at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington in this July 21, 2008 file photo. REUTERS/Joshua RobertsAP - The White House says President Bush has called stricken Attorney General Michael Mukasey to see how he was feeling after his collapse during a speech Thursday night.



In a Jun 27, 2008 file photo  Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., takes the stage with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., at a campaign event in Unity, N.H.,    President-elect Barack Obama plans to nominate  Clinton as secretary of state after Thanksgiving, an aide to his transition said Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola/file)AP - President-elect Barack Obama plans to nominate Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state after Thanksgiving, a new milestone for the former first lady and a convergence of two political forces who fought hard for the presidency.



A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, November 20, 2008. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)AP - With no end in sight to economic bad news, President George W. Bush is about to ensure that millions of laid-off workers won't see their unemployment checks disappear as the year-end holidays approach.



An employee uses her mobile phone in front of an electronic stock board at the Korea Stock Exchange Market in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Nov. 21, 2008. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index jumped 55.04 points, or 5.8 percent, to close 1,003.73. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)AP - European and Asian stock markets rebounded Friday as expectations of a recovery on Wall Street prompted investors to scoop up battered financial and energy shares.



In this  Monday, Nov. 17, 2008 file photo, Lavennia Coover of Decatur, Neb., who gave up her 11 year-old son under Nebraska's safe haven law on Sept. 24, 2008, testifies before the Judiciary Committee, during a public hearing in Lincoln, Neb., on bills that would amend Nebraska's safe-haven law.  Friday, Nov. 21 will likely be the last day parents can abandon troubled teens at Nebraska hospitals, but lawmakers aren't patting themselves on the back. Instead, they're vowing to make sure families can get help in a crisis. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)AP - Lawmakers are poised to close a loophole that led to troubled teens being abandoned at Nebraska hospitals, but they aren't stopping there. Instead, they're vowing to make sure families can get help in a crisis.



AP - With the United States reevaluating strategy in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Robert Gates is telling allies that additional U.S. forces planned for the war must be shared across the region taking the brunt of the fighting.

Authorities inspect the wreckage of a Cessna plane after it was  raised from the Amazon River in Huanta, in the Peruvian state of Iquitos, on April 26, 2001. A Peruvian air force jet which mistook it for a drug flight gunned it from the skies Friday. American missionary Veronica 'Roni' Bowers and her 7-month-old daughter Charity were killed in the April 20, 2001 attack. A classified CIA report on the 2001 shoot down of a small plane carrying American missionaries by the Peruvian air force suggests U.S. officials may have misled Congress and withheld information from the Justice Department.   (AP Photo/Silvia izquierdo, file)AP - The CIA withheld information from the White House, Justice Department and Congress about the 2001 shooting down of a plane over Peru carrying an American missionary family, part of a yearslong cover-up of lethal violations in U.S. drug-interdiction procedures, according to a classified internal CIA report.



Madonna performs during her 'Sticky & Sweet Tour' at the Wachovia Center, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008, in Philadelphia. The pop star and husband Guy Ritchie will likely be granted an  initial divorce decree on Friday, according to the schedule for London's High Court. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)AP - Madonna and Guy Ritchie were granted a preliminary decree of divorce Friday.



AP - R.J. Richard says he doesn't normally put his cell phone in his chest pocket. But he says it saved his life the one time he did.

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, right, is grabbed by Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver T. J. Houshmendzadeh after intercepting a pass intended for Houshmendzadeh in the fourth quarter of the NFL  football game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008. The Steelers won 27-10.(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)AP - Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers know exactly how to beat the Cincinnati Bengals — with or without Chad Ocho Cinco.



A trader takes a moment's rest on the floor of the Philippine Stock Exchange which closed down 4.15 percent in today's trading in Makati City, Manila November 21, 2008. (Romeo Ranoco/Reuters)Reuters - Euro zone demand is plunging and price pressures vanishing, business surveys showed on Friday, while central bankers weighed the bleak prospect of deflation.



President-elect Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton attend a campaign rally in Orlando, Florida, October 20, 2008. (Jim Young/Reuters)Reuters - Retired Marine Gen. James Jones emerged as a leading contender for White House national security adviser as President-elect Barack Obama worked on Thursday to assemble his foreign policy team.



President George W. Bush sits with Thailand's Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont (not in picture) during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit leaders' retreat at the Sydney Opera House September 8, 2007. (Barbara Walton/Pool/Reuters)Reuters - George W. Bush makes his last scheduled trip abroad as U.S. president on Friday, heading to an Asia-Pacific summit where he will seek support for global financial reform and hold talks on ending North Korea's nuclear program.



Demonstrators chant slogans during a rally at Firdos square in Baghdad November 21, 2008. (Ceerwan Aziz/Reuters)Reuters - Followers of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr marched Friday against a pact letting U.S. forces stay in Iraq until 2011, toppling an effigy of President George W. Bush where U.S. troops once tore down a statue of Saddam Hussein.



Pedestrians walk past a Citibank branch in Singapore November 18, 2008. (Vivek Prakash/Reuters)Reuters - Citigroup Inc lost more than one-quarter of its market value on growing worries over whether it has enough capital to withstand billions of dollars of potential losses and despite new support from its largest individual investor.



The sign for the Verizon Wireless store is seen in Lakewood, Colorado September 11, 2007. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)Reuters - Verizon Wireless said on Thursday that some employees had gained unauthorized access and viewed a personal cell phone account held by President-elect Barack Obama that is now inactive.



The crew of the Belize-flagged cargo ship MV Faina stand on the deck after a U.S. Navy request to check on their health and welfare off the coast of Somalia, November 9, 2008. (U.S. Navy/Mass communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason R. Zalasky/Handout/Reuters)Reuters - Dozens of Somali Islamist insurgents entered a port on Friday in search of the pirate group behind the seizure of a Saudi supertanker that was the world's biggest hijack, a local elder said.



U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey addresses the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, California in this March 27, 2008 file photo. (Robert Galbraith/Files/Reuters)Reuters - U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey was "conscious, conversant and alert" at a local Washington hospital after collapsing while delivering a national security speech at a hotel, the U.S. Justice Department said late on Thursday.



US soldier searches for insurgents during a patrol of Afghanistan's Kandahar province in 2007. The National Intelligence Council (NIC) report is vague about the outcome of current conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.(AFP/File/Nicolas Asfouri)AFP - The use of nuclear weapons will grow increasingly likely by 2025, according to a bleak US intelligence report that warns that US global dominance is likely to weaken over the next two decades.



Iraqi Shiites protest in central Baghdad. Thousands of Shiite followers of the firebrand anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr gathered in Baghdad to protest a security accord that would allow US troops to remain in Iraq until 2011.(AFP/Ali al-Saadi)AFP - Thousands of Shiite followers of the firebrand anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr gathered in Baghdad on Friday to protest a security accord that would allow US troops to remain in Iraq until 2011.




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