Drowning in debt is one of the worst things that can ever happen to a person today. It takes a toll on your mental and physical being and is sure to leave you half dead.
The first thing you should do when you realize that you are in a grave financial crisis is to maintain your calm. With a calm mind, chart a step by step plan on how you will manage your debt.
When it comes to debt payments, the US citizens are blessed as the American government keeps coming up with great debt relief programs to make sure that the common man can reap its benefits.
How do debt relief programs work?
Debt relief programs have become a hit among the debt-ridden people in the country.
When you enroll for any of the debt relief programs, they provide you with financial counseling that will help you understand and improve your financial crisis.
The best thing about these relief programs is that they help you negotiate your debt amount with the creditor and come up with a new reduced price. It further offers you loans at cheaper rates, so that you can pay off all your debts.
What are the debt relief programs you can opt for?
National Debt Relief
National Debt Relief is one of the most popular debt settlement companies in the states. The National debt relief program negotiates with your creditor and allows you to get rid of your debts by paying a lump sum amount, which is far less from your original debt.
CuraDebt
CuraDebt is another leading debt consolidation company you can consider. It is said that by enrolling for their program, you can get financial assistance, especially smaller amounts of debt.
New Era Debt Solutions
This is another debt relief company, which has a good history when it comes to debt consolidation & debt settlement. One of the best things about their debt relief programs is transparency and detail oriented. The company website gives you a clear vision of your debt management. This debt negotiating company can be your choice if you cannot afford high-end debt management companies, yet need a debt reduction.
It is always best to consider hiring a debt negotiating firm if you find yourself submerged with debt and things get out of control. Seek financial counseling to make sure that you make smart financial decisions & become debt free.
There are companies that work on collecting and maintaining credit information of consumers. These are known as credit reporting agencies (CRAs). There are three such major CRAs in the country, namely Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Apart from these, there are other smaller-scale agencies too that specialize at the job. If you’re worried about “where to get my credit score?,” the larger CRAs are the most reliable bets.
These major CRAs obtain information from companies that you hold business and transactions with. People or companies that lend you money regularly report to these CRAs on your repaying status. There is also detailed information on the amount you are indebted and whether you have ever defaulted on your payments. Aside from the reports obtained from lenders, these companies also tally your general records based on certain other aspects. Some of these aspects are your public records from the local and state judiciary. These include your tax records and bankruptcy information. This information makes up an important chunk of your credit score and its report.
Equifax
Present in 24 countries, Equifax is an agency that offers consumers protection against identity theft and credit fraudulence. They also sell credit reports and credit monitoring assistance to businesses.
Experian
Experian started off in London and is now a trusted agency in 39 different countries. It provides you with a credit score, credit report, and even credit tracker on subscription. The agency uses FICO 8 system of credit score calculation. Experian was a part of Forbes’ “World’s Most Innovative Companies” in 2018.
TransUnion
Based across 30 countries with a database of over 1 billion consumers, TransUnion is another CRA giant. The agency, like the other ones, will provide you with your credit score and your credit reports. In case you decide to freeze your TransUnion credit report, it will also go the extra mile to notify Equifax and Experian, which frankly is a big help especially in case of identity theft and credit fraud.
So, the next time you are sat wondering “where to get my credit score?,” think of these three giants that provide you with an annual credit score and credit report for free once each year. However, if you are looking for more frequent updates, you can subscribe to their services and receive your monthly updates.
Did you know that you have more than a single credit score? Agencies calculate your credit score based on the data in your credit reports. If you are wondering, “where to get my credit score?,” there are three main credit reporting agencies. These can have different credit scores for you if your information on each of their credit reports is different. Also, these agencies charge a fee to reveal your credit score.
Recently, it has become easier to track and get hold of your credit score without paying any fees. You can get it from your credit card company, your loan provider, and even from a non-profit counselor. Here are a few tips you can use to check your score.