There are many ways you could clear your debts; debt management is just one of them.

The question is, though, what are debt management plans… and how do they work?

A debt management plan is an informal agreement between you and your unsecured creditors. It involves a change in the way you repay your unsecured debt (a reduction in the amount you are required to pay each month), and can help you get back on track with your finances if you can’t keep up with your payments.

Click here to read more about debt management in the UK.

Here’s a really quick guide to how a professional debt management plan could work:

• First of all, you’ll need to speak to a professional debt adviser, who will ask you various questions to figure out whether a debt management plan is the right solution to your debts.
• If they believe it is, your debt adviser will help you draw up a realistic plan for repaying your debts.
• Once they’ve worked out how much you can actually afford to pay towards your debts each month, your debt adviser will try to negotiate a new repayment plan, involving lower monthly payments, with your creditors.
  • Your creditors may agree to the plan, providing they can see it’s the best way for them to get their money back - by allowing you to repay it at an affordable rate.
• If the negotiations are a success, you’ll begin making one affordable monthly payment to your debt management organisation. This money will be shared amongst your creditors according to how much you owe each of them.

Please note: because debt management is an informal financial agreement, both you and your unsecured creditors have the right to change your minds. Plus, repaying your debts more slowly can damage your credit rating and end up costing you more.

With today’s turbulent financial situation, more and more consumers need assistance with their debt problems. In response to this need many new debt management companies have been formed. Most of these businesses have received the appropriate licensure and are legitimate. However there are some debt management companies out there today that are anything but legitimate. These firms seek to take your hard earned money and will in turn give you bad advice which can actually make your situation worse.

There are some things that you can keep in mind as you look for a debt management company to help you. Many of these firms are non-profit meaning that their goal is to provide the public with information not to make money. These sorts of firms usually are your best bet as their motive is merely to help you. There are other debt management companies that will charge you fees and take actions to confuse the consumer. Often these firms will choose names that are very close to the more well known non-profit agencies. Be wary of any debt management company that charges you a steep fee. Their motives are not simply to help you.

Another clue to help you sift out the good debt management companies from the bad would be the results promised to you. Many of the firms you should avoid will make very appealing promises to you. Always remember that is something seems too good that it probably millions. One common strategy is for the debt management company to advertise that they can get you very low monthly payment. Be careful in these situations because the debt management firm will probably contact your creditors to obtain hardship. They do not inform you that this measure will actually be detrimental to your credit. These dishonest debt management companies only seek to make a fast buck. Another misleading strategy is miscalculating the length of time needed to pay off the debt. Typically these firms will provide you with a figure without fully looking at your debts. When choosing a debt management company take your time and shop around.