Question: Should I use a personal loan or debt management program to pay off my credit card debt?

I have about $25,000 of debt but can still pay monthly payments on time and have never missed a payment.

If I try to get a personal loan as opposed to a debt management program, which looks better to creditors?? My credit score is around 650-670. I am thinking of going to a non-profit credit counseling agency to see what they think.

I still have some stocks and bonds totaling $6,000. I do get paid consistently and have been trying some internet surveys to make some small money on the side to my job.

What things should I look for at the credit counseling agency?

Question: Entering into credit counseling with a debt management program or … ?

I am entering into a debt management program with a credit counseling company. I have about $17,500 in debt and my payment with the company would be about $400 a month.

My question is, would creditors be willing to accept 1/2 of the minimum balance that is due actually? I have 3 cards I’m in debt with, $285/month, $185/month, $165/month respectively.

I’m already 2 payments behind with 2 of the cards. Would the credit card companies accept a personal offer of 1/2 the usual minimum for a certain time frame? So I’d offer them $142.50, $92.50, $82.50.

Or since I’m already behind on payments should I stick with the debt management program (I just signed on and have to make my first payment on 2/28) and wait until I’ve been in the program a few months and then try to talk personally to my creditors and see what I can offer at that time??

Please advise. Thanks.

Question: Is debt management program the right way to go?

We are drowning in debt. So far we have managed to get our MINIMUM monthly payments out each month but we are getting no where.

Would a debt management program be a good option for us?

What exactly is a debt management program or debt management plan? Where do I find a reliable debt management company or agency one to work with?

Question: How do I create a debt management programme?

I did an internet search and all lead me to already established debt management programs. I want to set up my own debt management program, which can negotiate with creditors, consolidate loans etc… How do I get started?

I reiterate: There are literally thousands of debt management, consolidation, counseling websites and resources. I am not looking to manage my own debts, I am looking to start a debt management program for other people.

I want to know what grants to apply for to begin a start up program. I want to know what regulations, fees, licenses I need to start my own debt management program so that others can come to me for debt consolidation services.

I love December! It’s time of the year to flush away all unhappiness and start afresh with new year resolutions.

What resolutions did I, an AKPK DMP blogger, set for year 2009? Paying down credit card debts was my No.1 new year resolution! Of course, saving for emergency fund and making more money were on the list too.

For year 2010, my new year resolutions would focus on simple, achievable goals and the priorities would be a bit different. I am going to emphasize on saving money, making money and paying down credit card and personal debts.

1. Saving for Emergency Fund. As hubby and I are in AKPK debt management programmes that require lower monthly repayments, we are able to focus more on saving money with the extra cash left every month.

So far, we have got RM1,500 in the saving account. We want to reach our saving goal of RM3,500 in year 2010. And then, from RM3,500 to RM5,000, if possible.

2. Making More Money. With God’s blessing, hubby has had a full time teaching job that brings in a steady monthly income of RM2,000.

It’s not possible to increase hubby’s income, but it’s possible to increase mine. My existing online income excluding tuition fee is between RM2,300 and RM2,600 a month.

My goal is to reach more than RM3,500 a month in year 2010 through my niche blogs. Yes, it’s possible!

3. Paying Off Some Personal Debts. It’s my hope that hubby and I can pay back at least one-third of the personal debts owed to family members.

Although most of them haven’t asked for their money back, hubby and I think that it’s better to pay them back as soon as possible.

4. Paying Down Credit Card Debts. Paying off credit card debts will be my No.4 new year resolution because I want to settle as much personal debts as possible.

Once the personal debts are gone, the money used for paying personal debts can be channeled into paying one card payment at one lump sum until every card payment is settled.

5. Staying Healthy Always. Without good health, none of the above resolutions can be achieved smoothly. My health is better than hubby’s, so I must make sure that hubby has stronger immune system and better energy in year 2010.

Without good health, how can he stand long school hours and endless discipline problems created by the students?

So, what are your new year resolutions for 2010?

Tell me you can still keep your calm after seeing the outstanding balance of your credit card as of today and in March is RM6,300 and RM6,400 respectively.

I think any reasonable mind will go mad or freaked out after seeing no noticeable decrease in credit card balance despite being in a debt management program, right?

This morning, I thought of doing a spreadsheet for all my credit card accounts. When comparing the figure of March and November statements of a bank, I was shocked to see RM6,300 and RM6,400.

How could it be? I had already been in AKPK debt management plan for one year, so logically, the amount owed should have dropped to less than RM6,000, right?

Ya, I was mad and freaked out. I knew it’s because of the late payment charges that showed up almost every month for the last few months.

I remember my Ipoh credit counsellor had told me before that there’s nothing to worry about the late payment fees. They would not show up anymore once the banks had everything updated.

I also thought the banks would remove the late charges from their record sooner or later, so I didn’t call or write to the banks. But after giving them so many months to get updated, the late charges still showed up in the statements.

Enough! Too much! So I gave AKPK Ipoh branch a call. As usual, the ever helpful Ms Lina answered the phone.

I told her about banks (except Public Bank) which still had the late charges printed on the monthly statements. After listening attentively to my complaint, Lina assured me not to worry about the late payment fees.

According to her, banks would stick to only collecting the agreed amount of outstanding balance plus interest charges. I hope the banks really do so.

To know the latest correct amount of each of my credit card, Ms Lina even gave me every bank’s phone number and name of person who is in charge of AKPK cases.

I did call one of the banks and raised my concern regarding the late payment charges. Again, I was reassured that there’s nothing to worry about the late fees.

Am I considered lucky to be able to escape from the new RM50 service tax a year on every principal credit card and charge card since I am now in AKPK debt management programme? So is hubby

Imagine how much annual service tax hubby and I had to pay if we still had the 15 credit cards!! 15 principal credit cards from 6 banks. Phew, it’s RM750!

According to financial analysts, it is predicted that at least 30% of the holders of 11 million cards in circulation who have more than one card will have to pay RM100 every year.

You know, the applications for new credit cards dropped by 80% following the Government’s announcement of the service tax starting 2010.

Don’t you think this new imposition is good to those who are thinking of applying credit cards? It scares them off and thus they carry no credit cards. No credit cards mean no credit card debts, right?

When there are no credit card debts, people will have no reason to turn to non-performing loans, short-term loans, personal loans, debt consolidation loans, AKPK debt management programs, or bankruptcy easily.

It’s also good to those of you who have stacks of credit cards; you are forced to reduce the number of cards you own. Having fewer credit cards means you have to cut down on spending, retail purchases and impulse buying.

Also, you get to learn to use cash and debit cards. As a credit-card-debt woman who is in AKPK’s debt management plan, I must say that I love using cash and debit card now.

I have had two debit cards, Public Bank Visa debit card and Tune Money Visa debit card. Both cards are not used for retail purchases. Noop. They are only used for collecting PayPal money from my online income.

Since PayPal has now allowed Malaysians to link their PayPal accounts to their Malaysian banks or overseas banks operating in Malaysia, I think I can totally stop using and renewing my Tune Money Visa debit card.

As for the Public Bank Visa debit card, I will keep on using as a backup for PayPal fund withdrawals.

“Is there really such a free debt management programme?” Yes, but you must be a Malaysian in order to enroll in the debt management plan.

The free debt management program is offered by AKPK, Agensi Kaunseling dan Pengurusan Kredit, in Malaysia.

As a credit-card-debt woman who has been in AKPK’s debt management program for a year now, let me assure you that it’s a free DMP that involves NO credit counseling fee, NO enrollment fee and NO monthly service.

It’s normal that when you are looking for help with a financial crisis, you may wonder if AKPK is really a free of charge agency that can help you. The answer is YES.

You may have heard of for-profit and non-profit credit counseling and debt management agencies, but they don’t exist in Malaysia. There is only ONE credit counseling and debt management agency that provides free credit counselling and debt management programme services in Malaysia so far.

Like you, I am worried about hidden charges too. Malaysian banks, agencies and companies are simply too notorious for charging surprise fees and hidden charges to consumers. Fortunately, I haven’t been charged any fees by AKPK so far.

With the faltering economy and free credit counseling and debt management services offered by AKPK, the number of people seeking help from the agency has increased tremendously.

If you think that you are in need of help for your financial trouble, you had better waste no more time. Waiting may only end up costing you more. A few days’ time can mean the difference between settling a debt or watching it go into a default status and having third party collection involved.

Hurry! Go to a nearby AKPK branch, attend its briefing and fix an appointment to see a credit counselor there and understand what a debt management program is.

A debt management program is a good way to take care of an escalating credit card debt and other money problem without having to declare bankruptcy or deal with collection agencies.

With current bad economy and job loss, the number of bankruptcy filings and bankruptcies are on the rise. Are you thinking of filing for bankruptcy to get out of debt?

If you are really thinking that bankruptcy is your only debt relief option, you may/might be wrong.

As a woman who was once loaded with RM63,809 credit card debt in 2007 and later reduced the debt amount to RM40,000 in 2008, I had also thought of going bankruptcy.

The thought of filing bankruptcy rose when balance transfers, non-performing loans, short term loans and personal loans didn’t work to bring down the interest rates and outstanding amount much.

On the contrary, there were late payment fees, cash advance fees, retail charges, over-the-limit fees and other miscellaneous charges that kept adding new debt to the credit card debt.

I know how it feels to be under so much pressure from debt that you can’t even think straight. But believe me when I tell you that bankruptcy should be your last resort option.

I’m talking about no hope of ever getting out of debt after trying out balance transfers, non-performing loans, short term loans, personal loans, debt consolidation loans, debt management programs, and debt settlement plans.

One of the reasons that I didn’t opt for bankruptcy was because of the fact that I could pay off my credit card debt through a debt management programme offered by AKPK.

If you are a Malaysian and loaded with credit card debt, you may have known about AKPK by now.

Enrolling in AKPK’s debt management plan is another debt relief option that many Malaysians with credit card debt are seeking now. It’s a free debt management program that charges NO counseling fee, enrolment fee or monthly fee.

I am currently in AKPK debt management plan. In fact, I have been in the program for a year now.

Read my bumpy journey when applying for AKPK’s debt management program in 2008 if you think you need help from credit counseling and debt management program to help you pay off credit card debt.

“Why are you in deep credit card debt?” Is it because of excess spending that causes you to default on your credit card payments or is it due to the pay cut or job loss brought about by recessive times?

As for me, my credit card debt (hubby and mine) was caused by excess spending and insufficient income. There was always not enough income (from both of us) to pay the credit card payments, daily expenses, car and home loan instalments.

Whenever there was insufficient money to pay the minimum credit card payments, withdrawing cash advance from credit cards was always the solution to settle the payments.

As a result, more credit card debt incurred due to cash advances, cash advance fees, late payment charges and other miscellaneous fees imposed by banks.

Just as I thought filing for bankruptcy was the only way out to get rid of staggering credit card debt and harassing phone calls and warning letters from the creditors and credit card companies, AKPK saved me (and hubby) from declaring bankruptcy.

Regardless of why you are in debt, you need to know that there is a way out without resorting to bankruptcy. You can get out of your situation through AKPK’s debt management plan if you are a Malaysian.

The AKPK’s debt management program is individually designed to provide you with a unique solution for your financial situation; it keeps you from having to take out a debt consolidation loan or file for bankruptcy.

If you think that a debt management program is right for you, it is important to make sure that you know perfectly well the pros and cons of enrolling in a DMP.

AKPK’s debt management plan is a way out to get rid of credit card debt without filing for bankruptcy for me, but it does not necessarily suit you.

You yourself have to attend the credit counseling briefing to know the ins and outs or the pros and cons of the debt management programme before making a decision.