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Debt Consolidation in Wisconsin

Consolidate your debt into one simple monthly payment without a loan, and gain financial stability with our debt consolidation program.

  • Reduce your monthly payments up to 50%
  • Reduce interest rates up to 75%
  • Learn about your debt relief options
  • Pay your debt off sooner
  • Stop late and over-limit fees
  • Stop the collections calls

debt consolidation wisconsin

Get a Free Debt Consolidation Consultation

There is ZERO cost or obligation to you, and may improve your credit score over the duration of the program.

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Debt Reduction Services BBB A+ ratingWe’re a nonprofit debt relief company, licensed in Wisconsin.

We can help you end the stress of debt and escape the debt cycle for good.

Reduce your monthly payments up to 50% and pay off your debt faster.

We have already negotiated reduced interest rates with all major creditors and most regional and local lenders in order to assist you in repaying your debt sooner than you would be able to on your own. Often, we’re able to leverage our existing relationships to stop your late and over-limit fees, and even lower your required monthly payments.

consolidate your debt today

How it Works

talk to a debt counselor

Step 1.

Talk to one of our certified debt consolidation counselors.

lower interest rates and payments

Step 2.

Our preset terms with creditors can get you lower interest rates and payments.

distribute payments

Step 3.

Make just one simple monthly payment to us and we’ll distribute it to your creditors for you.

Reviews and Success Stories

Wisconsin Debt Consolidation

Over 5.82 million people call Wisconsin home, ranking the state 20th in the nation for population. The cost of living is slightly below average, while the housing market favors buyers a little more than average. Even so, many Wisconsin residents are struggling with debt.

According to a report released in late 2018, Wisconsin households have an average of $6,484 just in credit card debt. This ranks the state 42nd in the nation for credit card debt. Although Wisconsin has far less credit card debt than a large majority of the rest of the United States, this type of debt can be extremely difficult to pay off, especially once it’s coupled with other types of debt such as car loans, student loan payments, and mortgages. Everyday expenses and debt with collateral quickly takes priority over credit card debt. Unfortunately, once you fall behind on payments, high interest rates quickly expand your debt.

Finding relief from debt that has piled up over months or even years is stressful enough on its own. If your credit score has already suffered from nonpayment of debt, you may feel as though your options are limited even further. Fortunately, there are avenues to debt relief that don’t take credit score into account. If you, like many others, have found yourself in a situation where you’re unable to keep up with your debt, it may be time to consider getting help and finding a solution. As a non-profit credit counseling agency, we can help guide you towards a path to debt-free living.

What is Debt Consolidation?

Debt consolidation is the process of combining multiple debt into one single payment. The goal of the program is to lower your total monthly payments and create a manageable and secure payment structure.

There are two main ways to consolidate debt.

  1. Debt Consolidation Loan
    1. You apply for and meet the requirements to get a separate loan that covers your debt. You then owe the loan company one payment.
  2. Debt Management Program
    1. An account will be created to keep track of all the balances owed to current creditors. Prior to beginning repayment, a credit counseling agency will negotiate with creditors to reduce interest rates and settle on manageable monthly payments. Once these are set, all payments are totaled, and this amount is withdrawn from your bank account as one monthly payment. The debt management company will then disburse those funds to your creditors on your behalf.

Debt Consolidation Loan vs. Debt Management Program (DMP)

Although these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there are a few big differences between a debt consolidation loan and a DMP. A debt consolidation loan replaces multiple debts with one new loan. While this may seem like the perfect option to reset your finances and give you a fresh start, loans are not for everyone.

A debt consolidation loan may only be an option for those who can qualify. There is no guarantee of approval or the amount you can be approved for. This means that the amount you can qualify for may not be large enough to cover all of your outstanding balances. Depending on the qualifications you must meet, you may also end up with a high interest rate and longer repayment term. In the end, this solution typically takes longer to clear your debt than other options. Finally, financial counseling is often not included with this option. This means that the habits or situations that pushed you into debt in the first place will not be addressed. This could lead to a recurrence of debt.

In comparison, qualifying for a DMP through a credit counseling agency comes with far less strict qualifications. Through negotiations, this repayment plan will include lower interest rates and a plan to have all included debts paid within five years. Additionally, you will have access to financial guidance. This education includes insight into budgeting, saving, and improving your credit score. With this guidance, you have a much greater chance of staying out of debt once your program is completed.

Debt Consolidation Loan

PROS

  • Can obtain a lower interest rate on debt
  • Pays off old debt
  • Establishes new timeline and monthly payment

CONS

  • Must meet credit qualifications for a loan
  • Loan may not cover the amount of debt owed
  • May come with a higher interest rate
  • May take longer to complete consolidation than other options
  • May not supply access to financial education

Debt Consolidation Program

PROS

  • No minimum credit score requirement
  • Obtain a lower interest rate and reduce fees on debt
  • Pays off all debt dollar for dollar
  • Affordable monthly payments
  • Free credit and debt counseling

CONS

  • Debts less than $1,000 may be better paid on your own
  • Cannot consolidate secured debts (i.e. house, car, etc.)

Wisconsin Debt Consolidation FAQs

What type of debt can be included in debt consolidation?

Only unsecured debt can be included in a debt consolidation program. Unsecured debt is any type of debt not backed by collateral. For example, unsecured debt includes credit card debt, medical bills, and personal loans. Secured debt includes mortgage and car loans in which case, should a borrower be found incapable of repayment, assets can be repossessed or ceased.

What does your credit score need to be for a debt consolidation loan?

This can vary depending on the lender you choose. However, the better your credit score, the better the terms you will receive. If you suffer from a poor credit score, you may not be eligible for a debt consolidation loan, or the terms may not be favorable to your financial situation. A debt management plan is worth considering for those with bad credit, as your credit score is not considered when reviewing your application.

Is debt consolidation bad for my credit score?

Participating in a debt management program in order to consolidate your debt does not directly affect your credit score. A temporary note may be made on your credit report by your current creditors. This simply informs other creditors of your attempt to repay your debt and discourages them from issuing you any new accounts, lines of credit, or loans that may detract from your efforts.

Once you have completed the DMP, this notation is required to be removed. In certain circumstances, when a client enrolls in the DMP and either they or their creditors’ close credit accounts, the client may see a short-term drop in credit score partly due to a change in the ratio of current balance to available credit limit. However, this dip is quickly recovered because of on-time payments which lower debt owed.

Does debt consolidation work on a limited income?

Because qualifying for a loan is typically based in part on income, acquiring a consolidation loan could be difficult on a limited income.

However, consolidating debt through a debt management program requires no minimum income. Aside from a complete inability to pay, credit counseling agencies are willing to work with most incomes to create affordable payments and program participation.

Is consolidating debt a bad idea?

While lenders may be temporarily deterred from lending to someone who has consolidated debt because of closed accounts or credit report notations, these marks will fade, never lasting longer the repayment program itself.

Lenders then will be more willing to offer credit or loans due to increased credit scores. Many clients are even able to purchase homes shortly after completing their debt repayment.