Consolidate your debt into one simple monthly payment without a loan, and gain financial stability with our debt consolidation program.
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Reduce your monthly payments up to 50%
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Reduce interest rates up to 75%
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Learn about your debt relief options
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Pay your debt off sooner
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Stop late and over-limit fees
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Stop the collections calls
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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We’re a nonprofit debt relief company, licensed in Iowa.
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.
How it Works
Step 1.
Talk to one of our certified debt consolidation counselors.
Step 2.
Our preset terms with creditors can get you lower interest rates and 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
Iowa Debt Relief & Consolidation
Over 3.15 million people call Iowa home, ranking the state 32nd in the nation for population. Iowa tends to have pockets of highly populated cities and towns surrounded by manufacturing and farming communities, with rural communities accounting for around 35% of the population. This may explain the state’s relatively low cost of living compared to the rest of the United States. The state’s low cost of living could partially explain the comparably low household debt held by Iowans. According to 2020 statistics, on average Iowan households only have about $4,289 in credit card debt, meaning the state is ranked last in terms of credit card debt.
Although Iowans don’t necessarily have more debt than the average American, circumstances can arise that put them in a difficult financial position. Credit card debt can be extremely difficult to pay off, especially if it’s paired with other loans such as car loans, student loan payments, and/or a mortgage. Everyday expenses and debt with collateral quickly takes priority over credit card debt. Once you fall behind on payments, high interest rates continue to increase your debt.
Finding relief from this kind of snowballing debt is stressful enough on its own. If your credit score has suffered at all, you may find that it is even more difficult to find help. Fortunately, there are avenues for debt relief that don’t take credit scores into account. If you, like many others, have found yourself struggling to climb a mountain of 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.
- Debt Consolidation Loan
- You apply for and meet the requirements to get a separate loan that covers your debt. You then owe the loan company one payment.
- Debt Management Program
- 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.)
Iowa 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.
