Pros and cons of debt counselling
Sometimes people borrow more money than they can afford to pay back, and then they find themselves in financial trouble. Debt counselling can help, but there are pros and cons to consider.
What is debt counselling?
If you are over-indebted, a debt counsellor can negotiate with your credit providers on your behalf to get lower interest rates and reduced monthly instalments. This makes your debt more manageable and teaches you accountability as your agreement with your debt counsellor can fall away if you miss a payment.
Debt counselling pros
- When you are in debt counselling, creditors cannot take action against you
- There is no permanent record of having undergone debt counselling
- There is only one monthly repayment to be made
- Your budget will meet your basic needs first before provision is made for debts
- You will never pay more money than you can reasonably afford
- A debt counsellor will suggest ways of cutting costs and saving money
- You will no longer get calls from your creditors demanding payment
Debt counselling cons
- You are not allowed to have more credit while undergoing debt counselling
- It does cost a little bit of money, but the fees are set by law
- Your debts might take longer to pay off as a result of paying smaller amounts each month
It’s important to get a credit report to find out how bad your credit score is. This can help you decide whether you need guidance from a debt counsellor or whether you will work on improving your score by yourself.