Credit card debt amount?*	$	Select... 5,000 - 7,499 7,500 - 9,999 10,000 - 12,499 12,500 - 14,999 15,000 - 17,499 17,500 - 19,999 20,000 - 24,999 25,000 - 29,999 30,000 - 34,999 35,000 - 39,999 40,000 - 44,999 45,000 - 49,999 50,000 - 59,999 60,000 - 69,999 70,000 - 79,999 80,000 - 89,999 90,000 - 99,999 100,000 + ($5,000 minimum required to qualify)
Payment status on your credit cards?		Select... Current About To Fall Behind 31-60 Days Behind 61+ Days Behind

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Q: I have a credit card that is over it's limit by an amount I cannot pay..The cc company refuses to help. The amount keeps increasing. Would it be better to close the account myself or go to a debt consolidation place?
A: The worse thing to do with a credit card is close it with it bad! It will show on your credit report this way for 7 years! The best thing to do is call the credit card company and ask them to work with you! If you tell them you're going to have to file bankrupcy if they don't help you, I'm sure they'll change their minds! Ask them if they can wave some of the late fees for a large payment to show you are serious about keeping this account in good standing! Do not let this account close in these terms!

Q: How can I consolidate all my credit card debt into a low manageable monthly payment?
A: Many consumers find they have too many credit cards to easily manage themselves, and are in need of some form of credit card consolidation. Credit counseling is one of the most common debt relief options for people in need.

Credit counseling programs typically have their clients close all of their credit card accounts, and instead of paying each of their creditors each month, are expected to make a single payment directly to the credit counseling organization, which in return, disperses the payment to each of the creditors. Aside from the credit card consolidation payments, the primary benefit of credit counseling is the fact they usually are also able to negotiate lower interest rates for their clients, which reduces the amount of time it takes to get out of debt.

Before choosing credit counseling, or any other debt relief option, it is always advisable to explore your options.

Q: What good is doing a debt-consolidation, when all the credit card companies hire their own law offices to sue you for the debt for each credit card?
A: When you consolidate your debt, you take all your seperate debts and turn them into one debt. Therefore you have only to pay ONE payment, which is applied to the new total amount of the debt. Debt consolidation agencies deal with the collection agencies and work out an agreement to transfer the debt to the consolidation agency, who then collects payment on the debt. Once your debt has been transferred to a consolidation agency, it's no longer in the hands of those collection agencies and lawyers hired by the credit card companies.

Q: Am I criminally liable for not paying my debt?
A: There is no debtors prison. At this time if its unsecured debt there is not a lot creditors can do other then make your life hell, by calling you and trying to exact payment, wage garnishment, civil suits. I have never heard of anyone going to jail for not paying there debts, however not paying is the same as stealing and stealing can get you time in jail. I'm not 100% certain on this one.

Q: What is the normal course of action if one fails to make payments on a credit card? What will the credit card companies do to get their money back?
A: It depends on many things: the laws where you live, the amount owed to the credit card company, etc. In the U.S. the following answer applies.

They will send you letters demanding payment and call you constantly for the same purpose. If you fail to respond, you will likely be sent a letter via registered mail demanding payment. Then it will probably be handed over to a collection agency (see glossary)

If the amount is small, say $1-1,000, the company might call it a charge off or garnish your wages (provided you're employed and they know who your employer is). A charge off (see glossary) does not mean you are off the hook though, they will continue to try to collect on the debt.

If it is a large sum that is owed, then you will probably be served a Warrant in Debt by local law enforcement. This is a request for you to appear in court to answer the charge that money is owed. If you fail to show, depend on your wages being garnished or a request that assets are seized to repay the debt.

In all cases, your credit score is trashed. This could prevent you from buying a car, a home, or getting any other type of loan for several years. If at all possible, try to repay the debt and work with the creditor to work out a payment plan. This shows a good faith effort on your part to want to pay what you owe which will help you re-establish good credit in the long run.