Always call your state's consumer protection agency before signing

Before applying for a debt consolidation loan, contact the creditors you owe. Ask them if they can negotiate any of the the terms you are obligated to. Doing this prior to getting the debt consolidation loan will leave you in better shape to really minimize your overall debt once the loan is paid off and give you better figures to work with as well.

Is it worthwhile to consolidate all your debts? For example, it makes little sense to consolidate loans with zero percent interest onto higher interest loans. Discuss each debt with your debt consolidator to determine which ones should be included.

Always call your state's consumer protection agency before signing anything with a debt consolidation agency. Make sure the agency is properly registered, has a valid license and no complaints filed. You should not work with a professional who is about to lose their license because of complaints filed by consumers.

If you decide to go through debt consolidation, contact the Better Business Bureau. The BBB keeps records of any complaints lodged against a company. By checking out the debt consolidation company, you can ensure that complaints have not been filed against the company. This is especially important because there are many fake debt consolidation companies.

Choosing a consolidation loan means considering the rate. Not only do you need to know how high it is, but also whether it is fixed or variable. You never know what the future might bring as far as interest rates go, so a long-term variable loan can truly cripple you financially.