Which of these "debt monkeys"
are on your back?

The minimum-payment trap. You're making the minimum payment each month on several credit cards with high interest rates. Although you make all your payments on time, you see distressingly little change in the balance month-to-month. Perhaps you transferred some of your debt to a credit card with a low introductory rate, intending to pay it off more quickly, but only made minimum payments on that card as well and are now back to paying 18% or more interest. At this rate, it may take you more than thirty years to pay off all your debt. This depresses you and you start looking for a way out.

The past-due pitfall. You've fallen behind with your monthly payments. Creditors frequently call you to demand payment. Each month, you continue to be assessed late and over-the-limit fees. Now your payment, which you had difficulty making in the first place, has snowballed. You may begin seeing derogatory comments on your credit report. Thoughts of bankruptcy may enter your mind.

The borrowing-from-Peter syndrome. You're still current, but just barely, and worry about falling behind in the near future. You occasionally borrow from one creditor to pay another until your credit limits approach. You play a catch-up game each month attempting to prioritize debts, but find it too overwhelming. At this point some creditors will be paid every month and some will be ignored. You attempt to pay different creditors each month so you don't get too far behind with any of them. Due to sporadic payments and high balances, you find yourself unable to get a debt consolidation loan or balance transfers. You never know what to expect when each month's bills arrive.

So, if any of the above sounds familiar to you, I urge you to free yourself from the evil clutches of the credit card companies. Contact our affiliated counselors immediately to rid yourself of the "debt monkeys" and start enjoying life again.

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