• Did you know it was possible to improve your credit score without actually having much funds available in your personal bank account?
• It is even possible to obtain a good credit score after having a bad credit rating, when living in and out of a personal overdraft!

To increase your credit score or improve your credit rating you need to pay any credit account you have on time and make sure your payments are for the correct amount. It does not matter how much money you have in your bank account. It is as simple as that, if you are struggling with credit accounts get rid of them where possible.

 Start a fresh and gain control on a monthly or weekly basis!

Car finance and all other types of credit agreements are listed on your credit report so it is important too keep up with all agreements not just the ones that are important to you.

Most people suffer from a bad credit score due to not being able to keep up with regular monthly repayments, some months they encounter extra unexpected living costs, such as motor breakdowns and domestic appliance problems.

• These tend to need immediate attention which costs and these costs are what tend to set the individual back.

When payments are then missed for credit accounts, the credit companies are duty bound to update the credit reference agencies monthly such as Experian and Equifax.  These credit reference agencies keep your credit file up to date so that when you apply for any borrowings or credit, the lender you are applying too has the right with your permission to search your credit file for any information they may require to either approve, or decline your application.

• When an application for credit is refused or turned down, the lender is under no obligation to tell you why.  This can often offend people but the policy not to disclose the reason for decline is normal practice within the credit industry.

If you have never seen a copy of your credit report, it can at first take time to understand.  Once you have seen it you will feel more comfortable looking at it next time you need to, and so on.  It is important to keep a check on your credit report as this can inform you of any searches that have been made in your name without your awareness.

Credit Expert from Experian is the most well know of the credit reference agencies that allow you to view your credit report online.  They offer a free 30 day trial.  This is a trading name or brand of a company called Experian who advertise on Television, you may have seen the credit expert TV adverts.

Lenders use different parts of your credit report to assess if they are able to lend to you, this differs from lender to lender.  If you make multiple applications for credit and get refused within a short period of time, say one day to a week or even within one month, you can reduce your credit score that way, so be careful when applying for credit.

Prospective lenders do not like to see many refused applications for credit within your file over a short period of time, it can show that you are desperate to obtain the credit and this can worry a lender.

If you need advice regarding clearing personal debts after suffering a bad credit history, you can call our free debt helpline 24 hours a day in total confidence using 0800 018 6868.

We are specialists in personal debt management consultancy and help many people every day to clear and consolidate personal debt problems. 

• Personal Debt Consultants at Lewis Alexander will not charge you for advice!

If you are suffering from excessive charges and interest rates that are being applied to your credit agreements then you should take advice from a personal debt consultant sooner rather than later.

• Do not stick your head in the sand like an Ostrich, get professional advice from trained personal debt consultants.

Your creditors will be sympathetic to the problem you find yourself with and you should approach them with details of changes in your circumstances or with reason for the lack of your ability to repay.

When credit and debt becomes a problem, it can seem as though you are the only one suffering, this is not the case, if we all could see inside other peoples wallets, we may find a lot of other people in the UK are currently suffering from the same financial problems.

Personal debt consultants can help by advising the best solution to take with advice tailored to your personal situation.

Some people just carry on day after day hoping that the problem will go away, unfortunately it does not and often it will get larger over time if not dealt with. 

You must accept that you are not alone and personal debt consultants can help you, they are specialists in what they do and even though all of us are different, the problems we face financially tend to be the same.

If you would like to speak with a trained personal debt consultant in total confidence today, then please call our free debt helpline using 0800 018 6868, lines are open 24 hours, 7 days.

The amount of cash loans, doorstep loans and further personal credit taken out over the run up to Christmas is astonishing.

Christmas is most certainly one of, if not the most expensive times of year.  We all rush out trying to buy items that we think will please our loved ones when really, the only winners seem to be the retail shops.  Most of us save and budget for Christmas when others just spend like next year is not going to arrive!

• This is where a lot of people, mainly people on low incomes or state benefits, get parted with hard earned money.

There are unscrupulous financial companies waiting to charge you very high rates of interest for short term loans that are really not affordable.  When we advise people that call us for doorstep loans or cash loans that only millionaires can afford these types of loans, they laugh!

It is not funny when the bills for these, loans arrive and the interest compounds beyond a point of ability to repay that interest and makes it near impossible for the individual to reduce the total debt.

These cash loan companies then have you in their grasp, it is very difficult to break this grasp and it makes the vulnerable consumer an easy target for further credit or final collection procedures to recover money owed.

You must accept that if you are used to borrowing from a door to door lender, you should consider starting a debt management plan that will consolidate your catalogues, book clubs, loans, overdrafts and credit cards or store cards into one, new, lower and affordable monthly repayment.

• This way, by the time next Christmas arrives, you will have enough money set aside to buy gifts without needing to borrow money at very high rates.

It is usually the most desperate of people that get stuck in this cycle of personal debt and because of their desperation, they fail to see the true picture when being offered loan products that only seem to be of benefit to the lender, not the individual borrowing the money.

If you are on DLA or other types of benefits, loans are very difficult to obtain and people often get offended when refused for cash loans or doorstep loans. This refusal is actually the best thing that the individual could hear, it is just the acceptance of the refusal that the individual needs counselling for and this is where a debt management plan could possibly help if circumstances allow.

To start a debt management plan for most is a negative thing to do, if you need one then it is the most positive thing you could do.  A structured repayment plan would get your finances in order and make a stable foundation for your financial future. Just because someone is not offering you cash does not mean that you are not being offered help, think and think again!

Think before you borrow!

In our business of managing hundreds of clients finances and helping them with their debt consolidation, we have found that the biggest cause of stress in families is always regarding their personal debt and how best to manage the debt problem that can spiral out of control very easily.

We find that many people are not aware of the debt help that is available for people who genuinely want to reduce their debt and be able to cope with managing their income and expenditure.

There are many financial companies who have an excellent track record in helping people in this situation and these companies are able to ease their clients’ worries very quickly.

Debt consolidation is one method that can be used very effectively to reduce your outgoings and balance it with your in comings, especially with expert help.

• Many people need educating in what one needs to do in this situation!

Contacting a debt consolidation company will help and educate them as to what decisions need to be made to effectively manage the current situation in the best possible way.  This in itself is a way that a client can receive immediate relief from the worries of not being able to cope financially and the ability to sit down or talk to a consultant over the phone will have long term benefits for the individuals financial future.

Over the many years of managing and clearing clients debts, our experience tells us that once a client contacts a debt management or debt consolidation company, they are put at ease, knowing that that they will not have to deal with a bailiff or collection agent knocking on their door demanding monies that they cannot afford.  The fact that the debt agency is there to help in this situation makes a huge difference.

• What Is Debt Consolidation?

In the simplest terms, debt consolidation means that you take all of your individual unsecured or secured repayments such as credit cards, overdrafts, loans and catalogues etc and put them all together as one full amount owed. This full amount is the amount that is then arranged into one consolidated loan, offering the benefit of making one lower, affordable and reduced monthly repayment over a longer period initially, if necessary with the effect of reducing ones monthly outgoings.

• The main purpose of this is to;

1)  Reduce the total amount of debt – this can be achieved effectively when you work closely with one lender who will pay off all your outstanding debt and consolidate it into one monthly repayment.

2)  Create one new payment to a new lender that is far smaller than all the individual payments to various lenders. Debt consolidation companies have much more experience dealing with lenders in this scenario and can also negotiate a much better rate of interest, effectively reducing your overall personal debt.

3)  Allowing you in time to reduce your overall debt if you can make slightly larger payments in due course will have the net effect that you would pay much less in interest over the whole period.

• One of the benefits that occurs as a result of the above is that you end up with a much better organized financial statement regarding your income and expenditure.

We all find that many bills to pay means you have to be so much better organised and able to meet all the various payments at the due dates or end up paying penalties for late payments, causing you to pay much more in the long run and also affecting your credit rating along the way.

One outgoing for a loan is much easier managed than 10 different payments to various lenders!

• What are my options when Consolidating my Debt?

1)  If you own your own home and have a reasonable amount of equity in your home you may consider the route of refinancing your existing mortgage to pay off other debts which will reduce your overall interest paid.

2)  If you have a fairly good credit rating you may be able to obtain a personal loan and many people would favor this as the equity in their homes has been drastically reduced in the last few years. You can find out more information about these specialist loans from good debt consolidation companies or debt counselors.

3)  If you have credit cards with large balances then you may opt to transfer all your other debts onto one single card, but you will end up paying higher interest or charges with this method.

4)  Many times you may be able to get help or assistance from family and friends, however, when one wants to keep a certain amount of privacy with financial affairs, most people are swayed against this course of action unless they have very good and open relations with family.  You are also likely to create tensions in family when the last thing you need is further tension, lack of privacy and stress.

5)  Seeking out a professional debt consolidation company – For many people this would be the best option, working closely with a time served and reputable company who have specialists in debt consolidation, debt management and debt reduction will really help you. The advantage is in the fact that they have an in depth knowledge of the areas concerned and also have very good working relationships with banks, credit card companies and general debt collectors and lenders. It is possible in many cases that they are able to negotiate better rates of interest and settlements.

It is important to note here that lately, there has been a surge in new companies operating in this debt arena, many of whom have very little track record and your interests are, shall we say, not their first priority!  It is very important that you do your homework and work with only the best companies that are prepared to look after your interests first, not their own.

Lewis Alexander Financial Management offer a first class personal Debt Management Service, nationwide throughout the UK. We are based in Manchester and we have helped thousands of client’s in our history.  We have in house specialists who concentrate on debt management and loan consolidation and we have been looking after a great number of our clients for many years now.

Call Lewis Alexander on their free debt helpline using 0800 018 6868, our lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and your call is free.

• Unable to manage monthly repayments?
• Are you receiving letters and calls from credit card and loan companies?
• Have you missed payments on any of your credit agreements?

If you answered YES to any of the above, you need personal debt information that will assist you in clearing debts without further loans.  Struggling with debt in the long term is not the way forward and the sooner you find away to end your debt, the better!

There are many different debt solutions which you can explore to find the one that suits you best, what you do need is the correct advice and this is not always available.  The reason for this is due to most debt companies wanting to take you down the route that is most profitable to them, not YOU!

The most usual ways to clear your debt without another loan are listed below;

Debt Management

IVA in England or Trust Deed in Scotland

Going Bankrupt

You may have already considered some of the above if you are struggling with debts and may not have received the correct advice based on your current situation.

At Lewis Alexander, we specialise in helping people every day who are struggling to clear their personal debts, we do this without the individual having to take on further credit or loan agreements.

We will be able to help you! All you need to do is call our free debt helpline in confidence and have a brief confidential chat with one of our experts.  This way you are not paying for the advice and you can compare our debt help to other companies you my have spoken with, or are about to speak with.

• Call free today, what have got to lose apart from ten minutes of your time?
• You may even find that after our brief chat, your problem is not as bad as you originally thought, which in itself is a massive relief to most people.

IVA or Debt Management

The most difficult decision when trying to clear personal debts can be which debt solution to choose after doing all your homework on the options available.

• Debt Management Plans or
• IVA – Individual Voluntary Arrangements
• are usually the two solutions that people have to decide between. When faced with the two options, there are many factors that influence the choice of informal debt management over an IVA and likewise, an IVA over a debt management plan.

It is very important that you understand the differences between these debt solutions, as if you do not, you could easily have the wool pulled over your eyes by a clever and unscrupulous debt advisor that wants to earn extra commission for placing you onto an IVA as opposed to an informal Debt Management Plan.

A professional debt management company such as Lewis Alexander will offer you advice tailored to your personal situation and if you are better suited to a debt management plan rather than personal Insolvency or an IVA, we will tell you, however, you make the final decision based on the debt advice given to you.

It is your choice no one Else’s!

When you are in debt it can feel like everyone else does not understand your particular situation and that you feel that your debt problems are some how different to all others.  This is not true, it is actually a mental stigma associated with being in personal debt, you are not alone and your financial problem is usually pretty much the same as others around you, it is your personal change in circumstance that will differ to other peoples, this is what creates the problem of being in debt in the first place.

Some people split from partners or others suffer a death in the family, others may have hours at work reduce resulting in less income, the list is endless but what is the same is the debt problem that people find themselves with due to being set back financially by the change in circumstance they may have suffered.

The main difference between an IVA and Debt Management Plan (DMP) is that

• An IVA is a legally binding agreement
• A debt management plan is not.

With a debt management plan you can expect to repay much of what you owe.  With an IVA, the debt that is not repaid within a 60 month period is then written off by your creditors, this is agreed at a creditors meeting prior to the IVA commencing.

The IVA will guarantee to freeze any interest or charges being applied to your accounts, a debt management plan will not and it is down to the hard work and efforts put in by your chosen debt management company as to how quickly your debt is reduced, make your selection regarding your chosen debt company or debt service carefully!

• The cost of choosing or selecting the wrong debt company or agency to solve your debt problems can be as high as the interest being applied by your creditors to your accounts.
• The wrong debt company will have no concern on actually getting the job done, they are more concerned with extracting funds from you and fobbing you off with none truths.

For honest, genuine, debt advice and help in the UK, call our free debt helpline today using 0800 018 6868, your personal details are dealt with in absolute confidence and your call is free!

At Lewis Alexander we understand how personal debt problems can impact on your daily life and we offer help and assistance to clear your debts without another loan.  You do NOT need to take on further credit or loans to clear credit card debts or other unsecured credit agreements.

You can start by exploring proven debt solutions such as a Debt Management Plan or IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement).

Debt solutions such as bankruptcy are usually the last to be considered and also the most severe! Please remember that you should not pay debt companies for advice about how to clear personal debts.

There are many different ways of finding free help to clear debts, many sites online will offer information that when put together, gives you a broad but at times detailed explanation of solutions available to clear personal debt. 

• Should you really trust the companies you owe money to when looking for free help to clear debts?

Help to clear debts in the UK is free, it is only when you use the services of a debt management company or Insolvency Practitioner that you would be expected to make repayments via a third party, other than when starting one of those two options, no individual should be asking you to part with any money unless you owe it directly to them.

• It is very important that people consider all options available when obtaining free help to clear debts!

Apart from the main 4 solutions (debt management plans, bankruptcy, Consolidation loans and Insolvency)  there are no magic ways of wiping out debt, unenforceable credit agreements do exist but not in the numbers that some companies are advertising!

• Debt management should only be entered into with the right company, do your homework!
• An IVA should only be entered into with a licensed insolvency practitioner
• A loan to clear debt should only be taken from a licensed credit broker
• Bankruptcy is entered into through your local county court

Be careful of being charged upfront fees for help to clear debt and services that may not even exist, some companies are charging people for loan applications to clear debts and these people are finding that loans are still not available to them, even though a  fee has been paid! 

Should you wish to discuss you personal financial issues with a trained personal debt advisor and simply need help to clear debt, please call our free debt helpline using 0800 018 6868, our staff are UK based, lines are open 24 hours /7 days a week and your call is FREE.  All calls are dealt with in confidence.