Many middle-income North Carolinians in the Tar Heel State are feeling squeezed by low wages, rising prices, and growing credit card debt. Unexpected expenses like medical bills or a major car repair can quickly throw a budget off track and lead to serious financial strain.
From Charlotte to Raleigh and from coastal communities to mountain towns, North Carolina residents may face overwhelming debt caused by medical costs, economic hardship, or personal setbacks. The good news is that eligible North Carolinians have several debt relief options available to help them regain stability and peace of mind.
Debt relief in North Carolina begins with an honest review of your income, expenses, and financial goals. Because every situation is different, working with a professional like ClearOne Advantage can help you choose the debt relief strategy that best supports you.
A debt management plan (DMP) partners you with a credit counseling organization to help you curb aggressive debt and debt payments.
These debt relief programs negotiate with your creditors to potentially lower interest rates and waive late fees. The main point of a DMP is for you to make a monthly payment, which your credit counseling organization uses to repay your creditors according to the DMP agreement.
Your debt relief program will simplify your debt repayment process but also requires a commitment of three to five years. A North Carolina debt management plan doesn't reduce the principal amount you owe, and your original creditors must also agree to participate in the program for it to be effective.
North Carolina offers certified relief and debt credit counseling services that provide professional financial guidance. These counselors help analyze your financial situation and suggest potential solutions. They help you assess how much you earn and how much you spend. Once you have a clear picture of your finances, credit counseling tries to find enough financial room for applying debt relief policies.
Credit counseling provides helpful advice on finance management and how to discipline your spending. However, it may not offer immediate relief from pressing debt concerns. The idea is that you should focus on education and planning rather than direct debt reduction before taking any action.
Consolidation rolls multiple debts into a single loan. If you have credit cards that are overdue or unpaid bills including the burden of medical bills and unsecured loans, you can roll them into a consolidation loan. A debt consolidation loan is used to pay off all your existing debts, and you only have to pay the one loan.
Debt consolidation loans can simplify your monthly payments and potentially lower excessive interest rates, especially on credit card interest, which tends to be high. Debt consolidation doesn’t reduce or eliminate your debt but restructures it. You may qualify if you have sufficient income and a good credit score.
Among other debt mitigation options, another possibility for North Carolina debt relief is debt settlement.
The philosophy behind this program is that borrowers can’t repay the full amount of their debt and need part of their debt reduced. This approach aims at a 25% to 50% debt reduction, so you only have to pay off the rest.
Debt settlement begins with a debt settlement company like ClearOne Advantage, which negotiates with your creditors. We present your current financial situation to your creditors and negotiate for a reduction of the debt balance. The negotiation stage can take up to four years, during which time you make monthly payments to a dedicated program savings account.
Once negotiations have been successful, your creditors agree to a reduction of the debt balance. The amount of money in your savings account is used to repay the remainder of the debt. At the end of the debt settlement process, you are debt-free.
Debt settlement negatively affects your credit rating and score and stays on your credit history for up to 7 years. The program works particularly well with credit card debt, personal loans, and other unsecured obligations without requiring any collateral.
Lear more about how debt settlement works.
When your debt is overwhelming, and there is no reasonable way to repay it, you can file for bankruptcy.
If you, as a North Carolina resident, face financial hardship, you can file for bankruptcy protection through Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 filings.
Chapter 7, known as liquidation bankruptcy, eliminates qualifying unsecured debts within 4-6 months and requires passing North Carolina's means test to determine eligibility. Part of the settlement might require you to sell eligible assets, but there are exceptions.
Chapter 13 establishes a structured repayment plan lasting 3-5 years. You can keep your property while repaying your debt.
Both types of bankruptcy carry implications for your financial future. A bankruptcy filing impacts your credit report for 7-10 years, may affect employment prospects, and often requires paying legal fees.
While bankruptcy provides legal protection from creditors, its impact is such that it should only be considered a solution of last resort when other debt-relief options in North Carolina have been exhausted.
"Amazing customer service. Jessica was very knowledgeable and patient with me. She made the process very easy and clear to decide on. I know I made the right decision to move forward in a positive direction financially. So appreciate the service ClearOne has to offer. Excited to begin this journey in being debt free."
-Yvonne, Greensboro,NC
Results vary by customer. View more customer reviews.
There are many debt relief options. With the right support and professional guidance, you can choose the option that best suits your financial situation. The best way to handle debt settlement is with a professional company like ClearOne Advantage. Our certified debt specialists are experts, professionals, and knowledgeable. If you are struggling with significant amounts of debt in North Carolina and looking for relief from existing debt, contact us today.
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ClearOne Advantage, LLC is a debt settlement company, not a lender, loan broker, creditor, credit services organization, or debt collector. ClearOne Advantage, LLC does not assume or pay any debts; receive, hold or control funds belonging to consumers; or provide bankruptcy, legal, accounting or tax advice. You should review full program terms and conditions before enrolling. To the extent that any aspect of the debt settlement services relies on or results in the consumer’s failure to make timely payments to the consumer’s creditors or debt collectors, the use of the debt settlement services: (1) Will likely adversely affect the consumer’s creditworthiness; (2) May result in the consumer being subject to collections or being sued by creditors or debt collectors; and (3) May increase the amount of money the consumer owes due to the accrual of fees and interest by creditors or debt collectors. Not available in all states. Some third-party fees may apply. C.P.D. Reg. No. T.S. 12-03822.
ClearOne Advantage, LLC is registered with the DFPI under the CCFPL. Registration Number: 01-CCFPL-1269219-3478532.
ClearOne Advantage is not a credit services organization and we do not make any claims regarding improvement of a consumer’s credit scores. Entering into a debt settlement program could adversely affect your credit score.
**Disclaimer - We do not charge upfront fees and you do NOT pay our fee until a settlement has been arranged, you approve the settlement, and at least one payment is made towards the settlement. As each situation is unique, fees and costs vary. Please contact us at 888-335-0896 for a free debt analysis and for complete program details.
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