Those who are ready to get out of debt or make their budget more manageable have probably considered a debt loan. Basically, this takes your current loans and combines them into one more manageable loan. While you may not necessarily lower your payments each month, at least your money is going somewhere and you can have a clearer completion date instead of multiple debts that never seem to go away.

It’s a great way for those with bad credit to help improve their finances and get their budget back on track. This is a great way to pay off your debts and work towards becoming debt free. So what are the options for loans for bad credit debt?

How to qualify

Most people with bad credit fear that they will not be approved for future loans. When the car breaks down and it’s time to get a new loan or your family is expanding and you need a bigger house, it’s stressful to worry about getting that loan approved.

The same applies to those who simply want to control their debt and need a debt loan to do so. Sometimes even helping yourself can be hard to do because you’re trying to get approved for another loan with your bad credit. Here is what you need to know.

Debt Loan Companies Vs. Banks

While most people go to a bank to get a loan, you can always go through a debt company. Banks and credit unions often have stricter criteria when someone applies for a loan, and typically only approve higher credit applicants.

If the bank rejects you, look into a debt company. They are set up to help people with worse credit get the loan they need. Do your research as there are many companies that are not trustworthy.

Make sure you are working with a legitimate company and that you are not falling for a scam. You don’t want a company that won’t review your financial situation, offer you money from the government to pay off your debt, or try to charge you up-front fees.

Those getting approved for their loans should beware, bad credit debt loans typically carry higher interest rates. While this means it may take longer to pay off the loan and the loan may cost you more in the end, at least you’re getting out of debt and getting approved for something. Although the loan will have a longer term, you can always work to pay it off sooner if your income increases in the future.

Improve your credit score

One thing to keep in mind is that you can work to improve your credit score before applying for a loan. This means regularly monitoring your score to make sure you’re improving and not taking any hits. Making all your payments on time will help improve your score. Another way to improve your score is to pay off debt, including overdue debt and credit cards. Avoid opening new accounts during this time.

Other options

If you can’t find a good debt loan, try a debt management plan or debt settlement company. Debt relief services offer debt management plans designed to help you pay off your debt within five years. You can get a lower interest rate through them than what you are currently paying to your existing creditors.

Debt settlement means that you will make monthly payments to a debt settlement provider. Payments go into an escrow account, while the provider works with your creditors to achieve a lower settlement on the remaining outstanding debt you owe.

Once an agreement is reached, they will take the funds you have deposited and pay the creditors. This is a good step to avoid bankruptcy for those who cannot afford their current monthly payments and are looking to get out of debt.

Instead of filing for bankruptcy, which will be on your record for up to 10 years, there are ways to better manage your debt. Try a debt loan through a bank or other lender, debt settlement, or a debt management plan.