Wednesday, June 10, 2009

5 Must Know Gems to Negotiate Credit Card Debt Yourself

When one has to deal with an elevated amount of debt, many times the ability to make payments and continue to make on-time payments can seem like the hardest thing in the world to do. While there are many viable ways of dealing with this debt fairly quickly such as debt settlement companies and transferring balances from one card to another, one of the quickest solutions is the ability to negotiate credit card debt yourself. If done successfully, significant results can be achieved in a relatively short period of time. Here are 5 must know gems that everyone should know to effectively negotiate credit card debt on your own behalf.

What To Negotiate?

Gem #1 Start of with interest rate negotiations. This, by far, is one of the easiest ways to negotiate credit card debt yourself. You will want to employ this tactic if your interest rates on your existing credit cards are high. Due to the highly competitiveness in the credit card industry, many of the cards available will have considerably low interest rates.

Gem #2 Try to negotiate your monthly payment. Quite often this can be a good negotiating tactic for you as well. Keep in mind that credit card companies will be less willing to engage in negotiations if you are current and have no problem making your payments. This is why it is important that you vocalize to the credit card service company the situation you are in. If it's bad, tell them so. If it's going to get bad, tell them that also.

How To Negotiate?

Here are three quick and effective techniques that you can use right now to implement these tactics to effectively negotiate credit card debt yourself.

Gem #3

Be prepared. A pro football team wouldn't go into a superbowl championship without know the plays, right. The same goes for you and your credit card negotiations. Sit down and plan out exactly what you want to get out of the negotiation with your servicer. Try to view the situation from the credit card companies perspective. Think of what major concerns they will have. Come up with potential comebacks and questions they will have so that you are better equipped and ready to have an exact answer.

Gem #4

Reach for the stars. If your going to do this, than you'd better do it big or just don't do it at all. What I'm trying to say by this is, you need to ask for exactly what you want. Don't anticipate or assume anything. We've all heard the expression "closed mouths don't get fed". This remains true in this particular situation as well. Know that you may not get what you ask for but the main thing to note here is that the only way people can give you what you want is by informing them of what you want.

Gem #5

Know that in the end a compromise will need to be made. Knowing this beforehand will help you to remain courteous and professional in your negotiation style. Remember that people want to help others that they like. If you come across as the big bad or irate customer, your shooting down your chances from the start. Get on their good side if you can from the beginning and this may work out for you in the end.

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