Bakersfield Residents with Debt: Consider Debt Consolidation

BY Richard BarringtonJune 13, 2023

If you call Bakersfield, Kern County home, chances are, you’re employed in one of its two main industries – oil and agriculture. Kern County produces the most oil of any county in the US. In addition, as a Bakersfield resident, you’re also part of the fertile and highly productive San Joaquin Valley, which grows most of the produce eaten by the rest of the nation.

Of course, just because the county’s main industries are profitable, doesn’t mean that everyone who lives there is prospering. If you’re dealing with debt and need help, there are solutions. Whether it’s debt settlement, debt counseling or debt consolidation, Bakersfield residents can find help today. Call 800-910-0065 now for your free debt evaluation to find the solution that best fits your situation. There’s more than one way out of debt. Head down the path to financial freedom today.

Which Debt Option Is Right For You?

For those struggling with massive debt, there are a variety of debt solutions available. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, which is why it’s important to research your options and find the right one for you. Here’s an overview of what may be available to you in Bakersfield.

Debt Consolidation

Denizens of Bakersfield with debt over $10,000 could qualify for debt consolidation. It involves getting a loan to cover and consolidate your debts. Instead of paying several bills to multiple creditors, you make a single payment to a debt consolidation company or bank.

Debt Counseling

If you don’t have massive debt but you’d like to pay it off quicker, debt counseling could be right for you. Debt counselors could help you make a budget that meets your needs while still allowing you to pay down debt. However, you should know that debt counselors may also refer you to other services, such as debt consolidation. Residents of Bakersfield or “B-town” should research debt counseling services in the area for a comprehensive list of services.

Debt Settlement

If you have a lot of debt that you’re struggling to pay on your own, debt settlement could be your answer. Debt settlement companies could help reduce and resolve debt for less than you currently owe. To do this, the company negotiates with your creditors on your behalf while you accumulate funds into a program account you control. When the debt settlement company reaches an agreement with one of your creditors, you can use the money in your account to settle the debt. The process continues with each debt until it is all paid off.

There are other options besides debt counseling, debt settlement and debt consolidation. Bakersfield residents can also look into other debt management strategies like minimum payment plans and bankruptcy, though these options may be less favorable than those listed above.

Sticking with minimum payments will most likely lead to you paying more over time thanks to compounding interest. As for bankruptcy, it may be right for some, but it is typically viewed as a last resort, especially since it may have a negative effect on your credit score. That’s why it’s important to call today for a free debt evaluation: 800-910-0065

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Request a free debt evaluation to find out how we could help you:

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Debt Consolidation in Bakersfield

While some Bakersfield locals do benefit financially from the high-producing local industries, unfortunately, that’s not the whole picture. This part of California has suffered greatly from the economic recession. The result of which is high unemployment and high home foreclosure rates. So you can rest assured that if you are in massive debt, you’re not alone.

A possible solution is just a phone call away. Speak with a debt specialist and find out how you can start your journey toward financial freedom. It might not be right for you, but debt consolidation in Bakersfield could be worth looking into. Debt consolidation may simplify the debt repayment process. If you can secure a debt consolidation loan at a reasonable interest rate, you could make debt resolution less stressful.

Most consolidation loans require collateral — a high-value asset such as a home or a car — that you must leverage in order to receive the loan. A secured loan is a bit of a double-edged sword: on the one hand, it can help you get a lower interest rate, which means you pay less over time. On the other hand, if you do fall behind or can’t make your payments, you’re in danger of losing your leveraged asset. That means your house could be foreclosed on or your car seized.

The other option is to get an unsecured loan. These may be harder to come by and usually carry much higher interest rates because the lending company doesn’t have any guarantee that you’ll repay the entire loan outside of a binding signature. An unsecured loan could help simplify your repayment process, but it could also lead to a greater amount of debt overall.

How people in California are handling debt stress

California is an expensive place to live, so it’s no surprise that consumers there have an unusually large amount of debt. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, consumers in California have an average debt balance of nearly $80,000. That’s over $20,000 more than the average debt balance nationally

Sometimes high debt burdens are unavoidable. For example, medical bills were the leading source of financial hardship for California residents who got help from Freedom Debt Relief last month. Unfortunately, no matter what the reason for running up debt, the borrower has the job of figuring out how to pay it off. 

Debt problems don’t just go away. In fact, they tend to keep coming back. Most people in California who come to Freedom Debt Relief for help have at least one delinquent payment within the past 6 months. Overdue payments mean late fees and skyrocketing interest rates are likely adding to their debt.

Ever-growing debt balances can have a devastating impact on household budgets. On top of that, when people have debt problems, their ability to continue to get credit is often destroyed by plummeting credit scores. Consumers seeking debt relief in California have an average FICO score of 595 - far below the state’s overall average score of 721. 

When you get into credit trouble, the key is to take action to address the problem. No matter how much debt you have or how it came about, one thing these situations have in common is that the sooner you act, the sooner the problem will be solved. 

If you’ve tried everything you can think of and can’t solve the problem, the answer might be to get professional help. The credit experts at Freedom Debt Relief will analyze the situation and come up with a plan based on your needs. 

These plans are designed to attack your debt problem using a variety of proven methods. The right plan for you may involve some combination of a targeted payment schedule, debt consolidation, or negotiating with your creditors to reduce what you owe. 

Whether you choose resolution, counseling, or debt consolidation, you have options. Don’t wait any longer. It’s time to take care of your debt and enjoy a life of freedom in Bakersfield, California. Get started right now; call 800-910-0065 today.

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