3 Options To Deal With High Interest Credit Cards

Credit cards are notorious because of their high interest rates. Sometimes, people who are burdened with credit card debt do not need to go for debt reduction. They do not have to compromise their credit scores because they can afford to pay off their contributions. They just need to do something about the high interest on their credit cards to make better progress at paying it down.

Lucky for you, there are three options to help you deal with your high interest credit cards.

1. Request for a lower interest rate. Some people do not know this but you can actually call your creditor to request for a lower interest rate. Sometimes, telling them that another company offered you a new low interest rate credit card can be a great strategy. Even if it is true or not, that really happens. Credit card companies use it as a way to get cardholders to switch to their company. Tell your current card company that you are seriously thinking about taking up on the offer unless they can make you a good offer too. If you had been good with your payments, the chances of them lowering your interest will be high. Of course, you just have to be ready to close the account in case they refuse to agree to your request.

2. Stop accumulating debts. Here’s the thing. Your interest rate can only affect you if you have an outstanding balance on your card. That means, removing this balance will automatically keep you from suffering the effects of high interest rates. One of the ways to do that is to stop using your cards. Just pay for things in cash. Learn how to wait if you cannot afford to buy something.

3. Use debt relief. Since lowering your balance seem to be the key in dealing with the high interest rate on your card, using a debt relief program can also help. If you want to keep your credit score from suffering, we highly suggest that you go for debt consolidation. You have two options in making sure that you end up with a low interest when you combine your credit card debts.

• Debt consolidation loan is when you get a master loan that will be used to pay off your existing high interest credit balance. The average debt consolidation loan rates are relatively smaller compared to credit cards so this will help address the interest problem.
• Balance transfer. This is when you transfer your high interest credit balances to a new card that offers a zero percent interest for a specific period. This promo period usually runs between 6 to 18 months. The idea is to make bigger payments during this period so that you can seriously pay down the principal debt that you owe. Just be careful because you could be back to the high interest rate once the promo period is over.

These three options can help you with the high interest of your cards but make sure that you be smarter about how you will use it. That way, you can avoid the usual financial crisis that credit card debt can bring.

How Can Debt Consolidation Save Your Retirement

Have you ever thought about how you will spend your retirement? Regardless of the picture in your mind, one thing is for certain, debt is not a part of it. We all want to retire with financial security but sadly, this is not the reality for the baby boomers who are about to leave the workforce. A lot of them are facing retirement with a lot of debts to their name. This forces them to work beyond the average retirement age and worse, it gives them stress that leads to a lot of health problems. Some of them expect to keep on working until they drop while others have decided to just let go of the personal assets they have accumulated throughout their lives and live a simple life.

If you are in the pre-retirement phase in your life and you have a lot of debts, you need to start doing something about it. Do not let the financial mistakes of your younger self affect your senior years.

Fortunately for you, there is a debt solution that will allow you to get rid of your financial problems in time for your retirement. At the very least, this will help solve your unsecured debts - especially your credit card debt.

Debt consolidation is the best way to get out of debt fast - without damaging your credit history and your financial history. It will free you from your unsecured debts for a short amount of time and it can also allow you to manage any mortgage or student debt that you are also burdened with. Here are the reasons why this is a good idea for those who only have a few years left in the workforce before they retire.

First of all, it will help you get out of debt in 5 years or less. The two types of debt consolidation usually do not exceed 5 years - unless it is a home refinancing. Since your mortgage is a big amount, this usually takes a lot longer lest you will end up paying a high amount on your monthly contributions. But for your other debts, you can be rid of them in a couple of years. The bigger payments you can contribute every month, the faster you can get over your financial problems.

The second benefit that pre-retirees can get from debt consolidation is the fact that you can choose the monthly payments that you will contribute. Most of the time, people choose lower monthly payments so they free up funds for other expenses. For instance, those who are about to retire would want to boost their savings or their retirement fund.

The third benefit is the single monthly payment that consumers will adapt when they use this debt relief option. This will relieve some of the stress that they will be feeling because money management will not be as difficult to apply.

These are only some of the benefits of debt consolidation for retiring individuals so it is best to do your research further. Of course, you still have to consult your finances before you finalize your decision to use this debt solution. While the possibility of a lower monthly payment is there, it will not reduce the amount that you owe. You will still end up paying for everything that you owe - albeit over a longer period. A steady income is a requirement - among others.

Is It Possible To Use Debt Consolidation To Solve Student Debt?

Wondering if debt consolidation can help solve student debt? Of course it can. However, it will not be the same as the options of mortgage, credit card and other personal loans.

Putting yourself in debt for your education is a smart move but only if you are certain that you can afford to pay it off. While saving up for it is still a better option, there are certain programs that can help you get out of debt if things get too tough.

Student debt is a fast rising problem for everyone. Not only is it causing much distress to students and graduates, the retiring generation (baby boomers) find themselves in a deep fix because they are still not done paying this off. Also, it is scaring off high school students into pursuing a college education. We want to solve this as much as possible by letting people know that there are ways to make student debt payments more manageable.

We are of course, talking about debt consolidation. As mentioned it is a bit different from other types of consumer debt.

Your option will be more like debt consolidation loans. You will apply for it and when you are qualified, the Department of Education will buy your loan and you will end up paying them. The great thing about this is you will be paying a fixed interest rate from now on - much like in mortgage payments. This is another type of refinancing. Those paying off their student debt in this manner will enjoy a much lower payment requirement every month. Unlike in private debt companies, the Department of Education will not charge any fees for this transfer of debt. It gives consumers a higher chance of completing their payments because a bigger percentage of their monthly contribution will be sent towards the principal loan amount.

And if you are not qualified for this federal assistance, you can still use debt consolidation - however, it will not be a direct help to your student loans. If you have other debts that qualify for debt consolidation, enroll them in the program. It will allow you to make smaller monthly payments and thus free up some funds for student loans. If not to increase your debt payment fund you should use it to put money into your savings account. Growing your reserve fund will help ensure that any unexpected expense will not compromise your debt payments - especially those towards your student loan.

If you combine them, you will find more funds are freed that will keep your budget from being too restrictive. While the temptation to spend it may be great, try not to give in and grow your savings instead. Practice smart spending habits and put all your extra money into your savings. That will not only help you get out of debt but also out of debt.

Choosing a Debt Relief Option Based on Your Financial Situation

If you are in debt and you want to get out of it fast, there is a specific debt relief option that you take. It all depends on your financial capabilities. If you have to choose an option to help you get out of debt, you need to consult your finances first. It will tell you just how much you can afford to put aside for your debt payments.

While all financial situations are unique, we can classify them into three different categories. The first involves those with enough income for both basic expenses and debt payments. The second involves those who have enough for basic expenses but can barely meet the minimum payments. The last are those who have barely enough for the basic expenses and nothing for their debts.

Among the three, the first category is probably the one that you want to be in. Being in debt is not a problem as long as you have the means to pay for it. In this financial situation, you can opt for the snowball or avalanche method wherein you will pay for all the minimum of your credit card debts while choosing a few priorities. Your priority debts will be paid more than the minimum requirement.

If you want to consolidate your debts, you can opt for debt consolidation loans or debt management. Both will allow you to have lower monthly payments (at least, lower than what you average at the moment) by stretching your payment term.

But if you fall under category two, you are in more trouble than the first. Having enough to feed your family and take care of basic necessities is comfort enough but if debt collectors are bothering you, it is quite hard to ignore the stress of debt. However, there is a debt relief option that you can avail if you still want to pay your debts. This option is known as debt settlement.

This option involves a risk because you will be defaulting on your payments to prove to the creditor that you are in a financial crisis. As you wait for your creditor to take notice that you have stopped paying them, you will put aside money as your settlement fund. You or a debt negotiator that you will hire will talk to your creditor to get them to settle with you. The idea is to agree to a settlement amount that you will pay for and once you have completed that, the creditor will forgive the rest of your debt.

In the last scenario, having barely enough for basic necessities, let alone debt payments, will point you towards bankruptcy. This is the least liked by both debtor and creditor because of credit implications and debt discharge, respectively. But if you have no asset to liquidate, this is the best option for you.

Debt Relief Options That Are Credit Score Friendly

All kinds of debt relief will have an impact on your credit score. If you really want to keep your credit history from bearing the negative impact of these programs, you have to use the traditional ways of paying back your debts.

Paying it does not mean merely covering the minimum payments. It means sending monthly payments that is more than the minimum requirement. If you don’t go over that requirement, you may find yourself taking forever to finish paying your credit card debt. But if you do not have enough income to pay more than the minimum of all your credit debts, you may want to apply either the snowball or the avalanche method.

Both methods involves prioritizing payments of certain debts while maintaining the minimum of the rest. When we say prioritize, we mean sending more than the minimum payment. In the snowball method, you will prioritize the debts with the least amount of outstanding balance. In the avalanche, you will send more payments to the one with the highest interest rate. They are both effective and your choice will depend on what you think will benefit you the most.

But if you do not have enough to pay for the minimum, then your next option is to get a debt relief program. Among all the credit debt relief options, debt consolidation seems to have the least effect on your credit score. This has a couple of options.

The first is debt consolidation loans. The whole idea is to get a loan that is big enough to cover your other debts. You will pay them all with this loan so that you only concentrate on one payment. Since loans are typically stretched over 5 years, your monthly payments will be smaller. Not only that, if you have a good credit score, then the chances that you will get a smaller interest rate is higher. In this debt relief, the effect on your credit score will be from the loan that you will take. But if you pay this new loan religiously, you will find that your score will recover immediately.

The next option is debt management or credit counseling. Unlike the previous options that you can do on your own, this debt relief requires the aid of a credit counselor. They will help negotiate with your creditors for a longer payment term. That way, your monthly dues will also be smaller. If possible, they will also try to have them lower your interest rate and waive any penalty charges. This actually has a chance not to affect your credit score - especially if you will not default on any payments.

Regardless of your choice, you need to pick one that will provide you with the best chances of completely paying off your debts. Consult your finances and a debt relief expert to know your best options.

What Are Your 2013 Debt Resolutions?

We all want to start the year right. The new year always brings forth the feeling of starting anew and being able to make planned changes happen. If you haven’t done your resolutions yet, it is not yet too late. After all, we just a couple of weeks into the new year.

One of the things that you should try to aim for are financial management skills. This is especially true if you are currently struggling with debt. To help you, here are some debt resolution ideas that you can implement.

If you are indeed, deep in debt, you may want to consider a debt relief program. There are several to choose from. Of course, it will depend on your financial capabilities. If you have a steady income and you can pay for the minimum of your credit obligations, debt consolidation is a great program to pursue.

When you have selected the program that your finances can afford, your next resolution is to find someone who can help you. No one can accomplish getting out of debt alone. You need someone who will throw you a rope from the top of the pit that you fell into. It can be a family member, your parents, your spouse or your children. It can also be a debt professional like National Debt Relief. Whatever you decide, choose someone or a company that you can trust and is willing to work with you till the very end.

Another resolution that you can work on is learning how to spend within your means. This is easy to understand yet very hard to implement. You can begin by making the decision not to use your credit card. If you pay for most of your purchases in cash, you won’t have to acquire debts to get something you want. To help you achieve that resolution, create a budget plan and make a commitment to stick to that. This will help you identify where your money is going and how much you can afford to spend for the fun things in your life. It will keep you from overspending.

Lastly, you should learn how to save and grow your emergency fund. This will help you stay out of debt by making sure you have more than enough even when your major source of income is gone. That being said, you need to discipline yourself to buy only the things that you need. Try not to give in to your usually spending whims and think about every purchase carefully.

The Origin of Credit Card Debt

Before you can truly be free of debt, you need to be able to identify what caused it in the first place. You will read a lot of debt help articles that always instruct debtors to deal with the root cause of their problems. If you cannot see what caused you to be so deep in debt, then the possibility of falling back into the pit is not unlikely to happen.

You have to understand that despite the external factors that affect your finances, there are things that you can do to minimize their damaging effects. One of them is being careful with the debts that you will acquire. More than analyzing your finances, you should know the type of credit that you can take without drowning into it.

Credit card debt is one credit obligation that you should try to avoid growing at all cost. It is very easy to fall into is and quite hard to get out of. The difficulty lies in the high interest rate, finance charges and the various charges that get you into trouble when you default on your payments. Compared to the other types of debt, this is one credit that you can avoid acquiring - at least until you have learned how to manage it properly.

One of the origins of credit card debt that makes it a huge problem lies in its very nature. It allows consumers to purchase something even if they cannot afford it. They base their spending on a future income that is in danger of being taken away. That is one of the things that the recession during the early 21st century should have taught you. Even if your job seems stable now, it can suddenly be taken from you. This is what got a lot of Americans into trouble. They lived from paycheck to paycheck and they ended up trusting their future income as they as they acquire one debt after the other.

Another origin of credit card debt is having no financial net (a.k.a. emergency fund) to save them during trying times. Given that the future is uncertain, you need to be prepared for any circumstance. If you are suddenly left unable to work, how will you and your family survive? If you or someone you love is in need of medical attention, how will you pay for it? A lot of Americans turned to their credit cards to pay for basic necessities like groceries and medicines. They had no choice because they didn’t have enough emergency fund to tide them over a recent job loss.

Ultimately, the origin of credit card debt is living beyond our means. While everything was in abundance, we spent money left and right. We chose not to save since we want to enjoy life so much by paying for things and services that we do not really need.

To avoid the common origins of this type of revolving debt, you need to control your spending habits and practice wise financial management.

If you are deep in debt, do not worry because there are debt relief options that you can look into. You have debt settlement, debt consolidation and even bankruptcy. Just make sure you analyze your finances to find the best program that will enable you to achieve a debt free life.

Things to Consider Before Consolidating your Debts

Debt consolidation is a good idea but only if you are qualified for it. Just like any other debt relief program, you need to meet certain qualifications.

One of the things that you need to look into is your finances. Debt consolidation does nothing to reduce your outstanding balance. It can help reduce your monthly payments through a lower interest rate and the waiving off of some fees. Other than that, you need to be able to afford your current payment. Because of that, a steady source of income is a must.

A budget plan can help you with this. List your income and expenses. Deduct your expenses from the income to know your disposable fund. This amount will tell you how much you can afford to pay every month. If it is more than your monthly debt obligation, then debt consolidation is just right for you. But if it is lower, you need to consider other alternatives like debt settlement - or bankruptcy if your disposable fund is significantly lower than your required monthly payments.

In consolidating your debt, you need to look at the average interest rate on your current debts too. Your target is to consolidate in an account that has a lower rate than what you currently have. If not, then this will not help you at all.

If you plan to consolidate through a loan, you need to check out your credit score. A high credit score will lead to a low interest rate on your new loan. But if you have a low score, you may be given a high rate - unless you have a collateral to put up to secure the loan.

Another debt information to check out is the time that you have left to pay off your debts. A usual debt consolidation program will take 5 years. Check if it is beneficial for you to stick to your current payments or you’d rather lengthen your term for a lower monthly payment.

The last thing that you need to consider is your ability to stick to this plan. One of the pitfalls in debt consolidation is you get the illusion that you have less debt than the usual. For instance, when you pay off your credit cards through a debt consolidation loan, your cards will have a zero balance. That provides the temptation to spend.

You need to be able to control and correct your spending habits in order to fully get out of debt. The scenario we mentioned puts you in danger of acquiring more debts. Make sure you learn your lesson so that you stay out of debt for a longer time.

If you wish to know more about debt consolidation, visit National Debt Relief. It pays to know your options before you dive into a debt relief program.

Low Credit Score? Know Your Debt Consolidation Loan Options

A debt consolidation loan is one of the many ways that you can implement a debt relief program in your life. If you really want to focus on your debt payments, you would want to make it a little bit easier to manage.

While some financial experts are against this type of debt relief program, it is logical nevertheless. Applying for one big loan to pay off the smaller ones will help make things a lot easier for the debtor. As the name suggests, it can help consolidate the debts so that the debtor only has to concentrate on making one monthly payment. However, there are signs that it is the best option for you. Apart from having a steady income, you also need to have a good credit score.

But before you can turn away because you know you have a bad credit score, there are options to maximize the benefits of this type of debt relief. A good credit score is helpful because it will categorize you as a low risk borrower. That will prompt the lender into giving you a low interest rate on your loan - which is something that is difficult to achieve when your score is low.

However, there are other ways to get this low interest rate and that is through a collateral. If you get a secured loan (a type of loan that requires a collateral), you can get very favorable rates from your lender. Despite having a low credit score, the presence of the collateral will the whole transaction a lower risk than it should be. The investment of the lender is secure because even if you default on your monthly payment, they have the right to seize your collateral as payment alternative.

If you do not have a collateral to your name, there are also other options that, unfortunately, involves a higher interest rate. A local credit union or banking institution should know your background and thus be more amenable to provide you with a good deal on your loan. While it may not be as low as a secured loan, knowing the institution should be able to help you negotiate for better terms.

Peer to peer lending or P2P is also an option that you can look into. It involves individual lenders from the society itself and not a bank. A third party company will help connect you to a person online who will review your loan application and grant you the requested amount. Sometimes, one lender loans the full amount while there are time when 2 or more chips in.

Despite the presence of these alternatives for people with bad credit scores, keep in mind that a debt free life can only be achieved if you go to the root of the problem. It goes beyond just paying off what you owe. Discipline yourself and learn proper financial management. That way, you can pay off your debts and at the same time, develop the habits that will make sure you do not fall into the same situation again.

If you wish to talk to a professional about your debt relief options, feel free to get in touch with National Debt Relief. Visit their website and talk to one of their friendly debt experts. The initial consultation is free.

Find Out Why Credit Counseling Failed You

Looking at the statistics and comparing that with the whole concept of credit counseling will get you to question why a lot of people think it is not an effective debt relief program. In truth, people have successfully rid themselves of debt through this plan. However, it does pose the question why is it hard for the majority to achieve this success?

If you are not seeing any improvement in your debt situation after being enrolled in a credit counseling program, then check out a couple of things before you judge it unfairly.

First and foremost, you have to be able to afford the type of debt payment plan that credit counseling provides. That means a careful analysis of your financial capabilities is a must.

This type of debt relief option is only for those who have a steady income to support the original monthly credit payments. A benefit of this is the payments will be made easier because you only have to send all your payments to the credit counselor. They, in turn, will help distribute your payments to your other creditors. One part of their service is to help negotiate for a lower interest rate. While that will lower your monthly payments, it will only be a slight difference from the usual amount you pay for every month.

If you need a lower payment, then credit counseling will really not work for you. Also, if you have no steady income to support the payments, you will also fail at this. There are other debt relief options that can help you out.

Another reason why consumers feel that credit counseling is not effective may be due to having the wrong attitude. If they are unable to commit to the payment plan that the credit counselor set up for them, then the whole program is doomed to fail. Not only that, if the consumer continues to incur debts, then this will not help at all.

Most financial experts will tell you that if you want to be debt free, you have to go to the root cause of the problem. It is not enough to pay for your debts. You need to address your spending habits and grow your emergency fund. These are the two things that will help you control your debts and achieve a debt free life.

Ultimately, you need to change how you handle your finances and learn how to manage it correctly. Otherwise, getting any kind of debt relief will not work. The credit counselor can help you create a budget plan alongside your payment plan. Follow these plans just like you would a roadmap. It will guide you towards achieving financial freedom.

Look at the other options in consolidating your debts. It is always best to talk to a professional about it. Call National Debt Relief and be on your way to a debt free life.

Debt Consolidation Myths: Do Not Be Fooled

Debt consolidation is one of the debt relief options that has a high failure rate. That is not to say that the concept is all wrong to effectively get out of debt. On the contrary, the concept of combining your debts into one payment scheme makes a lot of sense. It allows you to focus on one payment month on month so you are relieved of the stress of handling too many creditors. The stress relief allows you to exhaust your efforts in earning more to grow your payment fund.

However, the statistics show that not everyone enjoys that scenario. One of the main reasons is they approach this debt relief option the wrong way. They make the wrong assumptions based on myths that leads them to make equally wrong decisions.

To help you get financial freedom through debt consolidation, here are the common myths that people wrongly assume about this debt relief option.

Myth 1: All debt situations can be solved through debt consolidation.
Fact: While all debt relief options are effective, they are only suited for a particular debt situation. If you want to utilize debt consolidation, you need to know the right type of financial capability and debt scenario to know if it is the right option for you.

Myth 2: All debt consolidation payment plans are the same.
Fact: In essence and concept, this is true. But in detail, it is not. The payment plan of another may not work for your own. This is why hiring a professional to help you with a debt management plan or DMP is necessary. You need their input to make sure your payment scheme is right for your financial capabilities. A plan that you cannot afford will not do you any good.

Myth 3: All debt consolidation loans need a collateral.
Fact: Not all debt consolidation loans are secured. You can avail of an unsecured loan but you need to have a good credit score to be able to achieve your debt relief goals.

Myth 4: You need to have a good credit score in all types of debt consolidation program/loan.
Fact: It can certainly help your case but it is not a strict requirement. You can avail of this but you may have to put up a collateral to enjoy it.

Myth 5: Loans are the best way to solve your credit problems.
Fact: It is the best option, but not for all types of debts. You need to know when it is the right solution, otherwise, you may end up getting yourself deeper into debt.

Click Here to know more about the different types of debt consolidation programs. Give National Debt Relief a call so one of our agents can provide insight on how you can use this debt relief option to achieve financial freedom.

Can You Consolidate Debt Without a Loan? Of Course!

Debt has been around for ages and we have constantly come up with different strategies to get out of it such as when we consolidate debt. Usually having more than one debt, one of the approaches to getting out of it is consolidating all of them by getting one loan to pay off everything. But to some people, this basically is just transferring your debt from one hand to the other.

Debt consolidation does not limit itself to this strategy only. There are other ways to consolidate debt without taking out a loan.

The first approach is balance transfers. Most of our debts are tied to our credit cards and we normally have more than just one card with payables in all of them. Balance transfer is as simple as it is called, you can exercise the option to transfer your payables from several credit cards to just one. In a way, you are consolidating your debts into one card. Just take advantage of promos such as 0% balance transfer for and make sure to transfer to that one card with the lowest interest rate.

Another way to consolidate debt is to hire the services of a debt consolidation company to make the payments on your behalf. Consider this if you are still able to make the minimum required payments on your payables but want to get rid of the need to cut cheques every month to different creditors. Referred to as debt management, what the debt consolidation company will do is collect the total amount of your monthly payables and ensure payments to each creditor monthly. You just have to make one payment over to the company that will consolidate debt payments for you.

One more option is what the industry refers to debt settlement. Consider this if you are unable to meet the minimum monthly payment on your financial obligations. Your credit counselor can help you broker a deal with your creditors to request for a decrease in your payment. Once your counselor proves you have insufficient income to meet their payment and agrees to this agreement, your credit counselor will ensure that you are able to make the new and lower monthly payment.

These are your alternatives to consolidate debt. You just have to chose the most suitable one that you can work with while considering your financial capability.

Debt consolidation offers various programs that are all effective. However, you need to analyze which one is best depending on your financial capabilities. Go to this link for more info: http://www.nationaldebtrelief.com/debt-consolidation/.

How to Choose Between Debt Consolidation Loans VS Debt Settlement

 

Getting out of debt can happen via different programs. Two of them are debt consolidation loans and debt settlement. Both are effective in their own right but that depends entirely on your financial capabilities. These two debt relief options cannot help all types of debtors. There are differences that you need to be aware of so you can identify which one is right for you.

To answer the question presented in our title, let us focus on how you will find out if debt consolidation loan is better than debt settlement.

First of all, you need to check your income versus your expenses. If you have more income over your monthly expenditure, then you can get a loan to pay off your other debts. You can help increase that difference further by lowering your spending to increase your disposable income (which is where you will get your debt payment fund). If your expenses are more than your income, then you have to resort to debt settlement.

To be able to make debt consolidation loans work, you need a steady income. This is actually a requirement of the lender. No one will give you a loan if you don’t have a steady income as proof that you can pay back what you are borrowing.

While it is not really a factor in the disapproval of a loan, a good credit score will help you maximize the benefits of a debt consolidation loan program. Like in any type of loan, it helps in getting a low interest rate. A person with a low credit score is perceived to be a high risk borrower. That automatically gives you a high interest rate on your loan.

Consolidating your debts through a loan will only result in a minimal reduction in your monthly debt payment. If this is alright with you, then you can proceed with this debt relief option. The reduction will come from the lower interest rate that this program will bring your current credit obligations. So if you cannot find a loan that has a low interest rate, then this might not be the best option for you. Not only that, if you need a significant deduction on your outstanding balance, debt settlement is best for your case.

If you are also concerned about your credit score being affected by your debt relief efforts, debt consolidation loans have the lesser impact compared to debt settlement.  You can choose the former so your credit score will not decrease extremely.

To find out if consolidation loans can help you manage your debts, visit National Debt Relief. Eliminate your credit card debt through the help of our debt relief professionals. Give us a call - the first consultation is free of charge and holds no obligations.