Should you apply for credit card debt forgiveness before the holidays?
Holiday spending this year is expected to tick up from what it was in 2023. And it's not like last year was exactly cheap, with consumers forecasted to spend 7% more than they did then, bringing the expected new average to around $2,100. But for those who are expected to cover these via a credit card, that could be problematic.
The average American has around $8,000 in credit card debt currently. With the average credit card interest rate recently surging to 23%, approximately – a record high – that means many Americans are already struggling with debt. And that's before the bulk of their holiday shopping has even been completed.
Against this backdrop, many credit card users may be considering their debt relief options. One effective way to reduce what you owe is credit card debt forgiveness. But should you apply for this option before the holidays or are you better served by waiting until January? That's what we'll explore below.
See how much of your debt a forgiveness program could help with here now.
Should you apply for credit card debt forgiveness before the holidays?
The short answer is: It depends. If you're in a position where you've exhausted all of your alternative debt relief options and can't repay your credit card debt, then forgiveness could be worth exploring immediately, including before the holiday season kicks off. Waiting to ask for relief could be a costly mistake, particularly if you plan to increase your credit card spending during the season, as many Americans plan to do.
On the other hand, credit card debt forgiveness isn't an overnight fix. It can take years to be effective and, even then, it will only likely erase somewhere between 30% to 50% of your outstanding balance. So it makes sense to pursue this option when you're in a dire position – and when your spending can be legitimately curtailed. If you know that you need to increase your credit card debt, at least for November and December, it may be more beneficial to wait for a time when you can afford to stop swiping your card.
This all noted, every credit card user's experience is different and there may be exceptions to this broad advice. If you're unsure of which applies to you, it makes sense to first speak to a financial advisor for guidance. Consider speaking to a debt relief provider, too, although they will have a financial incentive to get you set up with a service. So keep that in mind when speaking to a representative.
Start exploring your credit card debt forgiveness options online today.
How to qualify for credit card debt forgiveness
Not everyone with a credit card balance can secure forgiveness. Users will need to qualify for help and, even then, it will take time to reduce what you owe (assuming you don't add to it in the interim). Here are three important credit card debt forgiveness qualifications to know:
Minimum debt: Most credit card debt forgiveness servicers won't work with you if your debt is under $7,500. In these cases, the debt is largely considered manageable and other alternative debt relief options may be more helpful. That said, if you're burdened with a debt of $10,000 or more, credit card debt forgiveness could provide critical support.
Financial hardship: Is there a specific reason behind your inability to repay all that you've borrowed? If you're able to demonstrate a financial hardship preventing you from paying anything – even minimum payments – you can boost your eligibility chances. Financial hardship examples include but are not limited to job losses and health issues.
Failure to pay: It may seem counterintuitive, but if you've already stopped making your credit card payments or are already in collections, this can help improve your qualification chances. This demonstrates a true inability to pay your bills, which many credit card debt forgiveness providers will want to see before agreeing to help.
The bottom line
Applying for credit card debt forgiveness is a personal decision, weighed heavily by your unique qualifications and financial situation. But if you need help and know that you can't dig out of your financial hole, it doesn't make sense to delay it, even with the pending holiday season. By taking action now you can start improving your credit and work toward regaining your financial freedom in the new year.
