Consolidation hasn’t helped. What now?
Were you turned down, offered a costly loan, or left with new debt? Start with what happened. Then check your payments and what you still owe.
A lower payment can mean more months of interest. Compare the full cost, and include any debt the loan leaves unpaid.
Start with what went wrong
If you were denied: read the notice before applying again. Check the stated reasons and any credit-report errors. Ask current creditors about payment help while you work on the cause. A new application does not fix it by itself.
If the offer does not help: compare cash after fees with every payoff. Then compare the combined payment and full cost. A loan can have a lower payment but leave old debt due or cost more over time.
If debt came back: list both the consolidation loan and the new balances. Check whether regular bills exceed your pay. Paying the cards again will not fix that gap. Compare a debt management plan if another loan does not fit.
Check your debts and payments
Use your statements and any written loan offer. Leave an optional APR blank if you do not know it.
Example numbers are filled in. Change them to use your own.
See what the payments and costs mean
Your result will show the debts you entered, what you can pay each month, and what you still need to check.
Open each input group to review the example, then run the check.
Your entries stay on this page. They are not saved or sent to a lender.
A fee can leave some debt unpaid
In this example, you need $12,000 to pay your debts. A lender takes a $600 fee from a $12,000 loan, leaving $11,400 to use. You still need to pay the remaining $600 of old debt.
The new loan payment is $335 for 48 months: $16,080 in all. Add any old debt payments before comparing this with the $425 you pay each month now.
Check all three before taking a loan
The cash after fees must cover the debts you plan to pay. The combined payments must fit beside your other bills. The full cost and payoff date must work for you. If a number is missing, check the offer or ask the lender first.
How this estimate works
The comparison includes the new loan payment and known payments on debts left unpaid. A fee taken from the loan reduces the cash available for paying debts. Current payoff estimates need each balance, APR, and payment. These estimates do not predict approval.
CFPB guidance on debt consolidation.
The examples are fictional. Results cover only the amounts and dates entered; they are not an offer or a promise.