Debt Consolidation Loans
What is a debt consolidation loan?
A debt consolidation loan is a type of personal loan that allows you to combine multiple types of debt (such as credit card debt, personal loan debt, and so on) into a single loan with a potentially lower interest rate.
While this method can make managing multiple debts easier, it can also backfire if you end up stretching out your debts with a longer loan term and paying more in interest than you would have if you had just paid off your debts in the original loan term/s. This is more common when debts are consolidated into a home loan, but it can also occur with personal loans if the new debt consolidation loan term is longer than the original loan term.
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Benefits of a debt consolidation loan
No penalties or exit fees
No surprise charges
Personalised rates
There are no penalties for making early repayments or exit fees if you pay off your loan sooner.
There are no hidden fees, such as late payment fees.
From 6.99% p.a. to 19.99% p.a.1 (comparison rate 7.91% p.a. to 20.83% p.a.2).
Ability to redraw extra funds
Consolidate up to $55,000
One to seven years flexible loan term
If you're ahead on your repayments on a variable rate loan, you can redraw, giving you flexibility if you need money unexpectedly.
For debt consolidation, you can borrow around $5,000 and $55,000.
Choose from one to seven years of repayment, with weekly, fortnightly, or monthly options.
Advantages of consolidating your debt through a personal loan
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Consolidating all of your debt into a single loan simplifies debt management because you only have one monthly payment to make.
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You might be able to get a lower interest rate.
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Rolling all of your debt into one loan may result in fewer account keeping fees.
Disadvantages of consolidating your debt through a personal loan
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If you do not make your payments on time, you may end up increasing your debt by paying late fees and accruing additional interest.
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You may be required to pay break costs in order to exit any existing loans.
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If you do not make your payments on time, your credit score may suffer.