C redit card debt is stressful and scary. When late fees are piling up or collections comes a-knocking, you start to think outside the box a bit. This includes asking questions like: “How can I make more money?”, “Will I ever be debt-free”, and even “Can I pay off a credit card with another credit card?” That last question is a tricky one, so let’s find some answers.
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What are Your Options for Paying Off Credit Card Debt?
Looking at a bill too high to pay every month can make you feel isolated with your debt. US debt is nothing new, though. Nearly half of Americans with credit card debt say they haven’t been debt-free since 2018. Knowing you aren’t the only one with debt probably doesn’t make you feel much better.
The good news is that you definitely have options. Even if you don’t have the funds to pay off a credit card outright, you can still find a solution. There are three main ways to take care of credit card debt. (And the short answer is, yes, you can pay off a credit card with another credit card.)
The three big options you have are paying in cash, a “balance transfer”, and credit card forgiveness. Each of these has pros and cons, so let’s take a look at all three in a little more depth.
How Can You Pay Off Credit Card Debt With Cash?
For people struggling to pay off credit card debt, chances are you don’t have a large savings account. So aside from finding a treasure chest in your backyard, how can you pay off a credit card with cash?
There are two ways to do this. First, you could open a new credit card and take out a “cash advance”. A cash advance means you withdraw a large amount of cash all at once. This is one way you can pay off your credit card with another credit card. Second, you could get a personal loan.
By paying in cash, you immediately prevent more late fees from accruing. You also prevent your account from going to collections or stop the collections agency from hounding you. This also prevents more interest from accruing, which is the main reason for paying in a lump sum.
There are some drawbacks to this, though. The biggest one is that a cash advance will usually have a fee associated with it. Cash advances and personal loans may also have higher interest rates than your current credit card, so you’ll want to make sure of the interest rates and any fees before you commit to this option.
How Can you Pay Off a Credit Card With Another Credit Card?
Your second option is a “balance transfer”. This is the most straightforward way you can pay off a credit card with another credit card. When you do a “balance transfer”, everything is digital. Basically, you run your new credit card to pay your old bill.
Balance transfers can be incredibly helpful for people who have a 12- to 18-month plan in place for paying off debt. This is because many credit card companies have introductory offers where you won’t have any interest on your balance for the first 12 to 18 months.
Balance transfers will also stop more late fees from accruing, prevent your account from going to collections, and stop interest from piling up.
You do have to plan for a couple of things, though. First, balance transfer fees can be hefty. Some are up to 5% of the amount, so you’ll have to plan for the extra. A balance transfer may also hurt your credit score, which you’ll need to plan for, too.
How Can Credit Card Debt Be Forgiven?
Finally, there’s debt forgiveness. Debt forgiveness can feel like a godsend to people struggling with credit card debt, but it isn’t as easy as it sounds. (Just like asking if you can pay off a credit card with another credit card.)
Outright forgiveness happens very rarely, if ever. Most likely, you’ll be negotiating with your credit card company to pay a lower amount than what you owe.
Outright forgiveness only happens if your credit card company sues you for the amount and loses. This can happen if your debt is past the statute of limitations, but it’s a risk. After all, you’ll have to wait years for the correct amount of time to pass, and the company could sue you at any time.
When it’s time to negotiate with your credit card company, you’ll need to make sure you’re prepared. First, save up an amount of money that’s significant, but less than what you owe. Next, you’ll call up your credit card company and explain your situation. This will include why you can’t make the payments. Let them know you’re interested in a settlement.
Then, you’ll start negotiations. Give them a number that’s most of your saved amount, but not all of it. There’s likely going to be some back and forth, so be prepared to spend some time on this. When all’s said and done, your debt will be gone.
Remember that you’ll still need to put some money, time, and effort into debt settlements, and it will likely hurt your credit score.
Navigating Debt Relief
All of this can seem very tricky to navigate on your own. While you can use a credit card to pay off another credit card, it’s much more complicated than it seems.
Choosing the solution that’s right for your situation is hard to handle by yourself. Penny Calling Penny knows that you’re struggling, and we’ve found people who can help.
First, check out DebtBye. As you might have guessed by the name, they want to help you say “bye” to your debt. They’re powered by Amazon, and connect you with many different lenders who can help you get rid of your credit card debt. Keep in mind that working with them may impact your credit score, but so do most options in this article.
You should definitely give TurboDebt a peek, too. TurboDebt also connects you to lots of options, and they proudly hold a 5-star, A+ rating with the BBB. Their Google rating is also 5 stars, and their customers call them “kind and understanding”, “great to work with”, and one even said they can see a brighter future because of TurboDebt! Remember, this is another option that may hurt your credit score, but freedom from debt is well worth it.
Finally, try debt consolidation with Freedom Debt Relief. We’ve already written a whole article about this great company, which you can find here.
Paying off Credit Card Debt
No matter how much debt you have, debt can feel overwhelming. You’re sure to have a million questions at every stage of paying off debt. After reading this, at least the question “can you pay off a credit card with another credit card” is one you can cross off your list.
Debt in the US has a lot of shame attached to it, but that shouldn’t stop you from reaching out for help. With the right help, you can be free of credit card debt and look forward to a brighter future. Finding a solution that fits is just a click away.
While you’re on your journey, don’t forget to check in with us for more debt, credit, and money-saving tips. To get these tips delivered straight to your inbox, don’t forget to subscribe to our email newsletter!
