Defaulting on federal and private student loans can result in negative personal and financial consequences. For most borrowers there is no escape from education debt.

Debt settlements only work for a few of the consumers who attempt it, so don't get caught up in the hype even in this rough economic time.

A look at how one man managed to restructure his credit card debt without a third-party debt management organization.

This article is part of our series on debt horror stories. Read the first one here.

Paying 20% interest on credit card debt on the one hand, while earning 2% on a bank savings account on the other, gets you nowhere fast.

Paying off debt is generally a good idea, even when the funds come from savings. However, there are some situations where it's wise to keep some cash even at the expense of higher debt. Here's how to decide what's right for you.

Learn from others' costly mistakes! Check out these real-life credit card debt nightmares, and learn to avoid having them happen to you.

Debt-settlement firms are drawing heat from the New York attorney general. Andrew Cuomo is investing questionable business practices from numerous customer complaints.

Consumers worried about their mounting debt are turning to companies promising to settle their debt for less than they owe. However, regulators say many of these companies don't deliver, leaving consumers and their credit scores in a rough patch.  

Consumers burdened with debt have probably heard the pitch more than once: By combining some or all of your debt into one big loan, you can lower your monthly payments and be on Easy Street within months. Such appeals are rampant these days as rising interest rates squeeze borrowers' wallets. Unfortunately, the outcome is often less ...