paying off cards using auto loan

[Anonymous]

background:

I have a 2003 economy car with over 140K miles on it. I financed it through the manufacturer initially and have refinanced with Wells Fargo Auto Finance twice, extending another five years each time. My monthly payments are $250, and I finally have the payoff in sight ($400 balance, planning to pay it off next month). The current loan is at 16.9%.

Here are my credit cards:

Account                    Balance   Limit    APR
Bank of America    2000         2500    23.24

BoA (MBNA)            3400         3800    27.99
Capital One            2200         3000    3.99
Citi                           4000          4590   29.99
HSBC (HP Store)        0             805   17.65
Chase (WaMu)        600            800    29.99
Wells Fargo           2600         4000    19.55

My current scores are in the 650-660 range. My gross income is about $34K.

question:

I got a call from Wells Fargo offering to refinance the loan and roll other debt in, so I called them to go over the details. They somehow came up with a value of $5900 for the car (I guess that's dealer retail, but it still seems high), and offered to loan me $8000 at 18.9% for 48 months. The monthly payment would be $241.52.

This seems like an attractive offer to pay off my two high-balance, high-interest cards (Citi and MBNA). The minimum payment for these two cards this month totals 263.91, and I generally pay about $50 more than the minimum monthly on each. My general understanding is that an $8000 installment auto loan is a lot better on my report than credit cards. My main concern is refinancing the car yet again. I was not planning to buy a new car any sooner than a year from now, so I think the concern is more psychological than practical.

Any analysis of my situation and advice as to whether accepting the Wells Fargo offer is a good idea (and payoff strategies for the credit cards, if so)? Any intricacies I should be aware of with regard to my credit card issuers closing accounts or lowering credit limits when paying off cards? I paid down the MBNA card significantly a couple years and and they lowered the limit to right above the new balance.

Thanks for any help and analysis you can provide!

[aftermath]

Regardless of any Adverse Action that your CC company would take against you for paying off your balance, you have to eventually pay them off anyways right?  Might as well do it now and get it over with.

Slowly paying down a balance wont prevent you from receiving a CLD.  If they have already flagged your account for a CLD, it will stay until it hits the lower limit that they programmed into their system.

Trust me, I had an Amex that they kept CLD'ing me on.  I kept the balance on there as I was afraid they were going to decrease me even further.  I just paid the minimum for 2 years straight thinking that would give them enough time to cool down.  I was wrong.  I paid the balance in full and they dropped me instantly down to $2k from $4k.

[Tazman81]

Prior to doing this, you may want to consider why the balances on ALL  of your credit cards are so high.  So many people "consolidate" their credit card debt and then end up charging their cards back up, so there was no gain.  If you have a problem spending too much on your credit cards, then I would NOT recommend you do this as you will just be adding to your debt.

If you are planning to cut up the cards so that you can no longer use them until you get the other cards paid off, then it will work out as a good way to save some money in interest based on your current card rates.  YOU are the only one that can make this decision, just realize the consequences if you charge your cards back up.  Just being frank as we see it a lot on the boards.

[Anonymous]

You're paying close to $200/mo in interest on the MBNA, Citi, and Chase cards.  If you have options to move that debt to somewhere else at a lower rate, you absolutely should take advantage of that.  Pay off Citi, Chase, and MBNA, and then lock those cards away where you won't charge them right back up.  Cut them up if necessary.

CLD's should be the least of your concerns.  You shouldn't be carrying balances on cards with ridiculous 30% interest rates.  And you need to pay down these debts before using your cards again.  When you are in debt like this, the main concern should be the debt...not your credit.

Will you get CLD'd?  Probably...heck, I know if I was your lender, I'd CLD you.  Sorry, just being honest.  Your utilization is sky high.   But carrying a nearly maxed out balance you pay 30% interest on just to keep a high credit line does only one thing...cost you money.  If you want to use money to secure a credit line...well, that's what secured cards are for.  Not maxed out balances at 30% interest.

[MarineVietVet]

Hi jeremylv and welcome to the forums.

At first glance this seems like something that would help you but I have the same concern that Tazman81 has expressed. If you use this refi to pay down some CC debt you must have the self discipline not to once again max these cards out. Then you will be worse off than before. I understand how quickly this can happen because I've done it more than once in my life.

I also agree that you need to examine why all these cards are maxed out. I realize that there are often circumstances beyond our control (large medical bills, long term unemployment, etc.) that force us to use CC's to survive. That is completely understandable but I know in my personal experience it was simply a matter of overextending myself without realizing ahead of time the possible consequences. This is another area where self discipline is so very important.

I suggest that if you do this refi, and even if you decide not to, that you put all the cards away and not use any of them for any purpose until you get them paid off. Put every extra dollar you can find to aggressively paying down debt. If this means putting off vacations or eating out less or no more movies for a year or two you will have to commit to short term sacrifice for long term security.

As far as any possible future CLD's or other such matters that can't be your main concern right now. Getting out of debt has to be your #1 priority.

In any case I wish you well. Let us know what you decide to do and give us updates on your progress.

From a BK years ago to:
EX - 3/11 pulled by lender- 835, EQ - 2/11-816, TU - 2/11-782

"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem".

[Uborrow-Upay]

+1 to Marinevietvet and the other posters regarding controlling your spending.

IMO, do NOT take the refi deal, regardless of any perceived savings in interest.  That car of yours is not worth anywhere near what WF is willing to loan to you.  It's 8 years old, with 140K.  Think about what happens in a year or two.  You do not want to be upside down on a car loan on top of the other CC debt you're carrying.

Take the money you used to pay for that car loan and apply it to your other bills.  Others here can help you figure out a snowball plan on paying these off to save money in interest and get a bit of personal satisfaction in clearing these debts over time. 

If done the right way, you'll get a bit of a boost in scores, too, when these lowered balances report.

Don't concern yourself with the scores so much.  Your personal solvency is much more important.  When that car craps out (and it will...they all do), you don't want to still owe on it, especially more than the thing is worth to the junkman.

Good luck with everything, it'll all work out if you put your mind to it! 

[DI]

You are unofficially bankrupt. Stop spending. Borrowing more money only going to create more problems.  Stay on a budget until you're credit card debt free.  Beans and rice for the next 2-3 years.  

[marty56]

I would look into a DMP.  If you can afford the payments, you will be CC debt free in 5 years or less and they can lower your CC  interest rates to 10% or less.

[andre181]

I don't care what the interest savings is, using a secured loan to pay off unsecured debt is just [Edited} Especially since you car is basically paid off.

At this point if you lose your job and stop paying your credit cards, and you would at least still have a car. Refi on your car and stop making payment on your car loan, and you lose your car and wouldnt be able to get a new car in the near future with having a recent repo.

Pay off your car, and then take that car payment money every month and get those cards paid off!  

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Hi andre181,

I don't believe your response can be considered friendly, supportive, or respectful. We can disagree with someone and what they propose to do without getting personal.

-Marinevietvet,myFICO moderator