 TITLE: Step-by-Step Checklist to Getting a Consolidation Loan CONTENT: Prepare to Apply for a Consolidation Loan\n-----------------------------------------\n*   Check your credit score to see if it's high enough to qualify for a debt consolidation loan.\n*   Review your credit report for inaccurate information; if necessary, file a dispute with the credit reporting agencies to have any inaccuracies removed.\n*   If your credit score is poor or fair, work on improving your credit before applying for a debt consolidation loan.\n*   Figure out how much money you need. This could be as simple as adding up the balances of credit card accounts you'd like to pay off at a lower rate.\n*   Review your budget to decide what monthly payment you can afford. END