 TITLE: Can You Use One Credit Card to Pay Off Another? CONTENT: What to Do if You Can't Pay Your Credit Card Bill\n-------------------------------------------------\nIf you're having a hard time keeping up with your minimum monthly payment, requesting a balance transfer likely won't solve your problem because you'll eventually need to make a payment on the new card.\nThere are, however, other potential solutions:\n*   **Contact your card issuer****.** Many credit card companies offer some form of relief to borrowers who can't afford their payments. This assistance may come in the form of forbearance, a reduced interest rate or a modified payment plan. Just keep in mind that this relief may be temporary, so it's typically not a good long-term solution.\n*   **Work with a** **credit counselor****.** If you've tried working with your credit card issuer and it hasn't helped, consider reaching out to a nonprofit credit counseling agency. A credit counselor can help you evaluate your situation and determine some next steps. In some cases, that may involve a debt management plan. For a modest upfront and ongoing fee, the agency can negotiate with your creditors to potentially reduce your monthly payment or interest rate and get you on a payment plan that helps you avoid defaulting.\n*   **Offer to** **settle your debt****.** If your situation is dire enough that a debt management plan might not help, you may consider offering to settle for less than what you owe. Because this option can damage your credit score significantly, it's best considered only if you're already far behind on your payments.\n*   **File** **bankruptcy****.** If you've pursued all other avenues and can't find a solution, filing bankruptcy may be the only option that's left. Due to the devastating effect it'll have on your credit and finances, however, it's important to consider bankruptcy only as a last resort. In the right circumstances, this option could help you get back on your feet. END