 TITLE: What Is a Credit Card Hardship Program? CONTENT: Alternatives to Credit Card Hardship Plans\n------------------------------------------\nInstead of a credit card hardship plan, you could:\n*   **Ask the card issuer to** **lower your APR****.** Even a small drop in your interest rate could help.\n*   **Get a** **balance transfer credit card****.** A credit card with an introductory 0% APR on balance transfers will allow you to transfer your high-interest balance onto the new card and get a temporary reprieve from interest. You'll need good credit to qualify and you'll typically pay a fee of 3% or 5% of the transferred amount, but this can keep interest from accruing while you make minimum payments until you can afford to pay the balance off.\n*   **Get** **debt consolidation loan****.** This personal loan you can use to consolidate high-interest debt into a lower-interest loan with regular monthly payments.\n*   **Work with a** **credit counselor****.** Credit counselors can provide financial education, resources and debt management plans, which involve negotiating with creditors to reduce your debt and pay what you owe. Find reputable, nonprofit credit counselors through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.\n*   **Request loan accommodations.** Contact your mortgage, student loan or auto lender to see if you can get mortgage forbearance or student loan forbearance or lower your interest rate. Doing this can help you reduce expenses so you're better able to pay down your credit cards.\n*   **Seek** **financial assistance****.** National, state and local financial assistance programs provide assistance with rent, food, utilities and more. END