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There are often warnings in the newspapers about the high levels of credit card debt that many consumers have. You know how simple it is to let your credit cards get higher than you can manage - not having to pay immediately upon purchase often means the pain or struggle of having to pay for the item is delayed.

Sometimes the problem is that credit cards are so easy to use. They can easily lead to spending patterns that aren't in keeping with income and can quickly become a major bug bear. That doesn't stop people all over the world from using them.

Credit cards debt occurs when a client of a credit card company buys something via their card. Because the client often thinks of the credit card as a bottomless pit of money, the client does not allow for wise planning and attention to budget that stems from using only cash to make purchases. Things get even worse for the customer when monthly bills aren't paid on time. The level of debt increases at a rapid rate due to the interest and costly penalties often affiliated with late credit card payments. Credit card companies often charge a late fee every time a client fails to pay on time. This fee can vary, but it is usually anywhere from $15 to $30 per month.

Its no surprise that credit card companies make their profits from the high interest that they apply to outstanding balances and from late fees for missed payments. But at the same time they want to make sure their money is repaid and they are often relentless in tracking down outstanding monies owed to them. For many people, the only way out of this credit bind is to take out a credit card consolidation loan.

The problem with accruing a large credit card debt is not only the pressure that it puts on your finances and your life but it also impacts your credit rating. As soon as a cardholder defaults or misses a payment, credit agencies are informed. Having a poor credit score makes it more difficult to get loans and often increases the cost of any loan that you can get.

Continuing to default on a credit card debt can make your overall credit situation worse because other creditors may react to your declining credit score by increasing their interest rates to you. This can happen even if you've repaid any debts you have outstanding with them. This is called universal default, effectively making bad debt contagious. Learning how to utilize one's credit responsibly is crucial to avoid the traps and pitfalls of credit card debt. A little budgeting helps avoid making the credit companies wealthier than they already are.