Many of us have seen the advertisements on television. "Get out of debt fast!" "We can solve all your credit problems with only one call!" These sound really great but you know that, realistically, one call is not going to solve your credit problems.
If it were so fast and easy to get out of debt the credit card companies and these agencies advertising on television would be out of business very soon. Credit counselors can help you to understand your credit problems and to devise a plan to help you to manage your debt. They do this by providing services to you for a fee or for free if it is a non-profit organization. Some agencies will provide a free debt analysis to determine the best way in which they can service your needs. The following is a guide to help you understand how credit counseling works and if credit counseling is right for you.
The first step you should take is to decide if you do have a debt problem. For some it may be obvious, but for others they may not recognize the problem until they are faced with a collection agency. If you are only making minimum payments on your credit cards, or taking cash advances to pay bills, then you may need to seek advise from a credit counselor.
When you contact a credit-counseling agency, ask questions. Ask about the company and what programs they offer. Contact the Better Business Bureau to find out the facts about their history. Make sure to ask about all fees and charges; you are trying to get out of debt, not obtain more!
After you have chosen a credit counseling agency usually they will take a look expenses, income and debts. Most require you to participate in a debt management seminar, some longer than others to educate yourself about money management and budgeting as well as information on credit and finances. Some agencies charge a fee to attend the class, for others it is free.
You should know that even while you are seeking credit counseling, the company in which you owe money could continue to try and collect by any means necessary. However, most credit companies will see that you are trying to get your debt under control and work with you to solve your debt problems without bankruptcy.
Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Debt-Relief-Solutions.com. He provides more debt relief, consolidation and credit counseling information that you can research in your pajamas on his website.
It is a well-publicized fact that more of us are... Read More
Mortgage loans are some of the most difficult loans to... Read More
I remember back when I was 18 and completely oblivious... Read More
Most of us want a good credit report to obtain... Read More
Using a credit card wisely is an important step in... Read More
Chances are you have received your share of "pre-approved" credit... Read More
Identity theft is a growing concern among Americans, and rates... Read More
Whether you are aware of it or not, credit bureaus... Read More
ChexSystems is a company that maintains a subscriber membership service... Read More
Having credit education is like knowing how to read. It... Read More
Most people who carry major credit cards are well aware... Read More
Have your read your credit card contract through completely? Do... Read More
We've all seen the ads on television or in magazines,... Read More
What is a balance transfer?A balance transfer can be explained... Read More
If you've ever applied for a credit card or loan,... Read More
Is identity theft really that serious? Thousands of people every... Read More
When you apply for a loan or a mortgage, the... Read More
If you have never heard of a FICO score before,... Read More
"Erase Bad Debt !""Remove Negative Items From Your Credit Report"You've... Read More
Bad credit can be a burden for otherwise good credit.... Read More
Negotiable instruments like checks and drafts have become an indispensable... Read More
The process of clearing credit can be laborious and frustrating,... Read More
It is important to know your credit rating for a... Read More
Credit and charge card fraud costs cardholders and issuers hundreds... Read More
These days, credit cards in the UK are competing with... Read More
Getting an annual credit report review has been the advice... Read More
"I think money was stolen from my card" or "I... Read More
By far the greatest invention the banks have ever come... Read More
A lot of people spend more money than they can... Read More
There are three major factors that affect how much you... Read More
Establishing credit is one of the most important things you... Read More
Credit has become a much-used word, thanks to the various... Read More
Bank robbery has grown to become a huge problem in... Read More
As you probably know, interest rates are at all time... Read More
Ok, let's face it, everybody hates high credit card rates,... Read More
TURBO-CHARGED KILLER RATE SAVING INFORMATION!Let's just take a brief moment... Read More
As identity theft becomes more prevalent, the need to regularly... Read More
For those of us who know how to use them... Read More
Your credit report is a very important piece of the... Read More
Getting your first credit card is a big deal and... Read More
This article is about bailiffs who may call trying to... Read More
There are many different ways to borrow money. Outlined below... Read More
There are many of us that have been badly stung... Read More
Article excerpted from the new book, "How to Do Space... Read More
Credit counseling is a free service that many people with... Read More
Debt collection agencies are often a viable option for receiving... Read More
Thanks to the Fair and Accurate Credit Act, American consumers... Read More
"Cut Your Payments in Half!" the headline screams. "Consolidate Your... Read More
You've just received a "pre-approved" credit card offer in your... Read More
Many credit card holders sign up for a credit account... Read More
Credit is a funny thing. It can be a useful... Read More
In the high tech world of today, credit card fraud... Read More
You're interested in getting the best credit cards for your... Read More
Credit is currently and has been historically an integral component... Read More
"I think money was stolen from my card" or "I... Read More
Creditors will measure your credit rating based on the following... Read More
If you find that creditors are calling you almost daily... Read More
The first time I heard the term credit history was... Read More
In August, 2004, the Federal Trade Commission issued their findings... Read More
As a consumer you've learned the importance of establishing a... Read More
We have all heard the rumors?from neighbors, relatives or friends.... Read More
Most consumers are aware that they have something known as... Read More
We've all seen the ads on television or in magazines,... Read More
Bad Debt IdentificationIdentifying bad debt is not as easy as... Read More
There are times when you may be turned down for... Read More
Here are some useful credit card tips for you to... Read More
Credit |