Do you have any experience with comsumer credit counseling services?

More and more people are turning to credit counselors to help them get out from under a mountain of debt. Some consumers are finding out the hard way, however, that not all credit counselors are created equal.

One so called "non-profit" counseling agency pockets your first month's check, which you assume is being applied to your debts, and calls it a "charitable contribution." Agencies like these may make you wary of seeking help from a consumer credit counseling agency, but if you know how to choose a reputable agency and you exercise a bit of caution, you can benefit from their services.

Just what can you expect from a credit counseling agency? Besides providing general budgeting and money management advice to help you prevent future debt problems, they can negotiate with your creditors to get them to eliminate late fees, extend the term of your loan, or lower your interest rate. If your debt is burdensome enough, the credit counselor will encourage you to enter into a debt repayment plan requiring you to pay a set amount to the agency each month, which they then pay to your creditors.

As long as they are a "non-profit' organization...

Make sure to run a search on the company on Google and run it thru "rippoffreport.com" and the Better Business Bureau.

Or simply post the company's name and any info you got from them on this site. Ask them the following questions in your "interview".

Is there an upfront fee?

Are you promising to fix my credit?

Are you promising to lower my debt?

Are you claiming that you can force my creditors to accept a settlement offer?

Write down their answers to any of the above questions then post back here what they said and who they are... and we will be more than happy to give you a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down".

Only take "answers" serious that don't try to offer you a loan, or a work at home scam. Check out the profile of the person that is answering. If they are brand new to this site... disregard them. They are scammers that constantly open new accounts to fly under the radar.

Good Luck... and we will be there to help when you have more info.

They are helpful. Try it out.