If you feel like your finances are out of control, you're not alone. Credit debt, mortgages, student loans, car payments: It all adds up for many of us. Sometimes figuring out how to subtract from your total debt, as opposed to adding to it, is tough. Getting out of debt sometimes requires expert help. Debt counseling is one way to get such help. Here are some things to know about debt counseling.
- Realize counseling is only as good as the counselor. As you begin your search for a debt counseling program, looking online, in the yellow pages, asking friends or colleagues, you will quickly learn there's no shortage of choices. Many, many debt counseling services exist. That's why it's so important to do your homework and pick a reputable counselor. Otherwise, you may end up just wasting your time and money. Ideally, a debt counselor should look at your individual situation and help devise a plan to get you out of your financial jam. But increasingly, disreputable counseling agencies and agents are not helping clients and are more interested in collecting their fees.
With "buyer beware" in mind, there are a few things to check up on when you seek a debt counselor. Check the reputation of the counseling service with your state's attorney general and/or the local Better Business Bureau. Check to see if the agency or individual is accreditedwith a reputable organization that has high "best practices" standards (for more on accreditation and best practices, see the link to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling). Make sure the agency is offering individualized services and not just foisting "debt management plans" on everyone.* Credit counseling (education on savings, spending, budgeting, etc.) should also be included in the debt counseling you receive. One last, key warning I've seen in many places: Don't be fooled by the term "nonprofit." Anyone can say that he is nonprofit; that doesn't mean that he's not out to make a profit off of you or that he knows what he's doing.
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Author: B. Danesco