When finances are spiraling out of control and you are unsure of what you can do, you are probably a prime candidate for credit counseling. There are many organizations, some of which are non-profit, who are available to help you understand what is happening with your finances and how best the situations that you are dealing with, can be solved. Now, not all debt counseling is free and in fact, some credit counselors charge fees that are really quite high. It is important that you carefully research those organizations that may be able to help you and select the one that best represents the services and assistance you need.
For best results, credit counseling should be done face-to-face rather than via telephone or via the web. By meeting face-to-face you can more easily communicate your needs and understand the options available to you. There is a lot to be said for fact-to-face communication, in the printed words nuances and non-verbal gestures are lost which makes the likelihood of a misunderstanding much greater. The credit counselor should be able to offer a variety of debt management tools, salutations and debt consolidation offerings that best suit your individual needs. Ask around and you will more than likely find someone who has used local debt counseling services. A referral from someone you know is the best confirmation of how they do business. However, you can also ask your local chamber of commerce or better business bureau for information about local debt management offices. One important thing to do, if you are looking at organizations that have not been referred to you specifically, try to get as much free information about them and their services as they will give you without giving them much information about you. Your personal situation shouldn’t be discussed until you have found the provider of services you think you will be contracting. No need to have your personal information floating out in the nether regions for the entire world to consider.
A quality debt counseling organization will not only advise you on to manage your current debt situation including whether or not you should consider consolidating debt or filing bankruptcy; but they will also provide tools and solutions to assist you in future money management activities. These tools and solutions may include educational materials, workshops, and budget worksheets.
Any credit counselor you hire should be certified with specific traiing in the areas of consumer credit, money and debt management, budget preparation. By identifying someone with this type of specialization and training you can be sure that they can help you not only with your immediate needs, but also in a way that allows you to develop a long-term plan to keep from repeating the past mistakes you have made.
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