With so many debt relief options available, it can be difficult to choose the best option. However, before being sucked in by promises of reducing or consolidating your debt, you may want to consider credit counseling.
Credit counselors help consumers create a budget and work with their creditors to reduce interest rates and figure out a more affordable payment plan. Unlike other debt relief options, credit counseling will not hurt your credit score. If you plan to purchase a home, car, or take out a loan in the near future, counseling may be the best option to help you manage your finances.
Credit counseling can be found at many government agencies. Locally, your personal banker may be able to direct you to a reputable credit counselor or coach.
There are quite a few financial counseling services available. Money management and credit counseling are a good place to get basic money management tools.
form_title=Receive Credit Counseling form_header=Professionals can help you regain control of your finances. What is your total amount of debt?=_ How many credit cards do you own?=_ Are you currently employed?= () Yes () No What kind of debt do you have?= [] Credit Card [] Auto Loan [] College Loan [] Mortage [] Other
Familycredit.org offers free debt and credit counseling so that you can regain control of your finances. Consumercredit.org is a non profit organization designed so that you can get out of debt and rebuild your credit at no charge.
I dropped out of consumer credit counseling years ago, and it was not a good experience. The credit cards that I had would not re-open my accounts and my credit report had a negative comment regarding "Consumer Credit Counselors", which is a red flag to any creditor that you needed assistance with maintaining your finances. Also, depending upon who your creditors are they will cancel the arrangements made with consumer credit counselors and go back to the original terms and agreement of your contract, along with any previous balances you had already occurred prior to signing up with a counseling service. My suggestion is if you start counseling, finish counseling.
Before you go into the frying pan into the fire, take a look at your situation. How are you planning to pay for the loan?? Is it for a want or a need? Visit a reputable non profit credit counseling company to get your finances in order. The truth is that you will pay less for your loan if you can get your finances and credit in shape. Definitely do not get someone to co-sign if you are not sure that you will follow through and make your payments.
There are many reputable credit counseling companies. Some of the most reputable ones include '123 Credit Counselors, Inc', 'Abacus Credit Counseling' and 'Advantage Credit Counseling Service, Inc'.
There are a number of sites one can visit to get advice on credit counseling. One can find such advice at the 'National Foundation for Credit Counseling' or 'Better Business Bureau' who have a good advice on choosing a credit counseling agent.
There are quite a few large Credit Counseling Companies online. There are several websites with reviews and testimonials about the major Credit Counseling Companies.
You do not have to necessarily get credit counseling before you can file for bankruptcy.
A reputable financial counseling or credit counseling organization may be able to help you for free. Some have nominal charges for a consultation while many others offer free counseling sessions. Make sure that you seek help from a nonprofit organization so that there is no incentive for them to sell you on any single solution.
Careone Credit Counseling is a debt relief company that helps consumers get out of debt with the help of a trained credit counselor. They also provide credit counseling for those in need.