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Consumer Credit
Counseling Services Help & Advice
Debt Negotiation: If you’re not disciplined
enough to create a workable budget and stick to it, can’t work
out a repayment plan with your creditors, or can’t keep track
of mounting bills, consider contacting a Debt Counseling
organization. Many Debt Counseling organizations are nonprofit
and work with you to solve your financial problems. But be
aware that, just because an organization says it’s
“nonprofit,” there’s no guarantee that its services are free,
affordable, or even legitimate. In fact, some Debt & Bill
Counseling organizations charge high fees, which may be
hidden, or urge consumers to make “voluntary” contributions
that can cause more debt. Most credit counselors offer services
through local offices, the Internet, or on the telephone. If
possible, find an organization that offers in-person Credit
Counseling. Many universities, military bases, credit unions,
housing authorities, and branches of the U.S. Cooperative
Extension Service operate nonprofit Debt & Bill Counseling
programs. Your financial institution, local consumer
protection agency, and friends and family also may be good
sources of information and referrals. Reputable Debt & Bill Counseling
organizations can advise you on managing your money and money
owing, help you develop a budget, and offer free educational
materials and workshops. Their counselors are certified and
trained in the areas of consumer credit, money and bills
management, and money plan. Counselors discuss your entire
financial situation with you, and help you develop a
personalized plan to solve your money problems. An initial
counseling session typically lasts an hour, with an offer of
follow-up sessions. Debt Help Program: If your financial
problems stem from too much money owing or your inability to
repay your money owing, a Debt Help agency may recommend that
you enroll in a Debt Relief Program (DMP). A DMP alone is not
Debt Negotiation, and DMPs are not for everyone. You should
sign up for one of these plans only after a certified Credit
Counseling has spent time thoroughly reviewing your financial
situation, and has offered you customized advice on managing
your money. Even if a DMP is appropriate for you, a reputable
Debt and Credit Counseling organization still can help you
create a financial budget and teach you money management
skills. In a DMP, you deposit money each month
with the Debt and Credit Counseling organization, which uses
your deposits to pay your unsecured debt., like your credit
card bills, student loans, and medical money owing, according
to a payment schedule the counselor develops with you and your
debtors. Your debtors may agree to lower your interest rates
or waive certain fees, but check with all your creditors to be
sure they offer the concessions that a Credit Counseling
organization describes to you. A successful DMP requires you
to make regular, timely payments, and could take 48 months or
more to complete. Ask the Debt Couseling to estimate how long
it will take for you to complete the plan. You may have to
agree not to apply for — or use — any additional credit while
you’re participating in the plan. Protect Yourself Be wary of Debt and Credit Counseling
organizations that: charge high up-front or monthly fees for
enrolling in Debt Couseling or a Debt Counseling Plan. pressure you to make “voluntary
contributions,” another name for fees. won’t send you free information about
the services they provide without requiring you to provide
personal financial information, such as credit card account
numbers, and balances. try to enroll you in a Debt Management
Plans without spending time reviewing your financial
situation. offer to enroll you in a Debt
Consolidation Plan without teaching you budget and money
management skills. demand that you make payments into a
Debt Relief Plan before your creditors have accepted you into
the program
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