Finding the Right Credit Counseling Agency

Written by admin on December 5th, 2010

When seeking financial advice like credit counseling, it is important to work with people that you can trust. Because of the sensitive nature of your problems, you will want to know that the credit counselor you are speaking with will handle your information with discretion and integrity as well as treat you with respect.

There are several things to look for in a credit counselor. First of all, you want a counselor who is experienced in a financial and credit counseling. You want someone who has handled cases like yours and is familiar with the different solutions available. A credit counselor should be able to apply his or her experience to your situation and help you come up with the appropriate answer to your debt or credit problem.

You especially want to work with a credible credit counseling agency. Check their record with the Better Business Bureau and determine if they have a satisfactory rating. If they do not, find another organization to work with. You also want your counselor to be appropriately trained and certified. Ask them about what training or certification they have received. Also, if the organization works with other agencies, make sure those are reputable as well.

Some credit counselors will simply sell their own debt consolidation product and will not discuss your situation with you. You want someone who is more than a salesman who can really show you what options are best in your particular situation. It is also great if your credit counselor can help you with budgeting, housing counseling, and filing your taxes as well.

When looking for a credit counselor consider what you are comfortable with. Would you prefer to talk to someone face-to-face, or would you rather receive counseling over the phone? A reputable agency would offer both types of counseling.

There are several warnings signs to look for when considering using a credit counseling agency. If the agency only uses a PO Box and not a street address, be cautious. If they are pushing towards an option that you’re not comfortable with, just say no. You also don’t want to work with a credit counseling agency that charges exorbitant fees up front.

Once you have taken these suggestions into consideration, you will have a better chance of finding a reputable credit counselor who can adequately provide you with the help you need.

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