How to Find a Credit Counselor

     If you're like many Americans, you're just a couple of salaries away from a severe economic crisis. Among the mortgage or rent payments, insurance, utilities and credit card bills, you face a dizzying tour of the bills at the end of each month. If the debts are increasingly difficult to pay, or you've just managed to retain the interest of credit counseling may be the ticket for you. How a credit counselor to ease your financial pain? More than a million Americans each year invites advisors for help, when credit woes threaten to capsize their financial security. Although credit counselors do not renegotiate the total amount of your debt, they can negotiate with different lenders to lower your interest rate, often by as much as 50%. A counselor trained and certified can also help you:

Make a personal budget and a plan for debt management;
Eliminate late fees and other costs;
Benefits paid to each of your creditors.

     All this can get you back on the road to financial stability. If a credit counselor sounds like just the thing to get you out of purgatory accounts receivable, then read on as we will show you what to look for in a guide.

Do not let you

     When you start your search, the key is to be realistic and reasonable. Do not result in a big flashy ads - and beware of phone calls or emails that come without warning by credit counselors who offer their services. Consultants reputable credit are usually based on past clients for referrals. They do not solicit your business through television, telemarketing, or "spam" e-mails. Find an agency whose counselors are certified by an outside agency and is not paid on commission.

     Interview several agents before choosing one, and do not be afraid to ask for recommendations. Start the search can be done online, "Independent consumer credit agencies." Another good place to start is the National Foundation for credit counseling. (Related reading, see you live too close to the edge?)

Are you a priority?

     Financial solutions are rarely a one size fits all, to see if the advisor will develop a plan tailored to your individual circumstances. Have a clear - in writing - a fee will be charged and what they are based. In general, you should not pay more than $ 100 in the set-up fee or $ 50 monthly fee. Monthly charges vary according to state law, the Agency should be able to explain. When you add this fee, ask yourself if an agency makes sense to you, or is it just add more to existing debts? Develop a plan of debt management

     Once you choose a credit counseling agency qualified will be asked to provide information about your income, expenses and debts. Your credit counselor will analyze this information, analyze your situation and make recommendations to help you meet your financial problems.

     The counselor should negotiate a payment plan or debt management (DMP), which allows you to pay your unsecured debts at a reduced price, and finally dropped late fees or other penalties. In return you will be asked to make a regular monthly payment of the credit counseling agency. So instead of writing several checks to various creditors, to make one payment each month to the counseling agency. These payments are used to pay your creditors according to a schedule the counselor has developed in consultation with you.