Each person's situation is unique, so
consult with a credit counselor or other trusted financial advisor before you decide which debt management option is the correct option for you.
You must
talk with a credit counselor before filing for bankruptcy, so look for someone who can really explain the process and help you make the right decision.
There are several avenues to address that issue, but one that seldom is suggested would be to put them in
touch with a credit counselor from a nonprofit debt management agency.
If you don't have a strong credit rating, talk
with a credit counselor at a nonprofit credit counseling agency to review other options.
Before you consider working
with a credit counselor make sure you understand your financial status and whether the company can offer real help.
Finally, he met
with a credit counselor who called Equifax and found the problem: It had mistaken him for his father, Osa Meekins Sr., who had been deceased for 20 years.
Whether you decide to work
with a credit counselor on a debt management plan or handle debt re-aging yourself, getting all your bills up to date is crucial.
It is important to research your options, so
consult with a credit counselor or a bankruptcy attorney to review your options, and be sure to read the articles on the left hand side of the page to become fully informed, so you can make your own decision.
Contact a reputable service, such as the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, and speak
with a credit counselor who can help you create a realistic and personalized budget as part of a plan for getting out of debt.
The Select plan offered by Veracity includes a free credit report, a
consultation with a credit counselor, an analysis of credit report information, and relevant disputes with the credit reporting agencies for inaccurate information contained in a credit report.
Before filing a Chapter 13 plan you must meet
with a credit counselor at some point during the six months prior to filing your Wage Earner Plan, and you must attend money management classes (at your own expense) before a final order will be issued by the bankruptcy court.
Debtors who have qualified under the «means test» and completed a required pre-filing
session with a credit counselor may file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection.
If you think you're
speaking with a credit counselor but are instead speaking with a debt settlement company, for example, you could wind up receiving advice that doesn't help you reach your goals.
Generally, credit card issuers already have a set interest rate that they'll give to consumers who
work with credit counselors, so these agencies don't necessarily have to negotiate a lower interest rate for you.
Just
meeting with a credit counselor and getting help creating a plan to get out of debt, and getting help to make all of your payments in full, isn't going to affect your credit in a negative way.
If you owe more in «bad» debt than your annual salary, or you can no longer make your minimum payments each month, consult
with a credit counselor or a bankruptcy attorney to see if bankruptcy should be considered.
Instead, work
with a credit counselor or financial planner to create a workable budget based on your income and monthly bills.
Working
with a credit counselor could open your eyes to other alternatives that could free up the money you need.