Credit Counseling is a program that helps you avoid bankruptcy and repay your debt. Credit Counseling services provide education and planning to help you resolve your debts, they do not provide loans, nor do they help you reduce the debt you owe.
Credit Counseling programs educate you about your finances. The education will help you understand how to resolve your current debt problems and help you avoid the same situation in the future. Credit Counseling can also provide some basic yet helpful services for you.
Credit Counseling can organize your debt problems into a repayment plan (often called a debt management plan), help you execute the plan, and may work with your creditors on your behalf. Some Credit Counseling agencies or services will write letters, on your behalf, to creditors outlining your debt repayment plan to lower the interest rates you are paying and to reduce or stop late fees that continue accumulating on your outstanding debts. Credit counselors may also be successful in stopping phone calls from creditors.
Savings are small, though the savings may be worth it to some. If you do save money, it is unlikely due to your total debt being lowered, and it is probably because creditors have stopped adding late fees and may have applied a lower interest rate to your account. The amount you save in late fees and interest will vary by creditor.
Some Credit Counseling services are complimentary, with no charge. You might locate these services at financial organizations, such as a credit union, through your work, various government agencies, the military, or the internet. Some services charge fees; some request voluntary deposits. Some Credit Counseling services are non-profit organizations some exist to make money. Check around and ask lots of questions; additional fees from some services may add an unnecessary burden to your debt situation.
Time frames vary based on how much you owe and how much you can pay each month to creditors. Effective Credit Counseling can help you find a more comfortable repayment plan than you are currently attempting.
We understand the burden that debts can place on individuals and families, and we are committed to helping you overcome these challenges.
Debt settlement services are not appropriate for everyone. Enrollment into the program may be adversely affect creditworthiness; May result in collections or legal motions by creditors or debt collectors; and may increase the balance owed due to accrual of fees and interest by creditors or debt collectors. to pay your monthly bills in a timely manner may result in increased balances and can harm credit ratings. Not all creditors will agree to reduce the principal balance.
Debt-settlement services are not appropriate for everyone. Failure to pay your monthly bills in a timely manner will result in increased balances and will harm your credit rating. Not all creditors may agree to reduce the principal balance, and they may pursue collection, including lawsuits. There are also required verbal and written disclosures and warnings.
