How To Find Non Profit Debt Counseling

Hard economic times are causing more and more people to seek help from non-profit debt counseling agencies.  Debt counselors can advise you about managing your money, help you develop a budget, provide solutions to help you get out of debt and improve your finances and credit score. 

Reputable Company 

Selecting a reputable debt counseling company is important.  Look for an agency that is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit debt counseling community organization. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they are more legitimate, but it gives you some assurance that they are genuinely interested in helping you.  Before you make a final decision, you should check around and talk to a few companies.  You can find them on the Internet, in the telephone directory or newspaper. Getting a referral from your attorney, accountant, friend or family member is another way to finding the right company.  There are some guidelines you should also follow when selecting a company such as:  

• Find out if the company is affiliated with a National Foundation that regulates ethical standards as a condition for membership.
• Look for a company that is accredited by an independent third party which lets you know that they are legitimate.
• Look for a company that offers a variety of services and assistance ranging from credit repair to home loan modification and foreclosure prevention.
• Find out if there are any fees associated with their services.  Usually, there are no charges for non-profit debt counseling services.
• Find out how they offer their services. Internet, telephone or in person at their offices.
• Do their counselors have any special certifications such as certified consumer creditor counselor? The certification means that the counselor has been trained and has passed a number of tests qualifying them to give you financial counseling.
• Do they provide free education classes or any kind of workshops and are these services offered on line or at a facility?  
• You should also check the company out with the Better Business Bureau or your state’s Attorney General’s office to find out if there have been any complaints and how they were settled. 

Getting Help from an Attorney

A debt settlement attorney can help you negotiate with your creditors to reduce your debt, defend you in a lawsuit if your creditor has sued you and help you settle a judgment that has been filed against you by a creditor. The attorney is knowledgeable about debt and consumer protection and can advise you on the best way to handle your debt situation.