How to choose the right credit counseling agency?
Choosing the right credit counseling agency could be tough when you are buried under credit debts and don’t know how to make your situation better
Since there is a rise in credit card debt levels all the time, credit counseling agencies are reaping huge profits. Therefore as a consumer, it is in your interest to choose the right credit counseling agency for you. In general, an accreditation with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling or Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies would be recommended.You need to consider an entire list of credit counseling agencies and then narrow down it and it shall be better to call your local better business bureau and check whether any complaints are filed for any of these. In case any credit counseling agency has number of complaints associated to it, you should better move on another one.It is very important for you to understand that what is being offered to you by the credit counseling agency. A good credit counseling agency shall offer you a variety of services such as a certified personal counselor, personal financial budget calculation worksheet, a debt management plan, working with creditors to lower down the interest and other free resources and credit information.
Any credit counseling agency that offers you erasing your credit history is an indication of red flag because your credit history cannot be erased and accurate information of your credit accounts stay on record for seven years.
A reputed credit counseling agency shall offer you budget services for free and charge for debt management plan or any other premium services that you seek to. You should look out for a reputed agency that charges you in between $15 to $30. $50 could be considered the highest amount where you can be totally comfortable for any services they offer.
You can also try to collect more information upon credit counselors and see what kind of training is given to credit counselors and go for credit agencies that provide training to its counselors through an outside source. You can also ask about the way the counselors are being paid because if they are paid commission they may pressurize you to accept a debt management plan.
