Certified Credit Counselors: Finding the Help You Need

According to a research from CreditCards.com, debt is one of the most taboo topics in our culture. An overwhelming 81% of consumers say they do not like discussing debt with someone they don’t know or just met. This is even higher than health issues (62%) and salary (77%). With such a taboo, it’s no wonder so many consumers put off talking to someone about debt problems until the last possible minute. Unfortunately, this is often too late, which means you face even worse financial outcomes because you procrastinated. While you may not feel comfortable discussing finance with a stranger, it can mean the difference between finding debt relief and ending up in bankruptcy.

If this situation sounds familiar, you need to get help as soon as possible before the situation gets to the point that many debt relief options won’t provide the relief you need. A certified credit counselor is trained to provide consumers with customized debt relief options that work in each consumer’s unique financial circumstances. Call Consolidated Credit today at 1-800-320-9929 to speak with a certified credit counselor. You can also take the first step online with a request for a Free Debt Analysis.

Understanding What Credit Counselors Do to Help

The financial world is complex and consumers often have a hard time navigating on their own – especially when it comes to credit, debt and options for consolidation. A certified credit counselor is an expert at helping consumers to understand their situation as well as their options for debt relief. Since every financial situation is different, working with a credit counselor helps you focus on the options that will really work for you. Without the advice of a financial expert, you might choose the wrong debt relief option which can potentially make your hardship even worse.

When you contact a certified credit counselor, the first step he or she will take is to get an accurate assessment of your credit card debt and budget. The counselor will also run a credit check to determine how much of an impact debt has had on your credit rating and to see which of your debts could be helped by debt consolidation. He or she will then review your options with you and determine the best course of action that allows you to regain control of your financial future.

In many cases – particularly if your debt problems have already impacted your credit scores – your best course of action will be to consolidate using a debt management program (DMP). A DMP allows you to consolidate unsecured debt just like you would with a credit card balance transfer or personal debt consolidation loan. However, unlike those options, you do not have to have excellent credit scores in order to qualify for the right interest rate. The interest rates you receive are based on the established relationships the agency has with creditors, so you can consolidate even with bad credit scores.

Understanding What Credit Counselors Do During Your DMP

At the end of your first consultation with a certified credit counselor, you’ll have a better idea of how to move forward with your debt relief strategy. If you choose a debt management program, the counselor will be able to tell you exactly what interest rates will be applied to your debts under the program and exactly what you would pay each month. You can then make the decision to enroll with a complete understanding of what to expect.

Once you enroll, the credit counselor’s job doesn’t end there. During your DMP, the credit counselor will work with you every step of the way to answer any questions, handle collections agents and negotiate with creditors on your behalf. This means as soon as you enroll in the program, you can stop avoiding the constant collections calls to your home and even your job. Instead of dodging calls, you can direct collectors to call your credit counselor about your debts. By FDCPA regulations, collectors and creditors must stop calling you directly once you’ve obtained any kind of representation, including a certified credit counselor.

In addition, the credit counselor will work with you during your time in the program to help ensure you have a better grasp on your personal finances. The counselor can direct you to resources to help you learn effective budgeting strategies, better ways to manage credit card debt and how to develop a saving strategy that will help ensure you actually save. This additional assistance helps you make sure that once you get out of debt, you can stay that way.

Whether you still have questions about how credit counseling works or you think credit counseling is the right choice for you, give us a call at 1-800-320-9929 to speak with a certified credit counselor today. You can also take the first step online with a request for a Free Debt Analysis, and a counselor will be in contact soon once he or she has reviewed the information you provided.