Debt Management Advice is Everywhere!
Good, bad, or indifferent, debt management advice is everywhere. You’ll find it in advertisements and books, on TV and the Web, and even from friends and family. And everyone has a different opinion about what you should and shouldn’t do when it comes to money management and emerging from financial hardships. The best solution is to find a credit counselor you can trust to talk through your options.
Seeking Credible Debt Management Advice
Credit counselors who provide debt management advice are also everywhere, so finding one who’s knowledge and helpful might seem daunting. It can be done through preparation and planning. Here are a few tips for researching reputable consolidated credit counseling services, regardless of your location and financial standing:
- Contact your local or state government’s consumer protection office for a list of reputable debt consolidation companies. Also ask for recommendations from friends and relatives.
- After you’ve compiled your list, verify that each company is a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) or the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCCA). American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) is a full-service non-profit debt consolidation company and a member of AICCCA.
- Check on the company’s level of experience and profit status. Selecting a non-profit credit counseling agency with a minimum of seven years of experience is ideal for receiving the best debt management advice. ACCC, for example, has been serving the community for 25 years.
- Schedule consultations with each company you’ve selected from the list. Compare and contrast their services, and gauge how you feel when you’re talking to each counselor. Also ask them how they would resolve certain financial problems, such as how to consolidate your debt. If the counselor does not answer your questions adequately, or you simply feel uncomfortable during your conversation, contact another counselor.
- When you have narrowed your list of candidates, check with the Better Business Bureau on whether complaints were filed and resolved timely and to the customer’s satisfaction.
Debt Consolidation and Other Types of Debt Management Advice
While seeking guidance on ways to consolidate debt is the most common form of debt management advice, there are other reasons you might want to seek counseling. For example, if you’re thinking about buying a home, you might need some advice on how to save for a down payment and where to find financing. If you’re struggling with debt and think bankruptcy is your only way out, then learning about bankruptcy and alternatives through pre-bankruptcy credit counseling is an effective solution.
ACCC provides professional debt management advice that allows you to make informed decisions about your financial future. Since 1991 we’ve been helping consumers tackle their financial challenges and achieve their goals for themselves and their families. Contact us today and let us know how we can help you.
