How do you find a debt counselor who is legitimate and can be trusted? I am trying to avoid bankruptcy ,?
but the situation is getting really bad. My husband was on unemployment and has been forced to take a job that is half of his previous pay. I am currently unemployed.
Contact your local Red Cross for a referral to the local Consumer Credit Counseling Services (CCCS). They can negotiate reduced interest and payments. They will require you to stop using all credit and to cut up your cards. Your credit report will be updated to "enrolled in debt management." This does not damage your credit, but it may make it difficult to obtain new credit while you are enrolled in their program….so don’t use this service if you anticipate applying for a new apartment, car loan or mortgage anytime soon, as you would might be denied while you’re enrolled in the CCCS debt management program…
While an accredited credit counseling program like CCCS can be good you need to be aware that these programs are funded by the credit card industry and this can create an obvious conflict of interest in the advise they give you. I advise against using CCCS if you are drastically past due or have already complete defaulted on most of your credit cards….If this is the case then you are better off negotiating settlements directly with your creditors. You may be able to settle in the 25% – 50% range if your cards are already defaulted. If you settle, get all terms in writing. They will probably want a large lump sum rather than small payments over several years. CCCS will not negotiate settlements because they are funded by the credit card industry.
CCCS counselors will often tell people to not file for bankruptcy when they really should. If your debt is overwhelming relative to your income/assets and the reduced payments negotiated by CCCS simply will not work, then you should think about filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
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Stay away from any "debt consolidation" company that promises to cut your debt in half through debt settlement….This is a risky tactic of deliberately ceasing all payments to creditors and forcing your accounts into default to attempt settlements. You can never predict how your creditors will respond to the deliberate defaulting of your accounts…they might settle at 50%…or they might serve you a summons, take you to court…and if they win, you could be looking at wage garnishment. Many people who sign up with “debt consolidation” firms incorrectly assume that they have the power to force your creditors to accept settlements…they don’t. Your creditors have the right to refuse settlements and take you to court.