The Criteria Of Good Debt Management Programs
Choosing
Choosing
the ideal
debt
management
program to suit your particular debt issue is not easy. There are so
many companies and agencies with false claims and promises that you
end up being too wary and perhaps a little skeptic on how the legit
companies can actually help you lose your debts in just a few simple
steps. Another thing that bugs you is that even if you have found a
list of legit companies specializing in managing debts, how do you
know which one is the right one for you?
Before
you decide to engage a debt-help company to assist you with your
financial problems, you should first know the considerations of good
debt
managementprograms. Based on the guidelines, you will at least have the general
idea on what you should expect to gain from these agencies or
companies. Bear in mind that not all companies will be able to
fulfill all the considerations but the rule of thumb is that a good
program should be clear, simple and does not make you feel
uncomfortable when signing up for it. The guidelines in choosing the
best debt management program are as follows:
You
should always look for debt management companies that are licensed,
registered, certified and accredited by relevant government bodies
such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the Better Business
Bureau (BBB). Some companies claim to be non-profit but dont be
fooled into thinking they wont be charging you certain fees
because they will.
2)Transparency
and clarity are the characteristics of a good program. No hidden
agendas or surprises. The companys representatives should be able
to answer all your questions without seeming like they are hiding
anything from you. If you do not understand anything at all, ask. If
they are reluctant to answer your questions, they are likely hiding
something and will probably not disclose certain information before
you sign up for their program. That is a sure sign that you should
just up and leave.
3)No
debt
management program serviceshould start making suggestions or giving you fees quotations before
even looking at your credit statement or your financial background.
Companies that do that are merely interested in making money than
actually helping you manage your debts and eventually free yourself
of them. A good debt management program advisor will definitely ask
to see or find out more about your credit status, large purchase
activities, your list of creditors, interest rates as well as minimum
payment amounts. It is only based on these vital information that
they will be able to assess the extent of your financial problem and
come up with a plan to help you.
4)If
a debt management company refuses to give you any information in
writing, you should prepare to walk out the door. Nowadays it is very
important to get everything in writing especially when it comes to
fees and additional charges as people can simply promise anything
verbally. You dont want to be caught off-guard when they charge
you with a fee that is not listed in their fees and charges column. A
good debt management company will be more than happy to give you a
written version of their program in order to help you understand it
better.
5)Personal
credit information is private and confidential. You definitely do not
want any information about you and your credit status to be leaked
out to any party without your consent. Ask about privacy policy and
the necessary steps the company will be taking to ensure that your
information will be safe-guarded and not given to any other party
without a written consent from you.
6)Debt
management companies will definitely charge you for their services
but a good one will not overcharge you and they will not surprise you
with hidden fees as your program progresses. Get their representative
to clarify all the fees and charges that have to be borne by you in
writing with full disclosure to avoid future disputes.
Now
that you know some of the considerations of a good debt management
program, you can easily spot the bad ones from the good ones. If need
be, you can even quiz them on terminologies such as
debt
management consolidation,
debt settlement or home equity loans and see if they can
differentiate all three terminologies. If they cant even do
something as simple as that, how are you going to trust them with
something even more complicated like your debts?
by: Ask Bill
Benefits Of Debt Management Programs Speed Up Computer By Fixing Runtime Error 191 Safe And Effective Weight Loss Programs Effectively Watch TV On Computer The Best Cartridge Options For HP Printers Used Cheap Computers In Finest Conditions. How To Get, Convert Dvd Movies For Ipad Playback On Mac Computer Loans now Have A Computer Of Your Own Massage Therapy School Internship Programs Basic Pointers In Postcard Printing Importance of ID card printers Computer software jobs Maintenance Of Forklift Batteries