subject: Credit Card Debt Consolidation Company How To Select The Best One? [print this page] More than any national problem, personal debt is becoming a bigger issue everyday. More and more people are unable to manage their finances and repay their debts. Credit card debt consolidation companies, however, seems to be making money out of this mess. There has been a considerable growth in the number of such consolidation companies since the recent economic downturn.
If you wish to seek services from a debt consolidation company, dont jump upon it just because you go the solution. Take a step back and try to do some background research about the company before handing over your finances to them. Better, make a list of features a consolidation company must have, before you start the actual research.
To begin with, you must check the background of the company, tenure of its existence, who the management is, financial stability and so on. A company that has been established just a while ago may not have the same credibility and expertise as a company with many years of business enjoys. Most important amongst these features is their financial strength. If its doing well, you can be sure they can handle your finances.
Another important this to consider before choosing any credit card debt consolidation company is checking their reputation with Better Business Bureau. This will help you to know the history of the company, complaints, if any, and other details. If any complaints were made by any consumers, you can know why it was registered, how the proceedings were carried on, what the results were, and so on. This will inform you about its customer service, and quality of work.
Similarly, you can read reviews online about the selected company and know how they treat their customers. If many have reported good customer service, you can probably rely on their service.
Some of the other things you must consider are its licensing and certification, qualification and expertise of the staff, and fee charged. It is also important to check the financial statements of the company, if possible, and know the current news regarding financial operations.
One of the easiest way to know about the company is checking online forums where people gather to discuss their issues and concerns. Most of them will probably mention their personal experience with the company. Another advantage of using forum as a source of your research is you can directly contact its customers, and ask your queries. If its not possible to call up the customers, you can get their email ids easily. You can also start a new post or thread about the company.
If you are still doubtful about the authenticity of their establishment, fix a meeting and meet them. If they ask for money first, its very likely they want your money, not your problems.
Research is the most crucial step in the process of selecting a credit card debt consolidation company. Many people ignore this step and fall prey to scammers. Hence, make sure you do most of the above mentioned things before you select any consolidation company and reveal all your financial details.