subject: Consumer Credit Counseling – When Does Consumer Credit Counseling Make Sense [print this page] Consumer Credit Counseling When Does Consumer Credit Counseling Make Sense
Having trouble managing your credit? Are you feel overwhelmed with payments and feeling like little of your hard earned money is even going to pay off the principal of the debt? Consumer credit counseling is one option that may help you muddle through your debt problems. Consumer credit counselors provide consumers with much needed debt help.
You might decide to be your own personal credit counselor and manage your own debt. However, most consumer credit counselors typically have more power when dealing with creditors. The counselor can often obtain lower payments and a reduced interest rate for you. These both help facilitate debt repayment. Not only that but the counselor is also trained in educating the consumer. After all, most consumers need to learn skills in debt management to keep themselves from getting into the same situation again.
You also should determine from the credit counselor what affect their services may have on your credit. Some agencies will report that you have sought a debt management plan to your creditors especially if you want them to seek lower interest rates from your creditors.
Your credit counselor will have the knowledge of perhaps offer you some choices as to a solution for your debt problems. If you find your counselor only pushing one solution without even considering others, be leery of them.
If you seek a debt management plan through credit counseling, the credit counselor will be responsible for managing your accounts. Again, this is another reason for being picky when selecting an agency. Should your payments not be made in a timely manner, then your credit will be adversely affected. If this happens multiple times, your plan will be canceled. Your creditor then is free to raise your interest rates back to their previously high levels. In general, credit counseling is an excellent solution for those experiencing debt problems and definitely a wiser choice than resorting to bankruptcy.
