| Looking for the best way to pay off your | | | | good standing of the Better Business Bureau, and, if |
| outstanding consumer debt? Do significantly lowered | | | | they have a website, it is preferable to only do |
| interest rates and an improved credit score sound | | | | business with an agency that is part of the BBB |
| appealing? Are you tired of all of those annoying | | | | Online Reliability Program. Ask for proof that thy |
| telephone calls? Before you even consider looking | | | | are legally compliant in every state in which they |
| into filing for bankruptcy, please try to find a | | | | practice, and independently verify this information if it |
| reputable nonprofit debt consolidation agency instead. | | | | is not readily available upon request. Once again, this |
| There are numerous institutions that offer long-term | | | | should be clearly stated on their website. If you do |
| debt relief for profit, but the best way to handle | | | | not have Internet access, a quick phone call to the |
| your current financial crisis is to enlist the services of | | | | appropriate regulating authority can supply you with |
| a nonprofit debt consolidation agency. Many | | | | the answer. |
| businesses who supposedly offer these services are | | | | Find out what associations, professional organizations, |
| nothing more than commissioned salespeople on | | | | or trade groups they are a member of, and contact |
| credit card companies payrolls. Some try to trick | | | | each one for more information and references. |
| you with names like debt settlement firms, but do | | | | Some of the more popular ones to look for are the |
| not fall for this trap. | | | | Christian Management Association, the American |
| Do your homework, and find a reputable nonprofit | | | | Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), and the |
| debt consolidation agency instead. If you are | | | | Christian Business Association. Others to seek out |
| drowning in a sea of credit card debt, a certified | | | | are the American Association of Debt Management |
| credit counselor can help you repair your credit score | | | | Organizations, and the American Society for Quality |
| by customizing a debt relief program based on a | | | | (ASQ). |
| reasonable monthly repayment plan. Nonprofit debt | | | | Are they ISO 9001 certified? If so, that means that |
| consolidation is the answer to most people's financial | | | | their staff is well-trained; they have explicitly, detailed |
| difficulties, but there are several things that need to | | | | department manuals; and they strictly follow the |
| be investigated before you make any agreement. | | | | consumer credit counseling code of practice. The |
| Make sure that they are officially recognized by the | | | | International Organization for Standardization has |
| Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit | | | | been in existence since 1947, and only certifies those |
| organization. This should be clearly stated on their | | | | organizations who have the highest quality |
| website, and can be easily verified. Ensure that at | | | | management standards. In other words, you can |
| least one certified credit counselor is available for | | | | trust those companies are certified by the ISO to be |
| free consultations, and check out their credentials. | | | | among the leaders in their respective industries. |
| The National Association of Certified Credit | | | | After you have carefully evaluated a nonprofit debt |
| Counselors (NACCC) is widely recognized by all | | | | consolidation agency to see if they meet the above |
| creditors, states, and the debt management | | | | standards, then you should turn to them for debt |
| industry. The Institute for Personal Finance and the | | | | relief assistance. Only do business with those who |
| Association for Financial Counseling and Planning | | | | have high customer service standards, and take the |
| Education have excellent records throughout the | | | | time to thoroughly answer any questions. If they |
| industry as well. | | | | fail to meet all of your expectations, please find |
| Ensure that the agency in question is a member in | | | | another service provider. |