Are you seeking credit repair help? Are your credit problems a result of irresponsible financial behavior on your part or are they the result of circumstances beyond your control? Many times, people who seek out credit repair help and go through the process of a debt management plan end up falling right back into debt again in a relatively short amount of time after all that time, work, and added expense. This is because they fall back into the same poor financial habits and make the same mistakes again (if not new ones).
If you are seeking credit repair help, for whatever reason, it is advised that you take advantage of the information and resources that are available to you. Not only is the Internet a great, free source of information, but you can obtain help from many nonprofit credit repair help agencies. Most reputable credit counseling agencies will offer free credit counseling and financial counseling in addition to making many educational materials available to people for free. Know the difference between credit counseling and bankruptcy or debt settlement. Credit counseling will generally reduce your monthly payments and eliminate or reduce fees. The latter, however, will eliminate some or all of the principal altogether.
It is important to keep in mind that not all credit repair help agencies are the same. Many exist just to make a profit off of the consumer and offer minimal help and much expense. Many also make extravagant claims that are not backed up by action. Furthermore, it is even more important to keep in mind that not all non-profit credit counseling organizations are to be trusted, despite their 501-c3 status. Not every organization is honest or ethical, unfortunately. It is imperative that you investigate every credit repair help agency before you enter into any contract with them. This is to protect yourself, as well as your finances (which may already be severely in disrepair).
Credit repair help through an agency is often the best route to take, provided that you have done your research and selected a reputable, honest, and ethical agency. However, consumers should also keep in mind that many of the services that you pay for through a credit counseling agency can actually be performed by the person who is in debt himself. A third party is not necessary to negotiate with your creditors; however, debt management plans are complicated and require a great deal of attention to detail. In many cases, it is simply easier and worth the extra money to eliminate the hassle and allow an experienced agency to handle the details of your credit repair. As with anything, however, if you select the wrong agency, you could ultimately create more headache and expense for yourself in the long run.