Debt Negotiation/Credit Counseling
The key is any debt relief program is to know which one is right for your situation. Click Here to read more about what your debt relief options are.
Hiring A Professional To Help
If you feel that your debt challenges are too much to handle on your own, here are two great resources to help you reach your financial goals:
Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc., founded in the early 1990s, is an industry leader in providing credit counseling throughout the United States.
Consolidated Credit is a member of the Better Business Bureau, the United States Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies, and the American Collection Association.
CreditGUARD of America, Inc. is an independent, non-profit credit counseling agency that provides debt counseling to consumers throughout the United States. Our non-profit credit counseling agency also works with corporate and community leaders to provide quality financial education. Using state-of-the-art technology and superior customer service, CreditGUARD continues to innovate the credit counseling and debt management industries.
Doing It On Your Own
There is no doubt that you can create, implement and manage your own debt relief plan. All you have to do is lay your debts out on paper, figure out how much you can realistically afford to pay, call the creditors to discuss your options or negotiate, get the agreement in writing, and then follow through with the payment plan as agreed. It does not take a specific degree to get the job done. However, there is a clear precedent set years ago by the credit counseling industry that makes creditors very reluctant to deal directly with consumers. But a precedent is not a law, and if you do your research, and work hard enough, you can definitely do it on your own.
Here are some great resources to help you get to know the ins and outs of the industry:
- National Foundation for Credit Counseling
- Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies
- The Federal Trade Commission
- National Consumer Law Center
- Consumer Federation of America’s Report: Credit Counseling in Crisis
- National Consumer Law Centers Report: The ABC’s of Credit Counseling


