Most credit counselors offer services through local offices, the Internet, or on the telephone. If possible, find an organization that offers in-person Debt Help. Many universities, military bases, credit unions, housing authorities, and branches of the U.S. Cooperative Extension Service operate nonprofit Credit Counseling programs. Your financial institution, local consumer protection agency, and friends and family also may be good sources of information and referrals.

Reputable Debt & Bill Counseling organizations can advise you on managing your money and debt, help you develop a budget, and offer free educational materials and workshops. Their counselors are certified and trained in the areas of consumer credit, money and money owing management, and budget. Counselors discuss your entire financial situation with you, and help you develop a personalized plan to solve your money problems. An initial counseling session typically lasts an hour, with an offer of follow-up sessions.

Debt Consolidation Plan: If your financial problems stem from too much debts or your inability to repay your bills, a Credit Counseling agency may recommend that you enroll in a Debt Consolidation Plan (DMP). A DMP alone is not Credit Counseling, and DMPs are not for everyone. You should sign up for one of these plans only after a certified Debt Negotiation has spent time thoroughly reviewing your financial situation, and has offered you customized advice on managing your money. Even if a DMP is appropriate for you, a reputable Debt Help organization still can help you create a money plan and teach you money management skills.

In a DMP, you deposit money each month with the Debt Counseling organization, which uses your deposits to pay your unsecured debts., like your credit card bills, student loans, and medical debt, according to a payment schedule the counselor develops with you and your creditors. Your creditors may agree to lower your interest rates or waive certain fees, but check with all your creditors to be sure they offer the concessions that a Debt & Bill Counseling organization describes to you. A successful DMP requires you to make regular, timely payments, and could take 48 months or more to complete. Ask the Debt Help to estimate how long it will take for you to complete the plan. You may have to agree not to apply for — or use — any additional credit while you’re participating in the plan.

Cover Yourself

Be wary of Credit Counseling organizations that:

charge high up-front or monthly fees for enrolling in Debt Negotiation or a Debt Counseling Plan.

pressure you to make “voluntary contributions,” another name for fees.

won’t send you free information about the services they provide without requiring you to provide personal financial information, such as credit card account numbers, and balances.

try to enroll you in a Debt Management Plans without spending time reviewing your financial situation.

offer to enroll you in a Debt Help Program without teaching you budget and money management skills.

demand that you make payments into a Debt Management Plans before your creditors have accepted you into the program