Where to Find Reliable Credit Counselors

In today’s society, debt has become like a flow of poisonous burning lava racing down from the peak of our economy. It has invaded our peace, driven our motives, and ruled our behaviors. It slowly builds an intense heat in the central nervous system of our financial lives and we never even realize the danger until it has already done significant damage and debt management becomes an issue.

With courage and determination, we must decide to face the bully of debt head on if we are to regain control of our financial lives. A solid, written plan that is consistently followed is imperative before you start to pursue debt management, otherwise you will sabotage all of your precious efforts. Your plan should include:

• Gathering all of your outstanding debt
• Decide not to borrow from any lending institution
• Deciding to postpone all credit card use
• Deciding to limit all spending that is outside of your basic needs
• Preparing to face all creditors
• Finding a reliable credit counselor who has your best interest at heart
• Ordering your credit report from all three of the major credit reporting agencies; Experien, Equifax, and TransUnion.

Now you are ready for your journey to find reliable credit counselors who have some degree of integrity. First impressions, track record / reviews, fees, and credentials and experience are the main indicators of a good credit counseling organization. Bankruptcy should not be an option, so avoid all credit counselors who suggest that you file for bankruptcy. Neither is borrowing during your debt management crisis, because you are creating additional debt. Regardless of the amount, with some diligent attention to your debt problem, you will eventually get in control without the help of the misleading bankruptcy factor. There are a few good credit counselors that can be found online, by professional referral, or by word of mouth who are capable of helping you establish a good debt consolidation plan, but be determined to diligently search for them.

Unfortunately, we know that many banks are presently in an economical crisis with buy-outs and bankruptcies, but there are still those who are willing to offer debt management services to consumers who have not lost hope and who are genuinely interested in keeping their credit managed and on track. Local credit unions are even better since many are independently managed and are not usually bound by the economical factors that banks are.

Christian organizations tend to be another reliable source for debt management because of the foundation of integrity that they hold to. But beware, because imitators flow like a rushing river! If you can manage to get past the religion factor, you will find that their standards for money management, debt, debt consolidation, and spending are all solid and that they really do work. Christian standards state that borrowing is fine, but it is assuming the debt of borrowing without a sure way to repay it that cause great concern. Genuine Christian credit counselors will tell you this and they tend to be friendlier and more helpful while being genuinely concerned about their client’s debt and money issues. One particularly good Christian credit counselor is Crown Financial Ministries, but there are a few other good ones.

In closing, be brave about confronting your creditors. Let first impressions help you to determine which financial credit counselor could help you to establish an effective debt consolidation plan.