The credit counseling industry represents a hotbed of activity from scammers. The truth of the matter is, there are nearly as many companies and individuals offering debt relief help as there are individuals trying to cope with spiraling debt.

While many credit counseling institutions are, in fact, legitimately offering help, there aren’t always genuine intentions behind those convincing ads appealing to help you “get out of debt now!” There are many companies these days that claim they can provide consumers with free bankruptcy advice and other services geared toward miraculously wiping away their debt. Such claims are very tempting to those of us who are in dire financial straits- many indebted Americans, particularly those with full households to support, are sometimes in a fury to blindly “sign on the dotted line” and take these supposed credit counselors up on whatever immediate bailout they are offering. A legitimate credit counselor may perform some or all of the following tasks: help you prioritize your bills, contact lending institutions, create a reasonable budget for your household, and help you develop the money management skills that you need to get out, and stay out, of debt.

Here are some things that, in most cases, a real credit counselor won’t do:

– Wipe away your debt completely – avoid any credit counseling company that claims to do this; it is simply too good to be true, and therefore it’s not!

– Contact the borrower’s lending institutions to negotiate a reduction – most companies that claim to provide this service don’t really have that power.

People who claim to be credit counselors, whether they are offering tax debt relief or some other form of debt alleviation, who ask you up front for secure financial information such as account numbers should be a red flag to you if they do so without explaining what they plan to do with that information first. Before you sign on with a credit counselor, make sure they explain to you how their services work, especially when they are charging you a fee.

Monthly fees of $30 or more are red flags as well. If a credit counselor asks you for anything more than a $50 fee just for signing up with them, they are probably more interested in your money than helping you out of debt. If a counseling agency requests that you stop making your monthly payments to credit card companies or mortgage lenders, claiming they will make them for you, make sure they are doing just that, rather than just taking your money and creating even more debt in your name.

Whether you choose to go it alone or solicit the services of a credit counselor, understanding your options and who you can trust will bring you that much closer to eradicating that financial burden. Debt can certainly be scary and overwhelming, putting unnecessary strain on relationships and families. It makes people vulnerable to companies preying on their fears in an attempt to make a quick buck without actually rendering the services they advertise.

Author Bio: By Jenny Heart. If you need free bankruptcy advice or mortgage relief, get the help you need. Get debt relief help and tax debt relief assistance through national toll free hotlines.

Category: Finances
Keywords: free bankruptcy advice, debt relief help, tax debt relief