Debt
Counseling Services
There is not only a shortage of money these days, there's a shortage of good
debt counseling services . Of course, you see plenty of TV and online ads which
makes the average consumer think there are plenty around, and there are. But
not all of them are bona fide or knowledgeable. The current economy has
spawned debt counseling services in such a rapid way, but there are many known
abuses. This is a trend not just relegated to the credit debt industry, and is
something that is often seen in fast growing sectors. Since recent bankruptcy
laws require that a consumer go through a credit counseling program prior to a
declaration of insolvency, the IRS has begun a crackdown on services that are
questionable. This creates something of a shortage, but it has also increased
the fly by night services that they haven't caught yet.
Consumers should also understand that there is no federal
regulation on debt counseling services, and only 17 of the 50
states even regulate them. There is no real way to track
companies, and it makes finding a good one a real needle in a
haystack search for many people, who need one. Consumers can do
online research on a company, and generally the search can be
very telling for either very positive or very negatives
experiences by other consumers. It is wise to be wary of any
debt counseling service who widely advertises on television or
sends out spam. Or at least, investigate articles about them
prior to inquiring for more information from them. Check
accreditation such as the National Foundation of Credit
Counseling, which sets up strict guideline for its members. |
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