fact that they are in debt and they need help to solve their debt problem. Admitting to having a debt problem is traumatic enough already without it being known to others.

 

6. Does your counselor offer you a quick fix solution?

 

Five minutes in your initial meeting and your counselor have already made a debt repayment plan for you. Be wary of these types. Each case is unique, thus it is impossible for your counselor to come up with a payment schedule that quickly. Your counselor must thoroughly understand your situation before he can start to prescribe some things you can do to get out of debt. You might even learn that you may not even need to consolidate your loans at all. By just following strictly a repayment schedule, getting out of debt is sometimes not difficult at all.

 

7. Did your counselor made a repayment plan suited to your needs?

 

The company is accredited. Your counselor is certified. You have discussed with the counselor your present situation. At the end of the session, your counselor has come up with a plan that is personalized to your needs.  This is a true test of a reputable counselor. He has proposed a repayment schedule that is based on your paying capacity and your situation.

 

8. How much time is your counselor devoting for you?

 

Going into counseling means not only meeting once but a series of sessions. Is your counselor dependable and reliable? Is he there for your sessions? If after a few sessions your counselor is nowhere to be found, immediately check with your creditors if your payments are being received from the consolidation company.

 

9. Is the company offering seminars on budgeting, credit management techniques and the like?

 

Reliable and reputable debt consolidating companies offer seminars on handling finances, credit management and the like. This is in support of an individual's need to develop these skills. Much as these companies like your business, teaching you how to budget and handle your finances are the preventive measures to keep you away from debt again.

 

10. Is your counselor accessible during work hours?

 

Your counselor has made you a repayment scheme that you can live with. You go to your sessions regularly. However, in spite of the time devoted to you, you still need his attention. Does he accommodate you during other times that you don't meet for a session? Like any problem, needing to talk to someone at a most inopportune time besets individuals. Being able to talk with your counselor any time gives you a sense of security that you are on the right track.

 

Trust, reliability, and competence are basically what you need to look for in a credit counselor. Counselors are there to assist you but it all boils down to you, your attitudes and your motivations. It is up to you to make yourself debt-free, the counselor would not be able to do that for you alone.

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