Definitely check out the forums at myfico.com. There are tons of experts and people who are going through the same exact situation as you who will help with warnings, tips, sample letters to creditors, etc. There are a lot of debt consolidation scams and more cropping up every minute. I would not trust a credit counselor or financial advisor who wasn't registered with the state or SEC. More than likely this debt "counselor" your DH talked to will take your $900 and walk away. They get paid $900 even if they spend 0 minutes on your case. You would have no idea, and all they have to say is "Sorry, we weren't able to convince your creditors to budge, thanks for the $900." If anything I would do a search for a nearby Certified Financial Planner at http://www.cfp.com. Nearly every one of them will do a free sit-down interview with you to discuss your needs and give you an estimate of what they would charge to help you (and how they would help you). They take an oath, have an ethical standards board and take exams and continuing education so you can be more certain that they will not scam you out of your money.

Rufinorox - which finish do you want? Also, I remember from your other post that you ordered the Ladylux3 model 32298, which I wondered about because I thought you said you preferred NOT to have a faucet where you have to hold the button for the spray. The 32298 you have to hold the button. The Grohe Ladylux3 also comes in a model that you can let go of the button and it stays on spray, which is the #32226, and you may find that model more available. In any case, whichever model you want, I would try Abt.com, because Abt is known for its customer service, and sells the Grohe faucets. Also try faucetdirect.com. Call them and see whether they have your faucet in stock. Make sure to specify the finish you want.

I think it will not ultimately depend on anything you do or say, Meg. I think it will depend on the seller. IOW: how badly does he want/need to sell the rug? What else must he do to it? Will you have it repaired or does it go back to him and must he deal with that? If he's had it for a long time -- regardless of whether it's been out on approval or not -- then his cost may be lower or he needs to get his $$ out of it. You have no way of knowing. T2G makes a good point about the pad, which would be nice, but I don't even think that's the point. I don't know if this will help you but a dealer I spoke with this week, who has 30 years of experience says she won't ever guarantee age, except in certain circumstances where there is documentation or when you can absolutely see the age due to the size of the knots. Some of the value on this stuff is scarcity, some is size, some is auction prices set for whatever type of rug it is (you haven't said), some is age, some style/origin, color, condition etc. Just this week I saw rugs go for huge prices at an auction even if the condition wasn't so hot. Then there is the issue of old rugs and specialists. I didn't want a new rug and set about finding a dealer who was well known, highly respected and who was a specialist in old rugs. I studied up on my own -- it was hardly a blind item. I know, in retrospect, I didn't overpay because I've watched the auction prices for rugs from the same area, similar size, age and condition. Ultimately, that's the best way to judge. This stuff is expensive whether it's new or old and you want to be sure you're paying a fair price. I would try to decide how much you want it and what you will do if he refuses to lower the price. Will you send it back? Will you be sorry? Or will you go for it? I still don't feel there's any harm in calling to ask if he could do better on it. But I don't see why he should -- you have it on your floor. And lastly, if your local people whom you seem to trust are so good, I must ask why they couldn't get you a rug of this quality for the $1000 less than the price of this one? I'm not trying to disparage anyone but dealers work in market segments. Anyone who isn't working in that segment can say they like something or not, or comment on condition but it's unlikely any other opinion will be very informed. I have a completely seperate dealer, actually a few, I'd go to for Tibetan rugs. If I took a Tibetan to my dealer for an opinion I know he would tell me what he said when I asked him about the value of a Chinese rug I eventually sold: I don't deal in that and don't know. If this is proving so difficult for you, would your DH speak to the guy?

Take heart, always1stepbehind, there are good deals out there to be found. I bought my current car when I was in the market for a vehicle that would get good gas mileage for my daily work commute. At the time, I was driving a vehicle that went through a tank of gas a week at $100 every time I filled the gas tank. It was costing me a fortune to go to work! I expected to end up with a beater, but I didn't care as long as I could get my commute cost down. Imagine my surprise when hubby stumbled across a sweet, low mileage, in perfect condition Jetta that had been warehoused for a couple of years because Grandpa quit driving. We stole it for $5000 which was several thousand below blue book, but the sellers were happy to get rid of it. That little car really helped my budget and I really enjoyed driving it. I only had to fill it every two weeks at a cost of $30 per fill-up. The car finder service mentioned by aok is also something worth looking into. We bought our last new vehicle that way and it was as painless a transaction as I've ever experienced when it comes to purchasing a vehicle. Good luck, when you least expect it, you'll find just what you're looking for!