Need No-Scam Credit Card/Debt Mgmt. Sites

16 years ago

Hello everyone,

Can anyone point me in the right direction to find a credit card/debt management site that is on the up & up, please?

I have been hearing of so many scams & people being taken advantage of, I am not sure who to trust. I've heard that there may be no fees or low fees, but I really don't know if that is true. Are non-profit .org's part of that group? Any advice or suggestion would be greatly appreciated. What was your experience working with these people, if any? TIA

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Comments (9)

joyfulguy
16 years ago
Hi scratch some mo,

There are non-profit Credit Counselling Centres in a number of areas - do you know if there is one near you?

If you don't know, ask some civic or municipal agencies, maybe Better Business Bureau, Chamber of Commerce, or some banks or credit unions, possibly some religious leaders whether they know of the presence of one.

Plus information that they may have as to how they operate, including their fees, as I'm pretty sure that they charge modest amounts for their services.

If you are under pressure, have you called your credit card agencies to ask whether they can reduce the interest rate that you're paying, etc.?

And if they've levied several penalties on your account, could they lower your amount owing?

You need someone who is quiet and courteous ... who can think rationally and quickly, knows what s/he wants and is quite persistent, able to change to another topic when receiving a definite turn-down on one issue, etc.

I hope that you can find an agency with integrity.

Good wishes for increasing skill at managing your income and assets (such as they are).

ole joyful
lindamarie
16 years ago
Look on Dave Ramsey's website
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davidandkasie- first thing does she still have access to the credit cards? If so you mother needs to explain that she has to stop using them and cut them up. If she sells the house where would she live? Also to consider if the house value is equal to what it would sell for it may end up she is negitive with closing costs and realtors fee. Unless she was to move in with a family member you have to compare what she is paying in mortgage payment vs rent. Since you mother is now handling the bill paying I would figure out what she needs to cover her living expenses(housing food utilies etc)if there is anything left you could tell her she could divide that among the credit cards. Granted it wont cover the min payments but at least she would feel like she is paying them something. If this is the route she decides to take she will need to either send a letter explaining that due to financial distress she will pay what she can and to request no contact.The collectors at the CC don't care if she is 40 or 80 their job is to get payment. There is no equity in the home that the CC company could lien. If you decide to look into a BK remember if there has been usage on the cards in the past 6 to 9 months the credit cards companies may decide to contest the BK. Also with the new BK laws she would have to have credit counsling. You also have to remember that a BK will probably cost $1200 or more. I am not advocating that everone go out and run their credit cards up in hopes that if something happens to them the family doesn'y have to worry. but your GM is 80 I dont think she should have to chose between eating and taking needed medication to paying the credit cards. Thank heavens your mother was able to find out what was going on before it got even worse and your GM was being bombarded by calls and letters. I know it can be a touchy situation but folks with older parents need to keep an eye on these things. When I was running a bankruptcy alternative team at a major CC company I cant tell you how many calls I got from older people that were in sudden financial distress due to losing their money to the scam artists out there that prey on older people. Karla
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dreamgarden
16 years ago
A link that might be useful:

Consumer Credit Counseling Services
from About.com

financialplan.about.com/cs/creditdebt/a/CreditCounselor.htm
triciae
16 years ago
Call your bank or credit union. Most financial institutions keep legit credit counseling services on retainer for their customers. I've never seen a bank or credit union pass the cost on to their customers.

It's in the financial institution's best interest if their clients get help managing credit. So, they are more than willing to foot the bill for the service.

Be leery of services advertising on TV, etc. Many are scam operations.

/tricia
katclaws_mo
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you all for your suggestions & advice!
We have been working hard to reduce debt & pay off credit cards, but it seems like it is taking so long. Like so many people, how we got there doesn't matter. It's not like we drive fancy cars, have expensive jewelry, take exotic vacations, but things in life (trying to help some others--which was the right thing to do at the time-- got us here) I just want some peace of mind & this "monkey" off my back--permanently.
Thanks again for all your help & sincere replys ~~ katclaws
joyfulguy
16 years ago
Hi katclaws mo,

Quite a number of things in life are rather routine and somewhat boring - especially the things where the same thing goes on for a long time, and especially situations related to issues that are rather distasteful.

Good wishes for carrying on with the project without getting too bored or discouraged ... and certainly not distressed about it.

Trust me - the emotional payoff in the end is worth it. That sigh of relief when the last bill gets paid is worth all of the planning and privations!

Good wishes for increasing skill at managing your income and assets.

ole joyful
scarlet_morgan
16 years ago
Hi Katclaw~

I just wanted to say that I totally agree with Lindamarie. You should most definitely check out Dave Ramsey's site (link below). I honestly believe that through Dave Ramsey, God has TOTALLY changed our lives, saved our marriage and helped make our family's financial future brighter than ever. Now, while almost everyone else is looking around wondering what the heck they are possibly going to do, we are finally sitting back and breathing easy for the first time in our 18 1/2 years of marriage! It is such an incredible and liberating feeling! We are finally debt free except for our mortgage, which we just got last year when my husband finished building our dream home. However, we fully expect to have it paid off in just a few years!!

Dave has an awesome book called 'The Total Money Makeover'. It is available at Amazon, Wal*Mart and on Dave's site. It is a super easy read and it is the very first step toward finding your financial peace and freedom! Dave also has a program called 'Financial Peace University'. This is a life-changing 13-week program/class that teaches you how to make the right decisions with your money. In addition to teaching you so many amazing ways to financial freedom, Dave has many, many resources available to you on his website, including what you are specifically looking for at this time, financial counselors. Plus, if you are like me and the website looks a bit overwhelming, you can call them toll-free at 1-888-227-3223 and explain your situation. One of their counselors will be happy to help you get on the right track and show you how to handle those creditors. (Just remember, FOOD, SHELTER, TRANSPORTATION and CLOTHING must come FIRST! Everyone else can wait, including credit cards. If that dings your credit, then so be it, but those 4 things must come before anything.)

Also available through his website are what he refers to as 'Endorsed Local Providers' (ELPs). ELPs are providers such as Lenders, Real Estate Agents, CPAs, Insurance Agents, Tax Preparers, Attorneys, etc. who are all endorsed by Dave. They are only recommended after being very carefully screened by Dave and his staff. My husband and I have been very pleased with a couple of these who have been recommended to us. Remarkably, so far we have not had to pay one red cent for any of the advice they have provided! However, if we should need the type of service they provide in the future, we would not hesitate to use them or recommend them to our family and friends.

I hope and pray this has helped you, or someone else, in some way. I'm telling you, my husband finding Dave on the radio is the best thing that ever happened to our finances and to our marriage. Just try it! What do you have to lose???

Here is a link that might be useful: DAVE RAMSEY
maddie_in_ky
16 years ago
Hi Kat!

I totally, totally POD what Scarlet has written. Even though I lost my job in January, we will be debt free in about 2 months, and we've followed Dave's plan all the way through.

Good luck, and I hope you find what you're looking for! :)
katclaws_mo
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you all again for your input! I will definitely be looking into the information & book by Dave Ramsey. I had never heard of him before this post.
Warmest Regards ~~ katclaws

Need No-Scam Credit Card/Debt Mgmt. Sites

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joyfulguy

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Need No-Scam Credit Card/Debt Mgmt. Sites

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lindamarie

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dreamgarden

triciae

katclaws_moOriginal Author

joyfulguy

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katclaws_mo
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