For those looking for help with debt relief one thing they often struggle with is which company to choose.
With so many different debt settlement companies out there it can be difficult to wade through them all to find one that will go to work for you.
The same could be said about bankruptcy lawyers, consolidation loan providers, and other types of credit help services.
It isn't that there aren't companies out there who can help; it's just that finding the good ones can be troubling for some.
In this article we will give you five questions to ask before employing the services of a debt counselor.
The first two questions are intended to help you choose the right type of debt relief service, and the last three will help you choose the company to work for you.
How much unsecured debt do I have? The first question you need to ask yourself is how much unsecured debt do you have? By answering this question you'll better enable yourself to choose the right type of debt relief.
Simply add up the balances owing on all of your credit cards, personal loans, and any other money you owe (assuming there's no collateral for the loan) and then move onto the next question.
Do I need the help of a debt counselor? If you have more than $10,000 in unsecured debt then you should be seeking the help of a debt counselor, or debt settlement agency.
If your debts fall under that number then you should consider a consolidation loan.
Only as an absolute last resort should you ever seek the help of a bankruptcy lawyer.
What associations is the company a member of? Once you've determined that you do need a debt counselor, your next step is to look at the companies themselves.
One easy way to tell if the agency takes their business seriously is simply to look at which debt associations they are a member of.
A serious company will be a good standing member of the TASC (The Association of Settlement Companies) and they'll likely be involved in other debt-related associations (USOBA, SCORE, etc).
Do they provide testimonials and examples of past results? Another thing that you'll find with the better debt relief companies is that they aren't scared to show past results.
With their experience and the work they do for their clients, they're proud to have helped members save on their debts and most likely they'll list those past results right on their website.
Do they specialize in one type of debt service, or are their services more general? The final thing you should ask yourself is what services the company provides.
Although it may seem counterintuitive, you're usually better off dealing with a company that specializes in one type of service.
That is a smaller company that works only as a debt settlement agency is likely to be better at settling your debts than the larger company that doesn't specialize.
By taking the time to answer these five questions, before you employ the help of any debt agency, you'll ensure that you get the best help with debt relief available to you.
More than that you'll be able to choose the right type of service, and can expect the best results from the company that works to relieve your debts.