If you have decided to seek help from a credit counseling agency, never presume that all agencies have your best interests at heart. There are agencies that disguise themselves as “non-profit” credit counseling organizations, when in fact they are conducting illegal operations. To avoid being ripped off, exercise caution and do your research. In this article, we present the questions that you should ask a credit counseling agency before hiring their service. As a customer, don’t be afraid to inquire about these issues. An ideal counseling agency would not hesitate to give you clear and straight answers. Consider the following questions: * What are the credentials of the agency? Is it a licensed agency and one that is accredited by the government? Is it a member of a national credit organization? * Where does the agency derive most of its income? Are the counselors paid based on the number of clients they enroll in the agency’s debt consolidation program? If the agency’s income is dependent on client’s fees, chances are you may be charged expensively for its services. * Are the counselors certified and competent to give correct advice? See to it that all employees of the credit counseling agency are licensed and professional. What kind of training did they have? Do they have experience in handling different types of debt issues? * How long does each counseling session last? A good agency should provide each client at least 90 minutes of counseling. During each session, the client’s problem should be thoroughly discussed to make sure that an appropriate solution can be taken. * Will my confidentiality be assured? Since you will be providing a lot of personal information about your finances to your counselor, the agency must guarantee the confidentiality and safety of your privacy. * What costs are involved and how much does the agency charge for its services? All the costs involved should be discussed right from the beginning. As a client, you should be clearly aware of all the fees you’ll be paying in exchange for the company’s services. Nevertheless, bear in mind that you should not submit any payment until the services has been rendered. A legitimate credit counseling agency should not demand payment from you until your problem has been resolved. * Can you access your account regularly? You should have the option to access your own account particularly if you’re going to sign up for the agency’s debt consolidation program. This way, you can be assured that all your payments are properly submitted to your creditors. * What exact services does the counseling agency provide? Watch out for agencies that insist on debt consolidation without first exploring other possible solutions to your debt problem. For instance, a counseling agency should not only help you get out of debt but should teach you how to manage your finances more effectively as well. Your counselor should help you work on a budget to make sure that you won’t have debt problems again. Copyright © 2008 Consolidate4Free.com