Posted on 06/14/2009 12:34:13 PM PDT by NoPrisoners
Having lost my job several months ago due to *downsizing*, I'm just wondering if anyone has had any experience with those credit counseling services.
I've been using my savings, but this resource is now exhausted. I just got hired by another firm, but I'm a month behind in bills and won't get paid for another month.
Anyone know anything useful about credit counselors, or which ones to stay away from?
Thanks in advance for those leaving constructive messages!
Get rid of (default) the bills you don’t need.
Send this to Obama.
I am sure he’ll help.
Send this to Obama.
I am sure he’ll help.
You don’t need “Credit Counseling” services.
Call any CC company you are in arrears with, and they can assist you on getting into a debt settlement plan with them to satisfy your debt obligations.
You don’t need them.
Contact each of your creditors directly, explain the situation, and offer to pay whatever (no matter how small) you can.
You’re not an idiot. The economy sucks because we outsourced a lot of jobs over the past couple decades.
I didn't vote for that turkey.
I'd recommend his web site.
I watch Dave Ramsey once in a while. He gives tough, wise, and loving advice to all kinds of regular folks with financial difficulties. Give him a call!! Send him an email, browse his book “financial Peace” on amazon. daveramsey.com
Dont feel bad.
I have my job but I have a 100k mortgage and I am concerned that if I lose my job or if the economy really sinks I will lose everything I worked for all these years.
I’m a big fan of Dave Ramsay, who does a financial call-in radio show, which I recommend without hesitation. It’s really good common-sense stuff.
I don’t recall him saying anything good about any of them. You might give Dave a listen- or even call in to his show.
I won’t speak for Dave, but I’m guessing that he’d suggest communicating with your creditors and seeing what you can work out with them.
Ramsay is fantastic at cutting to the chase and simplifying equations in people’s lives, and he does it from a Christian perspective.
..some of them are actually part of the credit card companies themselves. But you did start off good, asking for help
Thanks, folks. I'm mortified that I can't make my monthly payments, and it's really embarrassing. But I figured FReepers would come up with a good solution.
“Call any CC company you are in arrears with, and they can assist you on getting into a debt settlement plan with them to satisfy your debt obligations.”
Agreed...
Credit Counseling is for massive debt, long term. My ex-wife maxed out several credit cards in college. She amassed tens of thousands of dollars in debt. She used a non-profit credit counseling service to repair the damage. (a snarky side note:she’s maxed out again...hee hee,but, I digress.)You don’t sound like you need that.
Don’t feel bad. I’ve been through it too although in the early 80’s.
Go directly to your lenders. Do not use the commercial credit counseling services. Too many of them are ripoffs.
Don’t be taken by a phony credit counseling outfit! There are many companies out there that exploit a loophole in the tax code to call themselves “tax exempt” and claim that they want to help you eliminate your debt. In reality, they want to eliminate money from your wallet in the way of high monthly fees.
Many consumers also complain that the money they paid in to the “counselor” never made its way to the creditors, making the person’s credit rating plummet even more.
To find a legitimate counselor, contact the National Foundation for Credit Counseling at NFCC.org or call 1-800-388-2227.
—This advice found at http://clarkhoward.com/shownotes/category/6/23/169/
The electric and water are somewhat forgiving as is my cell phone company, but once they've had enough patience, that's it. I've become friendly with the guy who cuts off water and electricity! They usually give me a couple of hours to see what I can come up with.
Good luck and hang in there. You are so fortunate to know you have a paycheck coming! As a General Contractor, my Husband has 8 good sized jobs (remodels and one new house) but everyone is 'waiting to see what the economy does'... and folks don't pay a 'retainer' to keep their contractor out of the po' house! I'm a substitute teacher.. one more very small check for me and that's it until at least the end of Sept and probably Oct.
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