Can debt relief counseling make the debts go away?

Every year millions of Americans are realizing that their past spending behavior has finally landed them with a bunch of garbage they don’t need, “things” they simply can’t afford, and the stress of knowing they are neck deep into debt.

At this point, they become extremely fearful and panic for a way out of the mess they have created. Many Americans look into something called debt relief counseling, and every year many of those Americans come to regret it.

Why? Because what’s being passed off as debt relief isn’t really “relieving” anything.

Debt is a huge problem, to be sure. No one likes having it, everyone wishes they could get rid of it, everyone agrees it would be nice if debt were out of their lives altogether.

Yet some of the “solutions” people try don’t solve the problem. Debt consolidation loans might help to reduce the interest rate being charged, but the debt is still there; it’s just been lumped together so you have fewer creditors.

Debt settlement - where you offer your creditors far less than you owe in the hopes they’ll take your offer rather than getting nothing from you - can eliminate a lot of the debt, but at the expense of your credit rating and financial reputation.

Possible settlement is a solution that fixes one problem but creates entirely new ones. Therefore, this isn’t much of a solution, is it?

Debt relief counseling is a major industry in this country, and a great many of the practitioners are trying to take advantage of people who are already having financial trouble.

Some so-called relief agencies offer outrageous claims of being able to repair your damaged credit, or that they can talk your creditors into accepting ridiculously low settlement amounts.

Be on the lookout for these shady characters! If you’re so far over your head that debt relief counseling is starting to look like a good option, be very careful who you do business with.

Find a non-profit organization that will offer free advice and that openly and readily answers every question you have.

But first ask yourself: Do I really need debt relief counseling?

The scrupulous counselors will tell you that they’re not miracle workers. Yes, some creditors might accept lower payoff amounts. But most will not, and many will insist on settlement amounts that aren’t much lower than what you owe anyway.

Do you really need to pay money to an agency just to find that out?

A better choice would be to take control of your own situation.

Find ways of making supplemental income, of scaling back your expenses, or managing your money in a wiser, more financially sound manner.

The only way you’ll find real relief from debt is to eliminate it -- honestly, fairly, and realistically. Don’t look for magic debt relief counseling or any sort of easy fixes; don’t expect your creditors to just forgive what you owe them.

Take charge of your finances and solve the problem with good old-fashioned tenacity, and a persistent work ethic.

» Debt Relief Program - Snowballing – The Big Mo!
The best debt relief program you can find is one that costs you nothing. The Big Mo is a program you can begin to apply immediately, at no additional cost.

» Debt Relief Service - Eyes Wide Open
The best debt relief service organization will be affiliated with the NFCC. However, most organizations offer nothing that you cannot successfully achieve on your own.

» Debt Relief Services - The Hard Truth About Debt
The best debt relief services are ones that will tell you the plain and simple truth about how you must sacrifice in order to effectively deal with your debt. Trust those who tell it like it is.

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