When going about choosing a debt managment service, there are probably several different questions that might be running through your mind as you endeavour to get on top of your finances. If you're able to see past the fear of being in debt, then the questions you should be asking yourself are, which companies are not scams? How much are the fees? Are there hidden costs? How do I check out the authenticity of a debt management company? Can I cancel at any time and what will my payments be? What if I can't pay?



Here are a few tips on how you can help keep yourself from being scammed and paying too much.

First and foremost, you should look to find any charities or government organsisations that offer debt advice for free. For example in the UK, The Citizens Advice Bureau [CAB] would be a good port of call. The CAB offers a phone, online and a drop-in service. The CAB is manned with helpful staff who will do what they can to advise you on your best course of action.

You can find details of the CAB in your local telephone book as well as other companies that can help you with your debt. Put together a list of potential companies that you might do business with. From here, use the internet. Type the name of the company in and look at the results. You should also look into the FCC and the BBB to see if the companies are legitimate, non-profit and complaints that have been filed against them. If you do not have the internet, the public library usually has internet connections available to the public. You may have to join the library though or take some ID with you. Check some of the consumer websites in your country and find out what others are saying about local or national debt management companies.

Debt management is not binding as is filing a bankruptcy notice. At any time you can discontinue the agreement and begin to work on your debt without any assistance. However, when you do agree begin working with a debt management company, they will begin by doing a few things for you. First, they will call your creditors and notify them of your financial hardship. From here, they will make arrangements to pay a smaller amount of money. Usually, he or she will ask for a smaller interest rate or even remove the interest rate altogether. It should be noted that the debt management company will most likely only deal with your non-priority debts. Also, most debt management companies do not give benefits advice or financial advice so you may lose out on important information about your finances. If you're fortunate enough to have a family member or a close friend who is a financial adviser then seek their advice as soon as possible.

In most situations the creditors prefer to work with the debt management companies, simply because they are more apt to make the payments on time every month. They are also more willing to lower your payments when you are working with a debt management company.

After the debt management company has completed the negotiations with your creditors, they will then give you a new monthly amount to pay. This will be a lower single payment each month. This payment goes directly to the debt management company. Usually, they require a certified check or to have an automatic withdrawal out of your bank account.