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Fiscal Fitness: Choosing a Credit Counselor
Living paycheck to paycheck? Worried about debt collectors? Can’t seem to
develop a workable budget, let alone save money for retirement? If this sounds familiar,
you may want to consider the services of a credit counseling agency. Usually nonprofit,
these agencies work with you to solve your financial problems — sometimes for free.
Credit counseling agencies may offer educational materials and workshops, or help you
develop a budget. Many agencies offer services nationwide through local offices or the
Internet. Look under "credit counseling" in your telephone directory or your
Internet search engine.
Debt Repayment Plans
If your financial difficulties arise from too much debt or an
inability to repay your debts, a credit counseling agency may work out a Debt Repayment
Plan for you. In these plans, you deposit money each month with the credit counseling
agency. Your deposits are used to pay your creditors according to a payment schedule the
counselor develops with you.
As part of the repayment plan, you may have to agree not to apply for — or use
— any additional credit while you’re participating in the program. A successful
repayment plan requires you to make regular, timely payments, and could take 48 months or
longer to complete. Some credit counseling agencies charge little or nothing for managing
the plan; others charge a monthly fee that could add up to a significant charge over time.
A debt repayment plan does not erase your credit history. Under the Fair Credit
Reporting Act, accurate information about your accounts can stay on your credit report for
up to seven years. A bankruptcy can stay on your report for ten years. In addition, your
creditors will continue to report information about accounts that are handled through a
debt repayment plan. For example, creditors may report that an account is in financial
counseling, that payments have been missed, or that there are write-offs or other
concessions. But a demonstrated pattern of timely payments should help you get credit in
the future.
Secured and Unsecured Debt
Your debts are either secured or unsecured. Secured debts usually
are tied to an asset, like your car for a car loan, or your house for a mortgage. If you
stop making payments, the lender can repossess your car or foreclose on your house.
Unsecured debts are not tied to any asset. Examples include most credit card debt, bills
for medical care, signature loans and debts for other types of services. Debt repayment
plans usually cover only your unsecured debt. If your secured debts are not included in
the plan, you must continue to make payments to these creditors directly.
When you borrow money to buy a car, the lender generally holds the title to the car
until the debt is paid in full. Most automobile financing agreements allow the lender to
repossess your car if you stop making payments. No notice is required. If your car is
repossessed, you may have to pay the full balance due on the loan, as well as towing and
storage costs, to get it back. If not, the lender may sell the car, perhaps for less than
what you still owe. You still are responsible for the difference. If you fall behind with
your car payments, consider working with the holder of the title of your car to sell it
yourself. Pay off the debt to avoid repossession and a negative entry on your credit
report.
If you fall behind on your mortgage, contact your lender immediately to avoid
foreclosure. Most lenders will work with you if they believe you’re acting in good
faith and the situation is temporary. Some lenders may reduce or suspend your payments for
a short time. When you resume regular payments, you may have to pay extra toward the past
due total. Lenders may agree to change the terms of the mortgage by extending the
repayment period to reduce the monthly payments. Ask about any fees charged for these
changes, and consider how much they add to the total cost of your loan.
If you and your lender cannot work out a plan, contact a housing counseling agency.
Some agencies limit their counseling services to homeowners with FHA mortgages, but many
offer free help to any homeowner having trouble making mortgage payments. Call the local
office of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or the housing authority
in your state, city, or county for help in finding a housing counseling agency near you.
Choosing an Agency: Questions to Ask
If you want to work with a credit counseling agency, interview
several. Here are some questions to ask. Check with your state Attorney General, local
consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau to find out if consumers have
filed complaints about the provider you are considering. Any reputable credit counseling
agency should send you free information about itself and the services it provides without
requiring you to provide any details about your situation. If not, consider that a red
flag and go elsewhere for help.
Services and Fees
- What services do you offer?
- Do you have educational materials? If so, will you send them to me? Are
they free? Can I access them on the Internet?
- In addition to helping me solve my immediate problem, will you help me
develop a plan for avoiding problems in the future?
- What are your fees? Do I have to pay anything before you can help me? Are
there monthly fees? What’s the basis for the fees?
- What is the source of your funding?
- Will I have a formal written agreement or contract with you?
- How soon can you take my case?
- Who regulates, oversees and/or licenses your agency? Is your agency
audited?
- Will I work with one counselor or several?
- What are the qualifications of your counselors? Are they accredited or
certified? If not, how are they trained?
- What assurance do I have that information about me (including my address
and phone number) will be kept confidential?
Repayment Plan
- How much do I have to owe to use your services?
- How do you determine the amount of my payment? What happens if this is
more than I can afford?
- How does your debt repayment plan work? How will I know my creditors have
received payments? Is client money put in a separate account from operating funds?
- How often can I get status reports on my accounts? Can I get access to my
accounts online or by phone?
- Can you get my creditors to lower or eliminate interest and finance
charges or waive late fees?
- Is a debt repayment plan my only option?
- What if I can’t maintain the agreed-upon plan?
- What debts will be excluded from the debt repayment plan?
- Will you help me plan for payment of these debts?
- Who will help me if I have problems with my accounts or creditors?
- How secure is the information I provide to you?
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