Grasping for debt relief
By Lisa Munoz
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
March 31, 2004
Some tips on finding a good credit counseling agency:• Ask friends and relatives for recommendations, or see if your company's human resources department can refer you to a local agency.
• Check with your local Better Business Bureau or state consumer protection agency to determine if complaints have been filed.
• Find out if the counseling agency is affiliated with a major association, such as the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies or the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. Both have agency locators on their sites at www.aiccca.org and www.nfcc.org.
• Don't settle for any counselor who doesn't take the time to discuss your spending habits, work out a budget and agree to help you better handle your personal finances.
• Get any agreement in writing, and read it before you sign it.
• If you feel you've been the victim of credit improvement fraud, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov or by calling 877-FTC-HELP, and with the BBB and state consumer agencies.
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