"SOS Dettes is a non-profit credit counselling agency. Visit http://www.sosdettes.ca/ to set up an appointment with a debt counsellor to get back on the right track financially. They will help you find the solution that's right for you. "

1. Credit Counselling As
an Effective Debt
Solution

2. Introduction
The growing number of debt solution companies in the modern world
seems to indicate the state of the general population’s financial health.
Basically, if no one were having debt troubles, new debt solution outfits
wouldn’t even be necessary.
However, financial health is suffering in all different areas of society,
and help is needed. Since bankruptcy is the ‘solution’ everyone tries
hard to avoid, various other strategies and methods are used to try and
get debt paid down and credit scores back in order. Credit counselling
is one of the techniques that people are using.

3. What Is Credit Counselling?
Credit counselling is a discipline that is designed to help people in debt
find the most logical solution for their debt situation. The credit
counsellor will sit down with you and share her wealth of knowledge
about finances, credit, and debt solution. She will come up with a
detailed plan that fits your budget and works for your creditors, with the
goal being a debt-free existence sometime in the future.

4. What Is Credit Counselling?
In most cases, the credit counselling agency will collect one payment
from you each month and disburse it to all of the creditors that you
must make payments to. In some ways, credit counselling is a
modified version of other techniques, but it’s one that seems to work
well for many people who are struggling with debt. Some agencies
even develop their own programs to offer clients, so be sure to ask
when you first approach a credit counselling office.

5. How Does It Benefit Me?
The most basic way that credit counselling benefits you is that it
creates a solution to your debt troubles and helps organize your
financial world. This means you will finally have a concrete plan that
will result in you being debt-free, and that head-spinning feeling of
never having anything organized will be gone.
Also, the stress of having multiple creditors contact you and maybe
even threaten you each month, will be over. In some cases, debtors
are contacted several times per week when they owe money. The
credit counselling process will get the creditors off your back and ease
your stress levels.

6. Choosing a Credit
Counselling Agency
Even though you are the one who
is financial trouble, it’s important to
remember that any credit
counselling office you stroll into
will be working for you. It’s easy to
be intimidated when you’re in
debt, but keep in mind that you’re
in charge as you move through the
process.

7. Choosing a Credit
Counselling Agency
When you have a first consultation, ask all the questions that come into
your mind. Make sure this agency has whatever licenses or
certifications are necessary for your area, and then ask questions like:
•Do you have experience with cases like mine?
•Do you get a bonus for signing me up? (If yes, go somewhere else)
•What kind of fees do you charge?
•How does your process work?
•Is my privacy taken into account?
•Where is my money held?

8. Choosing a Credit
Counselling Agency
You can throw in any additional questions that come to mind, so you
have the most thorough view and understanding possible.
Make sure that the contract you sign details all of the fees you’ll pay,
gives an estimated payment time and explains how any disputes will be
resolved. The length that it takes you to be out of debt will vary
depending on your situation and the plan that’s been set out, so it’s
crucial that it’s included in the contract.

9. Tips to Avoid Bad Credit
In most cases, credit
counselling will have you back
on your feet in a reasonable
amount of time. Of course, the
goal of most people should be
to avoid getting into difficulty in
the first place. Just because
credit counselling works
doesn’t mean it is something to
strive for.

10. Tips to Avoid Bad Credit
In the future, remember these tips to stay clear of credit problems:
•Don’t take out credit unless you really need it. For most people, having several credit
cards, lines of credit or loans active is completely unnecessary and will only lead to
problems.
•Make your credit payments before the due date every single month. In some cases, you
may be afforded one or two grace months per year, but for most forms of credit, pay it on
time. Missing payments will reflect on your credit score.
•Pay more than the minimum for debts that have a minimum monthly payment. Paying
only the minimum will keep you paying interest for many, many years.
•Don’t be afraid of credit, just use it wisely and learn from any mistakes you’ve made
when you get it in the future.

11. Advice
Consulting a debt solution company is the right solution for many
cases. When facing financial difficulties, a confidential and professional
debt solution service can be the best way to grant you financial
independence.
SOS Dettes is a non-profit credit counselling agency. Visit
http://www.sosdettes.ca/ to set up an appointment with a debt
counsellor to get back on the right track financially. They will help you
find the solution that's right for you.