How to Choose a Government-Approved Credit Counselor

The average U.S. household is saddled with $8,400 worth of credit-card and other revolving debt, according to a study by Moody's Economy.com. Many companies promise to help you reduce that debt. However, the safest credit counseling agencies are those approved by the U.S. government. Fortunately, it's not difficult to find these agencies.

Instructions

Finding Help

1

Log onto the web home of the U.S. Trustee Program of the U.S. Department of Justice (see Reference 1).

2

Click on the "Approved Credit Counseling Agencies" link on the Trustee Program's Web site. This takes you to a list of government-approved credit counselors.

3

Enter the name of your state on the "state search" box. Click on the "Go" box. This will bring up a list of approved credit counselors in your state.

4

Call several of the government-approved agencies you find through your search. Ask them for references, and then call these customers to make sure that the credit counseling agency delivered on its promises.

5

Select a government-approved credit counselor. Provide it with the information it needs to know about your debt levels, income levels and the value of your other assets.

6

Work with your credit counseling agency to develop a plan to pay down your debt. Then follow that plan.