Where to Seek Debt Advice

by Paul 23. March 2009 08:30
Getting debt advice is the first thing you should resort to when your debt situation gets out of control.  This is the most important step towards becoming debt free through the path of debt resolution. Free debt advice can be had from many charitable organizations, independent debt advisors or companies that offer debt advice as well as debt relief services.  There is no need to panic.  Free impartial advice and help is available for those who are in a critical financial situation and need help to resolve their debt problems. There is a way to put an end to those threatening calls from the creditors.

Debt Advice Bureaus

You can seek the help of non-profit organizations like debt advice bureaus such as the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) or money management companies that offer free debt advice. Citizens Advice Bureaus provide independent and confidential and impartial debt advice to people on their rights and responsibilities and extend help to deal with debt and chalk out ways to resolve the debt problem.  The CCCS is run on a non-profit basis as it is funded by the members of the debt industry.  

Online Debt Advice

Debtadvice is an organization that helps consumers to locate a trained and certified counsellor to assist those in need of debt advice.  This service utilizes the services of the members of the National Foundation for Credit Counselling (NFCC) and the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS). Debt advice centres recommend that by taking seven steps the person affected by over-indebtedness can find solutions for the debt crisis.   

The seven steps are:
  1. Acknowledging your debts,
  2. Listing your income and expenditure,
  3. Maximizing your income,
  4. Making cut backs to combat your debt situation,
  5. Prioritizing your debts
  6. Contacting your creditors
  7. Prepare a long term strategy to resolve your debt
Credit Counselling

The services of credit counselling are usually free and in some cases low cost. Their trained professionals offer advice on best options that meet your individual situation and managing your money efficiently and offer solutions for alleviating the current financial crisis and also prepare a personalized plan for preventing future financial pitfalls. They hold confidential sessions and review your current debt situation and work with you for determining the best strategies.  With their help you can develop your own money action plan to achieve relief from debt. After assessing your left over after covering living expenses and priority debts, they will make an offer to your creditors for repayment. Some creditors will be asked to freeze the interest, some to stop the penalties and accept longer repayment schedule and sometimes accept a reduced amount.

Debt Advice Forum Help

The debt advice forum helps you to find strategies to negotiate with your creditors, and help you to discover the best options for your situation. They also guide you in reducing the debt payment and also try to stop the creditors from taking legal action against you.  Free specialist debt advice and free bailiff advice help can also be availed of from this forum.  

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