debt management programs

Has anyone taken it through Cricket debt counseling ? At the end of the course, you’re suppose to call and speak to one of their debt counselor. Just curious if anyone went through their company. How long are you expected on the phone and what kind of questions are asked?

The problems with most credit/debt counseling agencies is 1, there is no promise they will help you at all. 2, you have to pay a fee for their services – services you can do yourself.

My advice, if you have a financially savvy friend or relative, sit with them, get your bills and income together and go over a budgeting strategy. If you don’t have someone that can help you with that, look online for budgeting tools, or simply get out a calculator and figure it out yourself – it’s not hard to do, but can be tricky when you’re trying to figure out how much to give this company or that company or which debt to pay first etc..

When you get all that figured out, you yourself can contact the companies you owe and say this is what I can afford each month to pay you. Take it or leave it. They’ll take it, they want their money. Now prior to the "take it or leave" part – Tell them you want an interest freeze placed on the debt. That freeze will stop all debts from growing interest. When you satisfy the debts you will regain access to whatever account it is you froze – unless of course it’s a typical bill, then it’s simply paid off…
Credit companies do work with people, but not many realize that, they are afraid to negotiate till it’s so far out of hand – sent to collections or a judgment was placed etc… Best take action sooner than later..
Avoid agencies, they’re not necessarily all scams, but they rarely help and always overcharge.

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