http://www.debtreductioninfo.com/credit-counseling/consumer-credit-counseling/consumer-credit-counseling-services/ Be careful of deceptive and illegal consumer credit counseling services. Here is some important information that will help you spot bad consumer credit counseling services. en-us Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EDT Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0 Help that you should avoid While we seriously encourage seeking professional help from a company that offers consumer credit counseling services, we have to warn you that there are a lot of snakes in the grass. There are a number of places claiming they are credit counseling experts when they are either amateurs with no certification and no training, or con artists looking for a quick buck. We are going to give you a few warning signs to look out for. We know that we often urge you to look for consumer credit counseling services online, but we also have to give you the tools to prepare yourself for the wrong kind of help. Take a look below, and stay away from this kind of help. Warning signs to look out for If you contact a company that offers consumer credit counseling services and they want money up front, without having provided any counseling or debt relief, you should definitely consider an alternative. There s no reason to pay up front for any services. Another great tip to consider when researching consumer credit counseling services is looking for contact information. If you are browsing a site and you can't seem to find anything other than a P.O. Box, head on over to the next company. There is no reason the company you are entrusting your financial future to should not list an address or a telephone number. We know this one sounds far-fetched, but if you approach a company that offers consumer credit counseling services and they recommend that you look into changing your identity as a quick and painless alternative, you should definitely avoid them. In fact, you should even report them. There is no reason a consumer credit counseling agency should ever encourage that kind of illegal behavior. We know that finding a legal and effective consumer credit counseling service seems like a daunting task, but the truth is that research makes all the difference. We can bet that if you heed our warnings and make note of our advice, you are sure to find a company that is right for you. Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EDT