There are many reasons why people end up in financial difficulty – rising prices, illness, unemployment etc. Often people find that they have a high level of personal debt, and changed circumstances make it difficult or impossible for them to make the monthly repayments. No one should be forced to continue to suffer in this situation, and help is available such as credit counseling (also called debt counseling), which aims to identify practical solutions. For some people debt consolidation may be the best option.

There are many different debt consolidation solutions available to help people who have financial difficulties. These can range from simple help – such as advice on personal budgeting – to more structured forms of advice such as DMPs (Debt Management Plans), and debt consolidation. In the most extreme cases bankruptcy may be the best option.

Anyone in financial difficulty needs to be aware that not all debt consolidation companies offering to solve their problems are entirely reputable. A number of companies exist to prey on vulnerable people using tactics such as hidden fees.

There are three main ways in which one can avoid these rogue companies. Firstly ensure that you deal with an organization which is prepared to thoroughly assess your personal situation as an individual – no debt solution is appropriate for every single person, and a company with only a single product should be avoided.

Do not deal with organizations which do not provide clear and understandable information about fees and charges, and who do not provide regular statements showing how debts are being reduced.

Check if there are any relevant consumer protection codes, or trade bodies, in the locality where you live. If you choose a company which is a member of a trade body, then you will normally be able to check (via the trade body website) whether any complaints have been made against that company.

We have already seen that there are many different solutions to problems with indebtedness. Credit counseling should be the first step for most people. This will help identify all debts, assets, income, and will prioritize debts into priority and non-priority categories.

Reputable credit counseling should be able to suggest a range of solutions, and help a person produce a credible and realistic personal plan to tackle their problems. If debt consolidation is suggested, then there may be two main benefits – the single monthly repayment may help those who have been experiencing difficulty in managing multiple debts – and the interest rate may be reduced, particularly if much of the money is borrowed on high interest credit and store cards.

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