Reputable credit counseling or debt consul co's?

[The Big B???]

Been doing a ton of research today and would like to know if there are any really credible sources to turn to for debt consol? There are bogus Ads all over the internet, and I have already read some stories of credit being torched to the point of may as well have gone BK by using some of these debt consol companies.

Anyone here have any leads on a viable and real credit counseling/consol company? I'm still exploring all options before I have to abandon ship.

Thanks

[3131tj]

Consumer Credit Counseling Service is legit and should not charge you. There are others with similar names so be careful.

This article from Sound Money has the 800 number. They are all over the country, and you can also get an initial consult online after filling out a form, but again, make sure it is the right company. http://soundmoney.publicradio.org/ar.../90s981010.htm

[HHM]

As a general matter, this site does not endorse particular companies. If individual users want to post their experiences with particular companies that is fine, but we also get our share of users who register simply to pimp their site (we try to delete these types of posts), so tread with caution.

[robivi3]

CCCS appears not be part of United Way in Broward or miami Dade Counties at present, I would even wonder if they are still legit.

[InDebtInMD]

My wife and I went to CCCS first. The guy there said they wanted $40 to set things up, and a $25 fee per payment.

But once he looked at our situation he suggested we see an attorney

The guy who talked with us was actually very helpful. However, the ads say that these companies negotiate with the creditors. What we found was that they have pre-set agreements with the creditors. I was under the impression that they worked with the creditors to come up with something tailored to the individual situation.

oh well, we did go there first, before heading BK route.

[shygal]

We also did ccc for a year and basically got nowhere.. all we did was delay filing Bk ! CCC did not work for us, personally I think they are a joke !

[3131tj]

oops - sorry

As a general matter, this site does not endorse particular companies. If individual users want to post their experiences with particular companies that is fine, but we also get our share of users who register simply to pimp their site (we try to delete these types of posts), so tread with caution.

Sorry, about that, didn't know

[BrokeCh7]

CCCS Watch out

Before my own bk i was very good at managing money a few years ago I looked at and help someone who was working with them. They where paying all of her CCs late and had done nothing but take their fee first and devide what was left by the number of her CCs and send them a check each month. She was paying alot and her balance was not moving because of late fees and interest. She had the brilliant philosophy not opening her bills after starting their program and thought she was getting this taken care of. Her balance was not moving and she would have never finished paying.CCCS on the other hand would have made alot of money on her. $40.00 per month just to devide and mail a few checks is too much, they better do something to help resolve the problem not keep it going.

[dck]

Yea, we had high hopes ;) when we went to talk to a "credit counselor" too, they figured everything up and my current job situation and said, "we can not suggest or tell you to file BK." We can tell you that there is nothing we can do to help you in this situation. Expenses outweigh income. The C Cards were few and far between on reduced payments, (I think it totaled up to saving about 50 bucks a month). Anyway they were very friendly and it didn't cost me anything to fill out the paperwork and talk to them. Of course we were devistated with the results, but soon picked up where we left off and went to a lawyer to file.