Some tips on finding a legitimate credit counselor
1. Make sure the agency is registered to do business in Utah. Registered businesses are bonded, and the Utah Division of Consumer Protection has conducted some financial audits. Visit www.consumerprotection.utah.gov/education/registered_credit_service_orgs.pdf for a list.
2. Ask these questions:
• What services do you offer? A wide range is good.
• Will you help me develop a plan to avoid future problems?
• What are your fees? The National Foundation for Credit Counseling advises consumers to be wary of voluntary fees. Set-up fees should be reasonable, around $50 or less, and monthly fees should be in the $25 range.
• What if I can't afford to pay your fees?
• What qualifications do your counselors have? Are they accredited or certified by an outside organization? What training do they receive?
• How will you keep my information confidential and secure?
• How are your employees paid? Are they paid more if I sign up for certain services, pay a fee or make a contribution to your organization? If so, be wary.
Sources: Federal Trade Commission, Utah Division of Consumer Protection, National Foundation for Credit Counseling
Recent comments
the FDIC also offers a program on its webpage called moneysmart. It...
lost in DC | May 18, 2008 at 11:05 a.m.
- Luggage: think outside black box 7:07 p.m.
- Weight-loss gadgets 7:06 p.m.
- Popular fitness gadgets 7:06 p.m.
- Never too young to learn to swim 7:06 p.m.
- Asking father's blessing outdated? 7:06 p.m.
- Jackson one of many child prodigies 7:06 p.m.
- Nurse to stand try for attempted murder 6:44 p.m.
- Huntsman officially nominated 6:43 p.m.
- Taylorsville credit union robbed 6:22 p.m.
- Bikers ride to help disabled 6:18 p.m.
- Plans stir up debate about lake
- Jazz draftees make debut
- Teachers struggle with district cuts
- Stadium of Fire lights up the 4th
- Millsap not franchise player
- Jazz talked Kirilenko for McGrady
- A.F. criticizes HAFB
- Hatch: BCS too arrogant to change
- Beck making most of time off
- Utahns to get federal tax refund
- Don't listen to marriage cynics
127 - Palin resigning as governor
112 - Letters: Palin mistreated
107 - Lack of Obama photos concerning
107 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
106 - Palin's and Romney's roles in 2012?
103 - Jazz talked Kirilenko for McGrady
94 - 'Tea party' protesters unhappy
90 - Y. gets verbal from cornerback
83 - Jazz plan to re-sign Millsap
82
The media has been inordinately good to President Obama so far. That...
The night was balmy though buggy at SPOC, the Stansbury Park Observatory...
Fantastic, another 5-10 cornerback that can be abused by everyone else's 6-5...
I was 8 years old and our parents let us 7 kids stay up late and watch the...
While it's true to some degree that our senators and congressmen are in the...
You folks are missing the point. I mean people post the steno and ask other...
RR says: "Beck.... still has the most memorable moment all-time in the...
Celtics Coast Past Jazz! Highlighted by exceptional team chemistry and...
We all get it, you love Obama. Most of the rest of us love our country and...
Re: India Big business IS the problem. They can't regulate themselves...
I work as an educator in a neighboring state. We get paid more than Utah and...
The onslaught over media coverage has greatly magnified her every move. Darn...


