Protect Yourself

Be wary of credit counseling organizations that:

• charge high up-front or monthly fees for enrolling in credit counseling or a DMP.
  
• pressure you to make “voluntary contributions,” another name for fees.
  
• won’t send you free information about the services they provide without requiring you to provide personal financial information, such as credit card account numbers, and balances.
  
• try to enroll you in a DMP without spending time reviewing your financial situation.
  
• offer to enroll you in a DMP without teaching you budgeting and money management skills.
  
• demand that you make payments into a DMP before your creditors have accepted you into the program.