For the Best Service, Credit Counselors Should Work Just for You

For credit counseling, choose a counselor that works only for you, not a third party.

If you are going to credit counseling, as a result of filing for bankruptcy protection, you need to choose an independent individual; one that will be working for you, and has no affiliations with banks or other lending institutions. You might wonder how you would do that; how would you compare them?

The first thing you need to check into is who is responsible for paying them. Do they work for you? Do they work for the bank where you have a loan? Do they work for a credit card company? The answers to these questions are important, for main reason that you want someone that is 100 percent your advocate, not working on behalf of the people that loaned you money.

Good, independent choices for credit counseling may run the gamut from an attorney that specializes in that area to an accountant with extensive experience in dealing with bankruptcies. It could also be an individual who may work for a credit reporting company, or a business that assists in helping people work out their financial issues. If at any time you are uncertain as to how to find a credit counselor that is not affiliated with a lending institution, ask your Iowa bankruptcy lawyer for suggestions.

If you discover that the person or company you want to deal with has ties to a lending institution, bank, credit union or credit card company, you can expect they are not working in your favor. They may look like they offer good service and advice, and in fact may do a good job of it, but their real reason for helping you is to get as much money back from you as possible. They may even be free, which is tempting when you have very little money to go around.

Opt for the independent credit counselors, whose only job is to help you deal with the difficult situation you find yourself in.  At any point during the process of filing for bankruptcy protection, it is smart to keep asking questions about what is happening, what is next, what documents are required and what to expect when things are said and done. Your Iowa bankruptcy attorney will guide you, step-by-step through the maze of rules and regulations. You just have to ask for help.

Kevin Ahrenholz is an Iowa bankruptcy lawyer and Iowa bankruptcy attorney. To contact him, visit http://www.iowachapter7.com or call 1.877.888.1766.

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