Are you looking to eliminate your unwanted debt? Maybe it’s time to seek the assistance of a credit counseling company.

Credit counseling companies can help you develop a plan to reduce your debt and get your financial life back on track, but you should practice some caution when choosing the right company to work with. While there are many reputable companies, there are just as many companies ready to take advantage of your situation.

Here are some basic things too look out for when choosing a credit counseling company.

1. What are they all about?

Be very careful of organizations that don’t give out details about their program, or require you to give them confidential information right away.

A reputable credit counseling organization should have information about their programs and services. Not only that, you should never be forced into giving confidential information such as your personal data or credit balances before they provide you with information about their services.

2. Do they require a minimum debt amount?

You should never be turned away because you do not have a minimum amount of debt.

3. What are their fees and how high are they?

Look for a non profit organization that charges little or no fees. Some organization require high up front fees in order for you to participate in their debt management program. That is why you should ask for information about any set up fees, monthly fees, or hidden fees.

4. What their privacy policy?

You need to make sure that the debt counseling company will not sell your name or personal data to an outside company. Think about it, you are going to be giving this counseling company private personal information. Do you really want your social security number, account numbers and balances to be shared?

5 How often will they send payments to your creditors?

You are trusting this counseling company to get your financial life on track. If they miss a payment, they don’t get penalized, you do. That is why it is important to make sure that you payments distributed to your creditors weekly.

6. What kind of accreditation does this company have?

Unfortunately there are a countless number of online debt counseling companies with no accreditation what so ever. If you are going to trust a credit counseling company with your financial information, you should look for a reputable organization that has received accreditation from a well known, independent, third party.

7. What kind of training do your counselors have?

Will your account be managed by an experienced credit counselor? Or will you be speaking with a inbound sales rep?

A good credit counseling organizations will extensively train their counselors. Before signing up with a credit counseling agency, find out how their counselors are trained and what qualifications they have.