By the time you get to the point where you may consider getting professional help you may feel overwhelmed and unable to even begin sorting through stacks of bills that are piling up. Remember that getting the help you need and getting out of serious debt is something that happens one step at a time. Each step forward is a small victory and brings the confidence that you can take the next small step.

When you decide to make an appointment to talk with or meet with a financial or legal professional, bring the following list of questions in addition to any you may have:

• Do you charge a fee? If so, what is it?
• When do you expect payment?
• Do you offer a payment schedule or do I have to pay the fees all upfront?
• What services do you offer?
• Are you a for-profit or a nonprofit organization? In such a highly unregulated industry as credit and debt repair where fees and results vary widely, you will probably find that it is far better to use an accredited nonprofit organization.
• Who gets the fees (i.e. what percentage of your payment does the agency keep and how much is passed on to creditors)?
• Do you have a Board of Directors/Trustees? You want to work with someone or an organization that has a Board of Directors/Trustees because it signals that they are accountable for reporting to other professionals.
• Could I get a copy of your annual report and any recent publications? An organization should produce an annual report detailing their income and expenses. Seeing recent publications gives you an idea of the work they do and the way they communicate with clients.

Things to look for and/or avoid:

• Find individuals with whom you can meet face to face instead of just by phone or online
• You should not feel pressured to enroll in or purchase anything
• You should clearly understand what services the organization or individual provides
• How long do they take to discuss your case with you? You should feel confident that the person you’re meeting with really wants to understand and help you out of your financial situation, and that they’re not just trying to sell you a product or a plan (i.e. a debt consolidation plan, insurance policies, etc.)
• Is he/she certified by an outside agency? What training do they receive? What is their background? You want to make sure that you’re working with certified, educated, trained professionals and not sales staff that have received only some basic background in the field.
• Check the individual or agency out with the Better Business Bureau.