Maxing out your credit cards in a troubled economy is all too easy, especially when you are forced into using credit for things you never would have thought of before. Perhaps your spouse has accused you of becoming a shopaholic because when the bills come in there are pages and pages of new charges. But in reality all you’re doing is buying groceries, an occasional cup of coffee on the way to work, and maybe even finding the need to pay other bills with a credit card. If you are seriously thinking of some counseling, check out consolidated credit counselling services, but watch out for scams.

Consolidating credit is nothing more than including all your monthly bills into one payment and then in turn paying a service to pay your bills. A reliable service will do this as you freeze your accounts and allow a professional to manage your bills. This might be your last chance of recovery before being forced into bankruptcy.

First, check out some local non profit agencies that specialize in this kind of credit counseling. Many companies exist, especially online. Do your research, though. The thought of having all your bills lowered and consolidated is sometimes such a driving force that many consumers end up signing on with companies that do thing more than cause further problems.

The industry is rife with scams, especially with online companies. Many of these companies have very detailed and professional looking websites making consumers believe these companies offer valid and viable services. They usually have the usual disclaimers, a detailed application form, and even an address and phone number to add to their alleged legitimacy.

What these companies really do is take your money and run once you figure out what is really happening. They accept your application, they send you a few emails, they ask that you sign their contract and maybe they might ask for a deposit, usually called an administrative fee. After a few more days they then give you all sorts of details of phone calls they have made on your behalf and the final negotiated and reduced total of your monthly bill payments. A total that is sent to them each month.

Your assumption of course is that your monthly payment to them will be appropriately dispersed to your creditors with whom this credit agency has supposedly been negotiating regarding lowering your payments. The truth is that this company hasn’t done a thing for you! No one has called your creditors, and no one has paid your bills. And by the time you find this out and start asking questions, the company has changed websites and names and can’t be tracked down.

You find out what has happened only because your creditors start calling wondering why you haven’t paid your bill! Then you discover they have never been contacted by any company acting on your behalf in order to reduce your payments.

At this point your creditors have probably either cancelled your credit cards or even increased your APR to unmanageable heights of near 30% or more, in accordance with your original agreements with each lender.

Look At More Information on Consolidated Credit Counseling at Consolidated Credit Counseling and Consolidated Credit Counseling Services Information