Fort Worth debt help - how reliable are they?

Are You Truly Drowning?

Ask yourself a few questions. Do you have an emergency savings account? Do next month's bills arrive before you have paid this month's? Are you consumed with thoughts of your debt? Are you late with payments to creditors? If your answers are "yes," then you would benefit from professional credit counseling and debt relief solutions, provided by certified, trained counselors who work with people in similar situations every day. It doesn't matter how you got into this fix - they will analyze the entire situation and present you with options. Getting out of your debt depression will give you a peace of mind you have not known for a long time.

Search for Reliable Help

Fort Worth has multiple opportunities for professional debt relief services, but how reliable are they? You can determine this by asking important questions when you call them.

1. Are they nonprofit?

2. To what national associations do they belong?

3. Are their counselors certified

4. What services are offered for free?

5. What services are fee-based and how much are the fees?

6. What follow-up services are provided?

7. Do they have references?

The answers will determine who is reliable. Good firms will offer budget planning and development, education and training for future success, and follow up services for free. They will charge moderate fees for debt management plans and pre-bankruptcy counseling, and will offer reverse mortgage counseling for free. If you get the right answers, you can feel comfortable moving forward. Two firms in Fort Worth that do offer the services of reliable firms are:

1. CCCS of Greater Fort Worth (www.cccsfw.org):an organization that is one of the oldest credit counseling firms in the nation, a member of two national associations, and that uses only certified counselors.>Fees are moderate, and most services are free. Counselors will negotiate with creditors for the lowest possible debt amount, and set up payment plans that debtors can afford.

2. Debt Management Consolidation (www.debtmanagement-consolidation.com): Another firm that has been in the fort Worth area for many years offers the wide range of services free and moderately-priced debt management plan services.

You Have to do Your Part

Credit counseling and budget development can only go so far. You have to take the initiative and find ways to modify your spending habits and to cut non-essential expenses out of your budget at least for the short-term. The morning lattes and bagels on the way to work can be cut. Restaurant lunches can be eliminated in favor of brown bags. Look at your bills for cell phones and cable television, and look at bundling services for better rates. Consider carpooling or public transit for travel to work, at least a few days a week. Small savings add up each month.

Tips for Tourists

Traveling to Fort Worth on a budget can be fun and worthwhile because of the myriad inexpensive accommodations and attractions. The Ambassador Hotel, Comfort Suites, and the Texas White House all offer rooms at very reasonable rates; restaurants such as the Burger House, the Ozona Grill and Bar, and Buzzbrews offer great food at low prices. Attractions which are reasonably-priced are as follows: The Cultural District has 5 museums - Science and History, Cattle Raisers, Modern Art, Vintage Flying, and Stockyards. Log Cabin Village gives a view to the past life in Fort Worth and the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame is great fun!