If you have high debt, are worried about your bills or debt collectors, and have trouble controlling your debt alone you may want to use the services of a credit counselor. This counselor will help you develop a budget, negotiate with some of your lenders or help you to get on a debt management plan. You should be very careful and do plenty of research before choosing a credit counselor or credit counseling organization. Many credit-counseling agencies are nonprofits and work with you to solve your financial problems, but that doesn't guarantee that its services are free, affordable, or that it is legitimate.

A credit counselor can offer services in a variety of ways, but it’s best to find a credit counselor who is willing to sit down with you in person. Many public organizations offer credit counseling. You could try your local university, military base, housing authority or a local credit union. To find a good credit counselor you should make a list of all the credit counseling agencies you might want to work with. Once you have this list you should go to your state Attorney General, a consumer protection agency, or the Better Business Bureau and research each one. You can do this on line or give them a call and they will help you out. Then, you will find out if they have received any complaints about the credit counseling agencies you are looking at. After that, make a short list of possible agencies and contact each agency and interview them to make sure they are a good match.