For the debtor who is already at the end of his rope and trying to figure out how to get out of debt, the last thing he needs to worry about is whether the debt counselor he has chosen to help him is going to make his problems worse. He needs to be assured that he is not making a mistake by choosing debt counseling over bankruptcy or working out a settlement with the creditors.
The first thing one should do to gain some certainty that the debt counselor they are planning to choose is reputable is to check with the Better Business Bureau. Of course, this isnt a guarantee since they only have on file information from people who have filed complaints, so if its a new company or one who has had no complaints filed against it, you really arent going to know. Nonetheless, this is the best tool you have, and you should utilize it to the greatest degree possible.
Another way to find out the reputation of a debt counseling service is through word of mouth. If the company is reputable, they will not mind providing you with information about other clients. Of course you want to be sure that they are not giving out false or unsolicited information. If they are really...