A credit counseling agency should be willing to send you information about its programs without requiring you to give any confidential information like your account numbers and balances. Some agencies may require that you have a minimum amount of debt before they will work with you, and your account numbers and balances will help them determine if you have enough debt for them to be interested in helping you. You should know about the agency before giving any of your confidential information. If the agency you are considering will not give you information about its programs, consider this to be a warning sign. No agency should turn you away because you do not have enough debt.
Most agencies offer little assistance for secured debts like car loans and mortgages.
If you need help with these type of debts, ask before you enroll. Many agencies will simply dismiss you or suggest that you file bankruptcy because you cannot meet their debt repayment program payment. At Myvesta.org, we have the Crisis Relief Team to help you find solutions to your difficult financial problems. Ask any agency that you are considering what type of trained professionals it has on staff. A home study course or a few hours of class is not sufficient training.