Credit counseling agencies are very different than debt settlement companies. At Slayton Law, we think getting credit counseling is always a good idea. In fact, if you file bankruptcy, you are required to take a credit counseling class. So we have no problem with it at all. But it’s important to know what credit counseling agencies can and cannot do for you. They can work with your lenders to negotiate lower interest rates and get late fees waived. And they can work with you to try to develop a plan for repaying your debt using your income. Credit counseling agencies cannot, however, negotiate any reduction or elimination of your debt. Often, by the time a person seeks credit counseling, the amount of their debt is too high in relation to their income to be able for the credit counseling plan to help. Credit counseling companies often refer people in this situation to seek advice from experienced debt relief and bankruptcy attorneys, like those at Slayton Law.