Times have become tough financially because of your credit card bills having piled up, so no doubt you must be looking for debt settlement advice to help get you out of the jam.
The best possible source of information when it comes to looking for an authentic debt settlement program would be the Internet where you will be greeted by thousands of companies and individuals prepared to lend you a helping hand.
They will pepper you with debt settlement advice and will help you set the ball rolling when it comes to settling your dues and starting over again financially.
But like in real life, there are numerous unscrupulous elements to be found on the Internet and you have to watch out for them.
Some will set up a phony website to tempt you into seeking them out for debt settlement advice but will be quick to ask for money upfront.
Failing that, they will ask for bank account details once they have a superficial chat with you and say the details are required to allow them to access your accounts in order to pay off the monthly installments to your credit card company, for example.
Do not be fooled However, do not be fooled by all the sweet talk and the fancy website because these are nothing but con artists out to take your money.
You should, stay away from them at all costs and the best way to go about things would be to do a bit of research or detective work yourself.
You could check news sites about information on companies who have been pulled up by authorities for swindling people, talk to colleagues, friends and family about whether they have any advice on who to turn to and make sure you do everything right.
At the outset you should remember no company will ask you for money upfront or seek out your bank details.
The way settlement firms work is that once an agreement is reached in a negotiation they will take a commission based on a percentage of the money they have saved you by having the interest rates reduced and fees and charges waived.