Watch Out for Credit Card Debt Relief Scams

With the changing financial picture, many people are finding themselves in more debt than they would like to be these days.

It could be you've lost a job. Perhaps you are just not getting a raise while all the things around you are getting more expensive. No matter the reason, after a few months of falling behind in your payments you may be starting to feel like you are drowning in debt and don’t know how to get out of it.

Then you get a card or letter in the mail that seems like the answer to all of your dreams. It claims to be the best credit card debt removal company around and promises to help you take care of your debt problems once and for all.

You call the number and it all seems to make sense. You give them all of your debts and they say they will work with all your creditors to pay off your debts at a lower rate than you are now paying. All you have to do it send them checks and they will use that money to pay off your debt.

Once you sign up and the first couple of checks go out, you start to notice your debt is not going down nearly as quickly as you had hoped. While they are paying some of your money onto the cards, it seems they did nothing to renegotiate your overall debt. Yet, they are taking a good chunk off the top as their 'fee' for the service they have offered. Worse yet, you could be one of many that finds out there has been nothing paid on your debts. They have taken your money and taken off.

If you know this feeling, you are not alone. There are a number of scam companies that are taking advantage of innocent people who are just trying to sort out their debt.

In Florida, the state Attorney General is investigating a number of these types of companies. Already 5 lawsuits have been filed and another 30 companies are being scrutinized.

If you really want to know how to deal with your credit card debt and avoid scams, you need to look to yourself. Instead of calling a company that promises to get you out of debt, call your credit card company. The best credit card companies will work with you to help you get your debt back under control. Some will lessen the interest or give you more payment flexibility so you don’t get deeper in the hole.

About the Author

Stephen Sikes is the owner of the credit card comparison site <a href="http://www.creditcardwave.com">www.CreditCardWave.com</a>. Visit the site to read articles and reviews on the best ways to utilize credit cards. You can compare and apply online for top personal and business credit cards.