How to Get Free Credit Counseling in Mississippi
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If you are looking to get debt free and are in search of credit counseling in Mississippi you have come to the right place.
Written by Attorney Karra Kingston.
Updated November 30, 2019
If you’re struggling to pay your credit card debt each month and feel overwhelmed, you may be able to get help by participating in a Mississippi credit counseling session. Credit counseling services provide different ways for people to manage their finances. For people who are overwhelmed and need help managing their debt, a Mississippi credit counseling session is a free resource they can use. A credit counseling session typically consists of a one-on-one session with a certified credit counselor that lasts anywhere from 45 to 60 minutes. The counselor will review your financial documents such as your income, budget, and consumer credit report and give you recommendations on how to improve your financial situation. After reviewing all of your financials, the counselor will determine if a debt management plan (a DMP), debt consolidation or bankruptcy is the right option for you.
You may be asking yourself whether credit counseling in Mississippi is right for you? If you are struggling to pay your expenses each month, participating in a Mississippi credit counseling session may be a great way to educate yourself about the different financial options you have to help you get back on track. However, even if you are not behind on your bills yet you may still benefit from taking a Mississippi credit counseling session to avoid going deeper into debt. It’s important before you sign up for a credit counseling session to do some research. Make sure to choose a reputable counselor to ensure you are receiving good advice. Be cautious of anyone that is trying to talk you into a debt settlement or any other program with high fees but does not guarantee any beneficial outcome. There is a difference between credit counseling in Mississippi and debt settlement. Mississippi credit counselors advise you on different ways to help you manage your debt and money. A debt settlement company, on the other hand, arrange settlements of a person’s debts for a fee. If you are using an accredited credit counseling agency, your chances of finding a good Mississippi credit counselor is usually good.
How to Get Free Credit Counseling in Mississippi?
If you are looking to get debt free and are in search of credit counseling in Mississippi you have come to the right place. Follow these five steps to get started:
Find Mississippi Nonprofit Credit Counseling Agencies
The difference between nonprofit and for-profit credit counseling organizations is that a for-profit serves its customers to earn a profit while a non-profit agency does not have profit as an organizational goal. Since non-profit credit counselors in Mississippi offer free advice, we strongly suggest that you use their tools to help you with debt relief. There are many organizations that you can use to help you get out of debt. However, some of these organizations may be scams. Carefully, choose a Mississippi credit counselor by doing some research beforehand and make sure to investigate any red flags. A reputable credit counseling agency should send you free information. If a firm doesn’t do that, go somewhere else. Also, the initial counseling session should be free. If any credit counseling company is charging you for your initial session run the other way. Make a list of all of the Mississippi Credit Counseling agencies that you are thinking of using. Confirm that the credit counseling company you choose is accredited by the NFCC (National Foundation for Credit Counseling). This will ensure that you are getting good advice. Further, the Federal Trade Commission also has information to help you choose a qualified Mississippi credit counselor and provides a list of preliminary questions you should ask the Mississippi credit counselor before signing up.
Information to Research Before Talking to a Mississippi Credit Counseling Agency
You can find a list of accredited counseling services through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. You should go through this list carefully before choosing a Mississippi credit counselor. Also, you can check with your state's attorney general’s office to determine whether consumers have filed any complaints about a credit counseling organization you’re considering. You should also check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to look up any Mississippi credit counseling agency to determine if they are reputable and well-known for their services and customer care.
Questions to Ask the Mississippi Credit Counselor Before Signing Up
Before you move ahead with a Mississippi credit counselor to get debt relief, have a list of questions ready to ask to ensure that you are in good hands. The first question you should ask is what the fees are for their services. Remember initial sessions are always free. You should also ask how your credit counselor is paid. Keep in mind, that counselors who are paid bonuses or incentives for signing users up is a warning that you should go somewhere else because they may just be trying to get as many people as they can to join their agency, instead of really looking at your specific financial needs. Take note that if the counselor recommends different follow up steps then you may incur fees depending on your specific situation. You should also ask how to prepare so that you have all of your financial documents ready to go. You should also find out if your Mississippi credit counselor will talk to you on the phone or online. If you don’t like either of these options, then you will need to find out if they will meet you in person. Some other questions to ask are:
How much will this cost?
How is the amount of my payment determined?
How often can I get a status update?
What will happen if the counselor’s recommendation is more than I can afford?
How are your services funded?
What to Expect During Credit Counseling?
Mississippi credit counselors will look through your specific financial situation and give you some tools to decide what your next steps are. Some of these next steps include debt management plans, budgeting, and bankruptcy. They will also give you some financial education. Your initial credit counseling session usually lasts one hour. To be ready to discuss your financial situation with your Mississippi credit counselor you will need your income, monthly expenses, and debt. You want to be sure to give the Mississippi credit counselor access to your current financial situation. If you’re married, your spouse does not have to be present for your counseling session; however, it may be best to have them there so they can get on board with any financial advice the Mississippi credit counselor gives.
What Happens After Credit Counseling in Mississippi?
There are many different steps that may be recommended to you depending on your financial situation. If one step doesn’t work, then they may be able to put you on a different path to help you reduce your debt. Below are some of the most common solutions that a credit counseling agency may recommend.
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Mississippi Debt Consolidation
Debt consolidation in Mississippi is a form of debt refinancing. They will roll your high-interest debts, into a single, low-interest payment. This is done by taking out one loan to pay all of your loans. Debt consolidation can lower your interest rate and allows you to pay your debts in one payment plan which can help you pay it off by making your monthly payments easier.
Mississippi Debt Management Plan
A debt management plan in Mississippi is for people who have unsecured credit card debt and can’t make their monthly payments. In a debt management plan, you make one affordable payment to the credit counseling agency each month until your debt is paid off. The Mississippi credit counseling agency makes monthly payments directly to your creditors, often at a reduced interest rate. If you take on more credit card debt or you lose your job and can’t continue with payments, your debt management plan can fail.
Mississippi Bankruptcy
If you can’t pay your bills, then a Mississippi bankruptcy may be a good option for you. By filing bankruptcy in Mississippi, you can eliminate all of your debt and start over. Bankruptcy wipes out your debt so that you can start over and begin saving money immediately. If you have no money to pay any of your creditors each month and can barely afford your basic living needs bankruptcy counseling can be a great way to help you get back on your feet. You can speak with a bankruptcy attorney to see if you qualify or check out Upsolve’s tools to help you file bankruptcy for free.
