When you're in debt, it can be hard to imagine a way out. Many people feel as though they need to pay for a debt relief program in order to pay off everything they owe. Do you need the help of a debt relief program? It all depends on how much debt you're in. The first thing you need to do is pull your credit report. There are three credit agencies and you should obtain your credit report from each one. The three agencies are Experian, Trans Union and Equifax. Contact them to get your credit reports and this will give you an accurate representation of how much debt you're really in. If you only owe a little bit, say under twenty thousand or so, you should be able to take care of your debt yourself without the help of a debt relief program. If you're seriously in debt, however, it might be best to seek the assistance of a program which will help you ease your stress and get you out of the hole you've found yourself in.

A Little Debt

If you only have a little debt, you may not require the help of a debt relief program. If you pull your credit report and you see a few small balances, work on paying those off first. When you've paid all of those off, then work on the bigger ones. Contact the collection agency, or whoever now holds your debt, and work out a payment plan. Even if you can only afford fifty to a hundred dollars a month, something is better than nothing. In time, those payments will add up and you'll soon see your debt shrinking down to almost nothing. The best part is that, when you do start to make payments, those accounts will no longer be reported as delinquent, which will increase your credit score.

More Debt

If you have a significant amount of debt, however, it can be very overwhelming. Find a debt relief program you feel comfortable with. You can find them on television commercials, on the internet, in your local phone book, in your local newspaper or you can ask friends and family if they've ever used a debt relief program to help them with their debt. When you contact a representative, your credit reports will be pulled and then a calculation will be made based on your income and how much debt you owe. Typically, a monthly fee will be assessed that will be designed to pay off all your debt within a certain amount of time.

Most debt relief programs are non profit, which means they're not in it to make money for themselves. So be wary of scams. Some people will try to take advantage of those who are desperate to get out of their debt. They will prey on those helpless people who have found themselves in a hole where there doesn't seem any way out. These scams will usually ask for money up front. Be careful to stay away from scam artists such as these. If you feel uncomfortable at any time during your conversation with one of these debt relief programs, hang up and seek help elsewhere.