Questions to ask a credit counselor to help you choose a reliable resource:

Is your organization nonprofit? Nonprofit agencies, by the nature of their financial status, are in business to help the public. You want to work with an agency that has demonstrated a concern with serving the public, not itself.

How are you funded? Organizations should be willing to disclose this information and all other information about their operations. Nonprofit credit counseling agencies are normally funded in-part by creditors. The agency receives a fair-share contribution from some of your creditors because by working with you the organization is helping the creditor get the money it is owed. It should work with all your creditors, regardless of whether they receive fair share or not.

Are your counselors certified? Independent certification is a sign that the organization is committed to adhering to quality standards set for the credit counseling profession.

How are funds dispersed to creditors? It is important to make sure that your payments will be disbursed to your creditors in a timely fashion.

What fees will I be charged? Do not work with an agency that charges a large upfront fee. Some will promise to allow you to earn back the fee over a certain time, but conditions and timing may make an earn-back unlikely.

Do you offer counseling in person over the Web and by phone? The option of meeting with a counselor the way you want should be available to you if you would prefer that option.

How long will counseling take? Anything less than 30 to 45 minutes will deal only with surface issues and help the agency sign you up more than it will help you set new goals, understand how you got into debt in the first place and how to stay out of it in the future.

What lifestyle changes will I need to make to be successful? To be successful in getting out of debt, you probably have to make changes in your spending habits. The organization you work with should have educational opportunities for you to learn how to budget, set financial goals and begin a savings program.

Contact your local Better Business Bureau or the Consumer Federation of America to see if the organization has any consumer complaints.

Get your finances under control without credit counseling:
Look through your checkbook, statements, and receipts. Start gathering information on where, and how much money you spend in various categories on a weekly or monthly basis.

Just knowing where your money goes is a terrific education in and of itself. You will be amazed, and learn things about yourself you didn't realize. And right away, you'll get some great ideas on how to curb spending. This is the first step towards do-it-yourself credit counseling.