With a still-uncertain economy and high unemployment rate in United States, many Americans start to set their new goal for 2010. Many of them are worried as credit card debt has become a national question. In order to become debt free, many Americans have been looking for different ways to get rid of their outstanding balances.

Consumer credit counseling program is one of the popular financial solutions among the Americans. A good debt restructuring program not only helps to overcome debt issues, but also plays an important role in developing constructive financial habits that prevent people from getting into deeper debt.

However, not every credit counseling program is created equally good to eliminate credit card debt. The question here is how to get a good program? I hereby would like to share some useful tips with you.

# Tip No.1

For people who have no idea about this specific debt restructuring program, the good place to obtain recommendation is through your local banks. Besides bank, you may search online to look for some reputable service providers. You are advised to identity at least 4 viable service providers for comparison purpose.

# Tip No.2

You need to act as a smart consumer. Make sure that you ask the RIGHT questions in order to obtain the accurate information. Most of the standard services provided under the debt repayment programs are more or less the same.

The differences lie on the support services. You are encouraged to ask more about the educational and motivational resources the companies can provide. It is important to evaluate the programs by looking into their value added services in detailed. It will be ideal if you could get all the necessary information in written form.

# Tip No.3

Before finalizing your selection, it is important for you to find out what type of counseling involved and how much work is done. In general, a good program must include the service of a professional counselor and a detailed guidance on “personalized” budget planning. You need to make sure that systematic establishment and administration are in place so that your credit card debt can be eliminated successfully.

# Tip No.4

In order to make better decision, you are advised to do thorough comparison. If possible, spend some time and put in your effort to set up a comparison chart. You can either write down all types of services provided by different providers on the paper or you can use excel sheet. By doing so, you are able to see a clearer picture on all sorts of services.

# Tip No. 5

When you approach the service providers personally, you are reminded to get the details of how the program works. You need to verify whether the program suits your financial needs or not. At the same time, find out the cost of the program. Do not commit yourself if you can’t afford to pay the fee.

# Tip No. 6

You are reminded to ask the service provider whether your credit score is maintained. It is important to ensure that your credit rating is not harmed by this financial solution.

To sum up, a good program is able to get you out of debt, prevent you from debt and offer you consistent consultation from time to time. Hence, apply the tips above to enjoy true debt relief.