Like many of us in debt in today’s world, many of us turn to the professional help without even thinking about who we are working with.  You see it all over the TV, companies claiming that they can get you out of debt in days, or the famous cut 50-75% off of your debt by tomorrow.

Sure, some of these companies and sayings may be legit, but when it comes down to a  person that’s desperate to get out of debt, they will most likely be willing to try anything.  This is why it’s extremely important to know the warning signs when it comes to managing your money with a debt management plan.  Below are some of the warning signs when you’re working with someone shady.

Make sure the company is legit

Before you even sign up with any company, make sure this isn’t some fly by night company.  Research them online at the Better Business Bureau’s website, as well as the FTC.  This will give you a better understanding on if the company has a better track record or not.

Get everything in writing

When you agree to a debt management plan with a company, always make sure that you get all payments, and bills in writing.  Every time they make a payment to one of your creditors, you’ll want to know about.  If you don’t know what your company is doing for you, it may be time to get a new one.  Any legit company will tell you exactly what’s going on.

Don’t give you straight answers

When you ask someone a question, you expect an answer.  The same should be with a debt company.  When you ask them a question about your debt, you’ll expect them to answer it straight to your face.  If they consistently dance around your question, you may want to turn somewhere else.

See if your creditors are being paid

When you first start off with a company, make sure that your creditors are being paid.  This means logging into your accounts, calling up, or whatever it takes to see if your creditors are being paid.  If you’ve noticed they aren’t being paid, you’ll want to turn to your debt management company and see whats going on.

These are a handful of the main warning signs when it comes to debt management.  As long as you do your research with your company before you hire them, you shouldn’t have to worry about getting into trouble.