If you've tried to reduce your debt and still can't, maybe it's time to seek outside help.

The ads for credit counselors are rampant on TV, radio and the Web. If your debt is unmanageable, you don't want to compound the problem by choosing a poor credit counselor. In this chapter, you'll learn what the signs of serious trouble are, how to interview a counselor before you hire one, the myths about debt consolidation, and how a debt-management program might affect your credit.