Recommendation for effective, cheap (or free) credit counseling/consolidation agency?

Question

I need help bringing my student loans under control. I have a federal loan and SEVEN (smaller) private loans. Since graduation, they have never been all current at the same time, so I don't qualify for a consolidation loan. I can't stand dealing with the agencies, since they treat me like a cockroach, but I really need to bring everything current with one or possibly two payments. Sending $100 - $200 each for the private loans (the federal one is much more) is bleeding me dry and my credit is awful!!!!

Please let me know if you've been in this situation and how you got out of it (preferably without having to speak directly with those rude people who treat you badly).

Thanks!

Hmmm, after reading the first answer, maybe I need to clarify the question. Although character assassination is certainly an aspect of Y!A, perhaps I should rephrase to elicit helpful responses. So:

If you've successfully dealt with credit (particularly student loan) problems through an agency, which agency did you use? What were their methods?

Answer 1

There are a lot of agencies out there that could help you. Unfortunately most can only really help you with your private loans since the Dept. of Education specifically trains and licenses companies to work with the federally issued student loans.

I understand the 'cockroach' effect all to well and for counselors who can handle your private loan they often are non profits who are overworked (and underpaid) so deal with a large volume.

Some of the Federal loan companies are looking into in-house programs for working with students but many are in their infancy and getting approved for one of the pilot programs will require effort on your part.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

Try Consumer Credit Counseling. Going to them over a year ago was the smartest decision I had made for a while!

Answer 3

/ unfavourable scores start up the 2d you provide up paying lenders ontime. those unfavourable scores stay on your credit checklist for 7 years beginning with the date of paying off the debt. For financial ruin, it keeps to be on your credit checklist for 10 years beginning with the date of paying off the debt. In financial ruin, you nevertheless pay a small volume on the greenback. Your checklist will start to strengthen the 2d you start up off paying off your previous debts, yet little or no before each thing.