In the current times of recession the incomes of individuals are going down.
In fact, unemployment, salary cuts and lay offs are the order of the day.
At the same time the cost of daily living is increasing steadily.
Many people are finding easily trapped in debt, while maintaining sound financial health is proving to be extremely difficult.
Luckily, help is available in the form of debt consolidation experts who offer advice and information free of cost.
They guide the debtor on how to pay off current bills and debts while avoiding additional charges and fees.
But before deciding on which free debt counseling agency to approach, one must do a thorough research.
It is important to verify that the services provided by such financial agencies are really free.
One should look out for hidden charges and fees as the market is full of individuals and agencies who claim to offer free financial counseling but actually end up fleecing the debtors.
It is also important to find out the extent of services offered by these free debt counselors.
They usually assess the debtors' income and expenditure pattern and the types of debt accumulated by him or her.
They help the debtor to get rid of the debt by offering a financial plan which incorporates either debt reduction or debt consolidation.
It is up to the debtor to follow up on the advice and take the necessary steps to actually carry out the plan.
It is up to the debtor to negotiate with the creditors.
One can find such free debt counselors by searching on the internet.
Many web sites give information about free debt counselors.