Good Financial Help Resources.. Credit counseling? in SE michigan

[Michelle Renee]

Without going into much details - after my DH had gallblader surgery (and was uninsured) and the increased costs of childcare for 2 beautiful little ones - we are dodging bullets monthly and looking to try to reorganize/get some professional guidance before we sink.

Does anyone know of any place REPUTABLE to go to get some credit counseling, advice - that wont rip us of and make it worse.

We dont want to go to the bankruptcy route -hubbie is against it. But we need to do SOMETHING.

Im not in trouble -yet and I cant dodge the overdraft forever and I cant look at my mom in between payday's anymore and smile and say "Can you bring some milk over when you visit"

[courtenay_e]

Hmmmmm. Here we use Lighthouse of Oakland County, they help people, at least it's my understanding, with talking to people like mortgage companies, so that they'll actually listen to and work with you. You need to know that if you plan to put CREDIT CARDS into credit counseling (so they drop the interest rate and put all the payments into one), some creditors consider that "bankruptsy." So if you were looking to refinance your home or car, etc, you should do that first and put the cards into counseling second or you may have a difficult time getting the loans approved by some companies.

I think that perhaps a good place to go would be to the Christian Service director at your local church for a good referral. They generally have groups with whom they regularly work who they know to be trustworthy, and can refer you along. It is my understanding that from county to county you should use different people, because the laws and situations can differ in different counties. That's where I'd start, dear...and we definatly understand your issues--dh had two surgeries to remove tumors. We will be making payments to UofM for the rest of our lives, and the payments to Beaumont for the first pretty much ruined us finacially for the next decade or two. *shakes head* And we HAD insurance. But our insurance industry doesn't NEED an overhaul, right? Because it should reflect the capitalistic society in which we live? *sigh* Sorry. Can you tell I'm a little bitter?

[shelleyd]

Good luck Michelle. I understand completely. We talked to this group last year though we didn't end up using their service. They were at the foreclosure summit thing they held at cobo last year. I believe that everyone there was screened and only reputable nonprofits were allowed. So I don't have personal experience with them but I think they are a reputable group and I think they have a Taylor office.

[SheBear]

Have you checked the Dave Ramsey website? www.daveramsey.com

There's a place where you can enter your location and find information for endorsed local providers....financial couselors who are individually endorsed by Dave Ramsey as being good/reputable people. Dunno, but maybe that'd be a starting place for you? HTH!