Just Legal Loan-sharking?

Q: Unemployment has left me with quite a bit of credit card debt. I see those commercials & ads for debt consolidation services fairly often, and was wondering if anyone has used any that really do help, or is it just legal loan-sharking? Please advise.

A: They charge you to do a loan consolidation and you end up paying more than yuou would have if you just stayed with what you got............ they advertise that they are non profit, but very few are non profit... Check with your local Better business bureau, they shold be able to let you know of a non profit outfit that might be able to help.......... the real non profit ones are usually set up by area business councils that help the businesses get their money back from the customers by letting them pay a little at a time(guess they figured that a little was better

then nothing when they first got started).... what you might also want to know: a friend at work went to one of the non profit ones and found later that it did have some problems with his credit....... he tried ot buy a new car and they would not loan him the money as they said it had something to do with filing for the thing(what ever they called it) maybe loan consolidation................................. i think what i hear on a talk radio program for consumers protection service was that the non profits might charge a small feee like $25 or so, but the others who claim to be non profit will get about $500 or more of your money from you...... so be careful.