Several options exist for consumers who wish to resolve their debt problems. Debtscape's Certified Credit Counselors provide education, counseling, and budget analysis to each client in order to determine the most effective debt management solution. Possible solutions include:

• CONTINUE TO PAY BILLS ON YOUR OWN: You may attempt to negotiate with your creditors to arrange a more favorable repayment plan. It is always important to communicate with your creditors in times of financial hardship.
  
  
• PERSONAL LOAN / HOME EQUITY LOAN: If you have good credit you may consider applying for an unsecured personal loan through a bank or credit union. If you are a home owner, you may consider taking out a home equity loan or a second mortgage. Obtaining a personal loan or second mortgage will allow you to pay off creditors immediately and pay back the remainder of the debt at a reduced interest rate. However, this is not an effective solution if poor spending and budgeting behaviors persist.
  
  
• DEBT MANAGEMENT PLAN: Debt management plans are an effective alternative that can afford you better repayment terms with your creditors. A Certified Credit Counselor can provide counseling and education pertaining to budgeting, credit, and money management.
  
  
• BANKRUPTCY: This option should be taken into consideration very carefully after exploring the above alternatives. If you are unable to pay off your existing debt under the terms of all of the above scenarios, bankruptcy may be a viable solution. Bankruptcy will appear as a derogatory mark on your credit report and may remain on your credit report up to 10 years (the length of time varies from state to state).