 TITLE: What to Do if You Can’t Pay Your Credit Card Bills CONTENT: Get Help From a Free Credit Counseling Service\n----------------------------------------------\nFree professional help is available for people who are having a tough time managing credit card debt. Free credit counseling services are not to be confused with for-profit credit repair, which is typically costly and ineffective. Nonprofit credit counseling offers free help with budgeting and advice on dealing with—and ultimately paying off—your debt. A credit counselor can also help you create a debt management plan to help you negotiate lower interest rates and pay off your credit card debts in three to five years.\nTraining, tools and support from a certified credit counselor can take some of the confusion and isolation out of overwhelming debt. Look for credit counseling agencies through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling or the Financial Counseling Association of America. The U.S. Department of Justice website also lists approved credit counselors by state. END