 TITLE: How to Pay Off $25K in Debt Fast CONTENT: How to Get Additional Help With Your Debt\n-----------------------------------------\nSometimes debt feels overwhelming and the prospect of coming up with a repayment plan on your own seems untenable. If that happens, you might consider contacting a credit counselor.\nCredit counselors provide debt management advice and assistance in negotiating down your debts. Although creditors are not required to work with credit counseling agencies, many will because even a partial payment is preferential to default for you and the lender. A debt management counselor can negotiate with creditors to lower your total balance or your interest rate, making it easier for you to pay off the account. Debt management plans typically have three- to five-year repayment terms.\nThe downside of working with a credit counseling company is that your credit score may drop at first if you end up repaying less than you originally owed. You'll also likely have to close your accounts, which could affect your credit utilization ratio.\nHowever, once you've entered a debt management agreement, you'll only have to make one payment a month to your credit counselor. They will then distribute the payment to all of your creditors. This can make repayment less stressful since you're no longer handling multiple accounts. Over time, you can rebuild your credit score through on-time payments and improved credit management habits, which your counselor can help you establish. To find a credit counselor, look for reputable nonprofit companies affiliated with agencies such as the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.\nWhen financial difficulties are the cause for your increased credit card debt, financial assistance programs are out there that can help you get your head above water. National, state and local programs exist to help people in many situations handle things like rent payments, utility bill payments, food costs and child care expenses.\nIf your credit score has suffered because of your debt, you may want to sign up for Experian Boost™† , which can help you raise your credit scores powered by Experian instantly. A strong score is essential for future financing opportunities, so you'll want to do everything you can to protect your credit even while paying off debt. You can also use Experian CreditMatch™ to find balance transfer credit cards if you want to reduce your monthly interest payments fast. END