I have been in a debt management program with a local credit counseling service for about 8 months. My parents have offered to co-sign a loan so I can pay off the cards. The loan with the bank is a lower interest rate than the cards and will pay them off faster with a lower payment each month. Should I pay the cards directly or go through the credit counseling service? Which is superior for my credit score?

I am only 20 years old, I have 4 collections (that I know of) and all of my bills are at least 6 months behind. I have over $10,000 in student loans (but I am still going to school). Which company would be the ideal for me?

In early 2006, I signed up with a company to consolidate my credit card debt. The full amount was around $12,000, and that is spread out over six cards. \n\nThis year I started making a good bit more money, so, in May, I called the debt management company and asked if they had take an EXTRA payment from me that month, as soon as possible, in order to knock off most of the debt on two credit cards. \n\nI thought I was clear and repetitive, but somehow they managed to ONLY pay those two cards that month of Might and none of the others. \n\nNow Bank of America has told me that this has been negatively reported to the credit agency. \n\nThe debt management company, who made the error, is telling me, in so many words, that it\’s my fault and that there is nothing they can do. They tell me to call Bank of America, while Bank of America just shrugs and says, \”We just report what comes in and what doesn\’t.\” \n\nI asked for a call back from a supervisor at the debt management company, but there\’s been none since I started asking last week. \n\nI threatened to sue them, and they told me, in so many words, that that is not an option. \n\nCan someone make a mistake that injures your credit rating and not be held accountable? I never missed a payment until now.