There are many people looking for credit debt relief today as a result of our economic struggles. The problem is, just because a service promises to relieve debt doesn't mean they can or they will. There are many scammers and con artists who are looking for trusting consumers to take advantage of. Check out every service thoroughly before you agree to anything. Call the Better Business Bureau or your local consumer protection office. Many agencies don't even admit they charge a fee, but when they ask for money, make sure that it's going to be used to pay your creditors, not as a fee to the service. In addition, don't trust anyone who promises to reduce your interest rate by 50% or more. It is unreasonable to think that any creditor would be willing to lower their rates to that degree. A reasonable credit debt relief program would tailor their advice to meet your needs, often analyzing your spending, income, and expenses to create a budget that will help you begin to pay off your debts yourself. If you have already been taken advantage of by one of the con artists, consult a lawyer to learn what you can do.