The combination of growing consumer debt, deregulation in the financial services industry, and the rise of technologies like the Internet and offshore outsourcing have all contributed to the rise of the debt settlement industry. In recent years, this sector has been at the center of a heated controversy, with many financial experts decrying third-party debt settlement as little more than a scam designed to prey on desperate consumers. Before you commit to a contract with a debt settlement firm, it is important to weigh all of your options carefully. If you have decided that this is the right approach for you, take the time to research the service provider you have selected before making a final decision. Ask for the company's policies and guarantees in writing, request valid customer references, and check to make sure there are no consumer complaints filed against them on the national or local Better Business Bureau websites.