There are thousands of online debt settlement companies that may promise you a quick and easy resolution to your credit problems, but according to a growing number of top financial experts, the claims made by these debt settlement firms are often closer to fantasy than fact. Indeed, the industry has found itself at the center of an increasingly heated controversy in recent years, as a flood of consumer complaints has sparked investigations and tighter regulatory restrictions in many jurisdictions of the United States. If you have carefully considered all of your options and you are still convinced that a third-party debt settlement firm is the answer to your debt problems, take your time to research several service providers before making a final selection. Double-check that the firm you have chosen is accredited and look for complaints on the Better Business Bureau website. Finally, ask for all contracts, guarantees, fee schedules, and policies in writing before you make a commitment.