There are reputable agencies that can help you with your credit card and debt issues. Agencies such as the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) can help you strategically identify ways to manage your debt.

Other agencies also can provide you with information about a specific business' practices — including any complaints that have been filed against the business. The following are some of those agencies:

Office of the Attorney General — Washington
800.551.4636 (in-state only)
www.atg.wa.gov

Federal Trade Commission
877.FTC.HELP (382.4357)
www.ftc.gov

Better Business Bureau
800.216.2227
www.bbb.org

National Foundation for Credit Counseling
800.388.2227
www.nfcc.org

When you need help, turn to the agencies noted above — not to credit repair companies known as "credit doctors." Credit repair companies charge fees of up to $1,000 and claim they can clean up your credit or erase bad debts. You don't have to spend this kind of money to develop good credit.

Additionally, many practices of these credit repair companies are illegal, which could get you into more trouble down the road. There is no way to simply erase bad credit. If a black mark on your credit history is correct, chances are it will stay there until it "ages off" your credit report in seven to 10 years.