Help With My Credit Rescues Debtors from Credit Card Debt

Written by Joe Taylor Jr.
Posted On: March 18, 2009

Editor's Note: This article is an interview with Joe Ganley, a spokesperson for Help With My Credit.

Daily, the economy seems to become more and more difficult to deal with. Consumers across the land are screaming for aid in dealing with their credit load. Major banks have joined forces to offer consumer help. Despite what some consumers think, it is in your card company's best interest (no pun intended) to keep you from becoming seriously deliquent. If you are struggling to deal with your debt, this service might be a flotation device for survival in a sea of excess obligation.

Joe Ganley is a spokesperson for Help With My Credit and offered some information about how this site provides assistance.

Mike: What is Help With My Credit all about?

Joe: Help With My Credit is a resource provided by leading credit card issuers and payments networks to raise awareness and educate consumers struggling to make their credit card payments about assistance available to them.

The companies participating in Help With My Credit have joined together to make it easier for consumers who are unsure about where to turn for help to access tools and information that can help them get back on track. These credit card issuers and payments networks understand that many consumers are unaware of resources available to assist them in managing their credit.

Currently, companies participating in Help With My Credit include credit card issuers Bank of America, Capital One, Citi, and Discover Card, in cooperation with payments networks MasterCard and Visa.

Mike: How does it work?

Joe: Help With My Credit features a toll-free phone number (1-866-941-1030) that informs consumers about sources of payment assistance, such as specialized customer service representatives within individual credit card issuers, or accredited credit counseling agencies. It also includes a website, HelpWithMyCredit.org, where consumers can find helpful information about how to manage their credit cards, better communicate with their credit card companies, and identify and speak with an accredited credit counseling agency.

Mike: Are you aware of the affect it is having?

Joe: Since launching the Web site and toll-free hotline in mid February, we have received a steady volume of calls and visits. It is still too early to know the full affect of the program, but indications are very positive.

Mike: There is a learning center at your site. Can you talk a little about that resource?

Joe: The Help With My Credit Web site is designed to offer consumers a wide range of helpful information in one place that can help them understand how to take the next step to deal with their specific credit issues. It also includes information about how to manage credit cards wisely, communicate effectively with credit card issuers, and, if needed, determine how to identify and speak with an accredited credit-counseling agency.

Mike: Is there anything you would like to add?

Joe: Just to reiterate that these credit card issuers and payments networks understand that many consumers are unaware of resources available to assist them in managing their credit. The goal of Help With My Credit is to make it easier for consumers with credit card problems to access tools and information that can help them get back on track.

Here is my viewpoint on this topic. As a consumer advocate, I am natually skeptical any time I hear about card issuers wanting to help consumers. But, we do live in some very unique and trying times. I do think that card issuers are starting to understand that if they don't reach out to their customers, that things are only going to get worse for them. Whatever the motivation, though, HelpWithMyCredit is another consumer resource that I think folks struggling with debt should try to take advantage of.

What do you think about this service and credit card debt issues in general? Would love to see your comments and questions on our active credit card forum.