By David Pilley on January 7, 2011
.jpg.aspx) For most of the companies I have researched so far, there are usually multiple articles written by other people who are critiquing the service from an objective point or view or are writing about if the service helped or hurt them. Just going directly to the company’s website and getting all the information there would clearly be biased because the company is selling a product and wants to play up the positives, while downplaying the possible drawbacks. This article is about Delaware Debt Consolidation and Credit Counseling Services (delawaredebtconsolidation.com). I couldn’t find anyone evaluating the company’s services, so everything I say about it comes from its website.
The home page tells how debt consolidation “can help you restructure your bills and make a payment plan that can cut YEARS and THOUSANDS of dollars off your long-term debts.” Under different headings, the company tells how a credit counseling program works, and it offers vague, but positive, information on how employees of Delaware Debt Consolidation will “work for you” and “carefully answer your financial questions.”
At the top of the home page below the company logo, there is a list of links to other pages on the site. These tabs are titled “About Us,” “What We Do,” “Free Quote,” “FAQ,” and “Contact Us.” Click on “About Us” and you’ll find out that the company is a “full service debt consolidation company” with a “staff of seasoned debt consolidation professionals.” You’ll be glad to know the company offers its program in English and Spanish, but what if I want to find out about a staff member’s credentials to see how “seasoned” he/she is? I couldn’t find a page on the website listing any employee’s name, how many employees the company has, or any credentials of its employee(s).
Every page on the company’s website also has a catchphrase repeated on the bottom. In bold, it says “There Is a Solution!” There is also hyperlink text below it, saying “Click Here For A Free Non-Obligatory Online Debt Consolidation Quote!” The link goes to the same page, which happens to be the same page you get to when you click on “Free Quote” in the menu at the top of the company’s home page.
If you click on “Free Quote,” you will find a checklist asking you to give personal information, such as your name, home phone, work phone, and total debt amount. You will also find questions for contact information, such as when is the best time the company can contact you. Notice that this is the same page you end up on if you click on “Contact Us” at the top of the page and then click on the “Contact Us!” hyperlink. This company really wants you to give out your personal information!
I’m not saying you should or shouldn’t do business with Delaware Debt Consolidation. However, there are some red flags calling for concern. There is no list of company employees and each page has a link to the page that tells you to give personal information. I would definitely ask around before receiving any services from the company. |