When you hear the sweet promises of debt negotiation firms, it is downright sleazy. Non-profit? It doesn't mean legitimate. Learn your vocabulary and see the real difference. Not all creditors are friendly. They can be vicious and utterly mean. There's no assurance that they'll allow you to settle your accounts in partial payments as promised by the debt negotiation firm. Don't you dare cut off your credit paying schemes, or interests will add up to your actual debt. You won't be able to survive it with an intact credit reputation. It will reflect on your credit report and there's no way a debt negotiation deal can strike off its marks. Before you jump into a debt negotiation panel, check first if it will really pull you out of the bait.