If you’re in deep financial trouble over your credit cards, then don’t decide to sort your problem out through a debt negotiator. Since the debt market is huge and growing every day, there are scamsters out there trying to take advantage of the situation by making false promises to people like you in trouble. So, the best advice to you would be to keep as far away from these professionals called debt negotiators if your basic intention is to improve your credit report.

If you put yourself completely in their hands, they will prove to you that they are in fact what people call them—credit destroyers. Debt negotiators are known for the big talk and false promises they make, primarily that they can convince your creditors to accept a part of the total amount that you are due to pay them. Although this could be true, in the process, your credit could be completely destroyed, and you could also end up paying more money than the professional debt negotiator swore to save you of.

If the debt negotiator you’re speaking to guarantees that he can remove your unsecured debt completely, don’t take his word for it at all. All that could ever be removes is your healthy credit rating, that’s all.

You might also be asked to pay your debt negotiator steep fees in advance if you want so-called “valuable” advice. And the worst is that if your debt negotiator is unscrupulous, he may force you to stop paying your credit card bills completely. If you do take his advice, and miss a payment on your credit card, you will be asked to pay late fees and automatically your credit score will drop dramatically. Meanwhile, your debt negotiator could well charge you steep fees per month on the plea that he is trying to lower your debt.

What actually happens is that the debt negotiator doesn’t act immediately on your case. In fact, he bides his time for a few months and then gets in touch with your creditors to say that you really have no way of paying your debt. He then tries to negotiate with your creditors to excuse a part of your total debt.

If he is successful, he could reach an understanding with your creditors whereby you are required to pay about 30% of the total due, on average. If your creditor is sure that you will not be able to pay his dues, he will excuse a part of your debt so that he gains at least what he can, while he can.

Though your debt negotiator may try his best to convince your creditors to wipe out a part of your debt, no one can ever guarantee they will agree to it. What if meanwhile you are charged and sued for not paying your monthly dues and your wages are garnished and you’re at risk for losing your assets? If you had a bad credit rating so far, it will sink into the worst depths after this—all thanks to your professional debt negotiator.

So, think long and hard about whether you really could improve your financial situation with the help of a debt negotiator.