If you are heavily in debt, the best thing that you can do is to learn about credit, how to manage your debt effectively, and then to put your lessons into play. Many people struggling under the burden of massive debt turn to debt settlement companies to help them navigate the path back to fiscal health. Very often, these companies are little more than frauds and scams. They demand exorbitant fees upfront, and then do little if anything to help the consumer to recover from their debt burden. Even if you do not possess the skills to settle your debt effectively, it is not too difficult to learn and much safer to do so.