Pay on time
Be sure there are adequate funds in your account on your debit date and that your payment is received on time. The credit-counseling agency goes through a process to be sure your payment clears and to dispense your payment to your creditors. To get the payment to your creditors you must stick to your set payment date with the agency. If the creditors don't receive your payment on time, your program won't work.

Make any changes well in advance
If you won't have the money on your payment date, call the credit-counseling agency as soon as you know. They may be able to help you. Be aware, though, that direct debit payments are sometimes "locked in" two days in advance. If you don't call the agency ahead of time, the payment may already be in process, and you may also incur a late-payment charge.

Check your creditor statements
After your monthly payment is made, check it against your next credit card statements. This is absolutely your responsibility. You will then know that the payment was sent, that it was on time, and that it was paid appropriately to your various creditors. Do not rely only on the agency's statement. If there are any problems or discrepancies, call your credit-counseling agency immediately to report it.

Keep in touch about pay-offs or other changes
Over time, you will make payments to your creditors and pay off your debts. When you near the point of paying off one of your creditors, call your credit-counseling agency. They will adjust the payments to be sure that creditor isn't overpaid. You may want to permanently readjust your payment plan each time you pay off a creditor so that you continue to make the same monthly payment amount to the agency, but more money goes to the rest of the creditors. This will help you pay down your debts faster.

The Last Payment
When you are about to make your final payment to your last creditor, contact your credit-counseling agency again so they stop debiting your account. Remember that the credit-counseling agency does not see your credit card statements each month, so they do not know when creditors are paid off. You must notify the agency.