Don't enroll in a debt relief program this fall unless you've asked (and answered) a few important questions. Atakan/Getty Images

When debt piles up, it can start to feel like there's no way out. After all, credit card minimum payments barely chip away at your balances, the interest charges keep climbing , and if you're behind on your payments, the subsequent collection calls will add a steady hum of stress to your everyday life. That's why for many borrowers, the idea of enrolling in a debt relief program , which is a structured plan to tackle credit card balances and other unsecured debts, can feel like the best, and sometimes only, option.

That may be especially true in today's tough economic landscape. With inflation still high, credit card APRs sitting at over 22%

See Full Page