TYLER-- When it comes to credit card debt there are no easy answers but there is help if you know where to look and what to look out for.

With the rising cost of gas and food some people are not just worried about credit card debt they are drowning in it and here's one way to tell if you are in the danger zone.

Glyndal Corzine from the Consumer Credit Counseling Service in Tyler says, "If {you are} paying the credit cards and then not having enough money then having to charge on the credit cards to cover living expense", then that is a strong indication you may need help.

And there are people out there who can help you get control of your budget and become debit free.

If you decide to go to a credit counseling agency here are some of the things they can do for you through negotiating with the creditor. They can get you a lower monthly payment, lower interest rate or get your interest rate stopped and get late or over limit fees stopped.

The goal experts say is to allow you to continue meeting your living expenses while paying down your debt for a minimal fee usually no more than $30 per month.

But not all credit counseling agencies are out to help some can do more harm than good.

A lot of them are charging you a large fee and then you're making payments to them every month but they're not paying the creditors.

So here are some questions you should ask your credit counseling agency; are the credit counselors certified, what are the fees, do they offer other services such as budgeting and finally are they a debt settlement agency?

The last question is important because a debt settlement agency will make not payments until the account goes into default and then try and settle with the creditor.

Of course a legitimate credit counseling agency can help you get back on track and experts say getting off track can happen to anyone.

A final point, even when you work with a legitimate credit counseling agency once you enter into a repayment plan it will impact your credit score.

But not, experts say, as badly as not paying and having the credit card company turn your account over to a collection agency.