A Debt Management Program is a process by which a credit counseling agency works with your creditors on your behalf. The process begins with a certified credit counselor reviewing your situation and helping you determine your short and long-term goals. After the development of a working budget for handling your monthly expenses each of your credit accounts is examined in detail. Then, a repayment plan is developed to fit your needs and meet your creditor's requirements. Repayment plans may last from six months to five years depending on your personal situation. During a Debt Management Program you make monthly payments to Shield Credit. These payments are then forwarded to your creditors in accordance with your plan to become debt free. Many creditors recognize a consumer's efforts to repay debts through a Debt Management Program by making concessions, such as adjusting your interest rate and lowering required payments to assist your program progress. Shield Credit works with over 50,000 creditors nationwide.