According to FICO, the recognized
authority in the credit scoring business, participation in a DMP is not a factor
in your credit score, but some creditors will report your participation to the
credit bureaus after your accounts are closed. There are still some lenders out
there who will view this negatively, even though you're taking control and dealing
with your situation. And later, when you're applying for responsible financing,
we'll be more than happy to provide you with letters of reference that will attest
to your payment history with us. Please bear in mind that, whether you're in our
program or not, it's always recommended that you pay your bills on time as well as
pay down your debt.