Q. My credit was excellent. In 2006 I was a victim of a terrible investment scam and there is nothing I can do about it. I made the most horrible mistake ever, taking $25,000 from my credit cards and a loan against my 401(k). I was taken advantage of and now I have more debts that I can handle. My credit score is going down and I don't think I have a way out. Is this true or is there something I could do to get out of this mess and gain my life back again?

A.Absolutely. Start by finding an experienced debt counselor who can negotiate reduced payoffs with your creditors. We almost always direct our readers to members of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. Its 120 member agencies abide by a set of professional and ethical standards that has served many individuals and families very well over the past 50 years.

Use the "Zip Code Search" to get a list of nearby agencies. Click on the individual agencies to find everything from fees to office hours. The fees will be very modest. Many NFCC members charge nothing to review your finances and less than $100 to establish a debt repayment plan.

In the end, you'll write a single monthly check to the credit counseling agency that will be less than you're paying now and the agency will divvy that money out to your creditors. They should be able to set you on the right track to recover your good credit rating, but be warned, it's a tough road to travel.

What you shouldn't do is go to one of those debt consolidators who advertise that they can fix all your troubles with one easy loan. You have enough problems, don't add to them.