Finding suitable debt advice can often become a real challenge. There's so much to consider before you make the plunge and decide on the person or company who you'd like to deal with your personal financial issues.

Here's a five-point research process to help you find the right debt specialist for your needs:

Point One: Look around for recommendations

This is a really simple step, simply give your friends and colleagues a call or drop them an email asking if they know anyone they'd recommend for the job. The chances are that some of your contacts will have had their own personal experience with debt, either themselves or through a family member recently and will be happy to recommend if they were impressed themselves.

Point Two: Look at the Yellow Pages

This might sound like a bit of an old hat step - but not everyone has converted to purely online advertising yet so you'll get a good feel for local specialists and national advisers alike.

Point Three: Search online

OK, so now it's time to do Point Two again, but this time do it online! Make a list of what you find and like the look of. Aim for a list of five to ten specialists that you get a good feeling about. Don't give anyone your information just yet!

Point Four: Do your research

Get on the phone and start talking to the companies on your list. You need to find out about services, debt solutions offered, the client support teams and their operating fees. Ask them for some testimonials from satisfied clients, and ask them is its possible to contact one or two of them directly.

Point Five: Make an informed decision

Now you've got the info, you can start the decision making process. Entering negotiations over personal debt is a serious issue and you should ensure that you feel entirely at ease with the company you finally choose.