Although often partially subsidized by the creditor, there is usually a small fee to the client for most debt consolidation services.  This fee is often less the $10 per creditor, which is a very small amount compared to the savings most credit consolidation companies can negotiate in reduced interest payments.

 Although many companies are non-profit they may still bill you for some of their services. This should be expected and is perfectly legal for the fees are simply helping to cover operating expenses for the services. 

You may also want to check up on a non-profit organization by confirming that the consolidation service does have a valid non-profit ID. You may also want to check how long the company has been in business and see if there are any complaints with the Better Business Bureau (www.bbbonline.org).

Find out more about understanding the rules concerning fees.