Credit counseling services: get help with debt today
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the amount of debt you’re carrying, you’re not alone. In America, the average household carries about $8,000 in credit card balances. Unexpected events like medical emergencies or job losses leave many Americans deeply in debt with few options for paying off what they owe.
Credit counseling services can help. When you contact a nonprofit agency like American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC), you’ll gain access to certified financial professionals who are dedicated to helping people just like you solve their debt issues. From free credit counseling to educational programs and debt management services, a credit counseling agency can provide you with everything you need to regain control of your financial life and start your journey out of debt.
Finding the right credit counseling services
There are many organizations offering credit counseling services. To find the one that’s right for you, consider these essential criteria.
- Non-profit organization. Not-for-profit credit counseling agencies are dedicated to helping and educating consumers with free counseling and low-cost debt management services.
- Business record. Look for an agency that has at least 7 to 10 years of experience providing credit counsel, and one that has a strong rating with the Better Business Bureau.
- Reasonable fees. For debt management programs, reputable organizations should not charge more than $50 per month. The agency should also be willing to waive fees for financial hardship.
- Certified counselors. The right credit counseling agency will hire counselors who are highly trained and certified to provide consumer credit counseling services.
- Accredited. Reputable agencies should be a member of one of the credit counseling trade organizations and accredited by the International Standards Organization (ISO) or by the Council on Accreditation (COA).
- Free educational materials. The best credit counseling services are committed to educating their clientele by offering free educational materials and financial tools.
Non-profit credit counseling services from ACCC
ACCC is a non-profit credit counseling agency that helps consumers take control of their debt through credit counseling, debt consolidation, debt management, and financial education. Since 1991, we’ve been providing solutions to individuals and families in need of financial help.
Our credit counseling sessions are free of charge, with no strings attached. You can meet with one of our certified and highly trained counselors to evaluate your financial situation, get debt advice, learn about the pros and cons of different strategies for paying down debt, and decide on a plan to address your financial troubles.
Our low-cost debt management plans are one option for addressing your financial situation. Debt management programs consolidate all of your monthly payments for unsecured debt into one lump-sum payment to ACCC. We in turn disperse those funds on your behalf to your creditors. With a single payment to make each month, you’ll simplify your financial life and reduce the stress of owing money. By working with your creditors, we seek to lower interest rates and waive financial charges and fees.
At ACCC, you’ll also find a wealth of educational materials and financial tools you can use to increase your knowledge of money management. Our goal is to provide you with everything you need to regain control of your finances and plan for a debt-free future.
Five reasons to use credit counseling services
When you come to ACCC for credit counseling services, you can:
- Speak with a certified credit counselor free of charge to discuss your situation and learn about options.
- Explore plans that can help you pay off your debts – usually within 3 to 5 years – while rebuilding your credit.
- Potentially reduce your interest rates and finance charges and eliminate late fees and over-limit fees to reduce the amount you owe.
- Consolidate your unsecured debt to one easy, monthly payment in a debt management program.
- Regain control of your financial life while learning to live without debt.
Why choose credit counseling services from ACCC?
Our credit and debt counseling services provide you with:
- Expertise based on experience. For 30 years, we’ve been helping people just like you to get out of debt. Our certified counselors know the world of credit and debt inside out and can direct you to the best options and resources.
- Free and low-cost services. Our initial credit counseling sessions are free of charge, and we pride ourselves on having the lowest effective fee structure in the industry for our debt management services. In cases of financial hardship, we will waive our fees – we want to provide help regardless of your ability to pay.
- Convenient offerings. Credit counseling at ACC Cis available in person and over the telephone. We offer an online chat feature that makes it easy to get your questions answered quickly and confidentially. And if you enroll in a debt management plan, we handle everything for you – from the counseling process to payment of your funds.
ACCC is certified in all 50 states and licensed in every state that requires it. We are a member of the National Foundation Credit Counseling (NFCC). And we’re accredited through the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating.
FAQs: What are credit counseling services?
What are credit counseling services?
Credit counseling services provide financial advice and guidance to consumers who are having trouble managing money and paying off debt. Credit counselors can help individuals get a clear picture of their financial situation and make a budget that will let them pay down their debt more quickly. Credit counseling services may include debt management programs as well as educational activities that help consumers build healthy financial habits.
What are non-profit credit counseling services?
A non-profit credit counseling service is a mission-driven organization dedicated to providing helpful services at low cost or no cost to consumers who may find themselves in financial trouble. Funded primarily by grant money, non-profit credit counseling services also help to educate consumers about sound money management practices and provide guidance on a wide range of financial issues. In contrast, for-profit debt relief agencies are profit-driven companies that frequently charge steep rates for their services. For-profit agencies may offer debt consolidation or debt settlement scenarios that, when unsuccessful, can create additional legal and financial problems for their clientele.
