Get control of your debt with a non-profit credit counselor
When your financial life is spiraling out of control, a non-profit credit counselor can help you take the steps to set things right and find your way out of debt.
Non-profit credit counselling can provide you with three things: an understanding of how you got into debt, a plan for getting out of debt, and the tools to live debt free in the future. When you’re ready to tackle your financial problems head on, the trick is knowing how to tell a reputable credit counseling agency from one that may take advantage of you and leave you deeper in debt.
American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) is a non-profit agency that has been helping consumers since 1991. Through credit counseling, debt consolidation, and financial education, we can help you take control of your debt, find the best way to pay it off, and learn to avoid debt in the future.
What a non-profit credit counselor can do for you
When you meet with a non-profit credit counselor, you’ll have the opportunity to evaluate your current financial situation. Your counselor will review your income, assets, and expenses with you as well as your current credit rating. Next, your counselor will help you understand all of the options available to you for managing your debts, including personalized options based on your financial goals. Depending on your situation, your credit counselor may recommend a specific plan for paying down your debt, but the decision is ultimately yours.
For many people, a debt management plan is an effective option for working their way out of debt. If you choose to enroll in this type of program, your counselor will take care of all the details and help you create a budget you can live with as you pay off your debt over time – usually within 3 to 5 years.
Find certified non-profit credit counselors at ACCC
At ACCC, you’ll find non-profit credit counselors that are certified and highly trained to help consumers resolve a variety of financial problems. Over the past three decades, our counselors have helped thousands of individuals to find a path out of debt and learn to live debt-free.
We offer a full range of credit and debt counseling services, including:
- Free credit counseling to help you determine the best approach to resolving your financial situation
- Low-cost debt management programs that consolidate your monthly payments and allow us to make payments to creditors on your behalf
- Bankruptcy counseling, including mandated pre-filing bankruptcy counseling sessions
- Housing counseling to assist you in everything from reverse mortgage counseling to foreclosure counseling and homebuyer education
- Student loan counseling to explore your options no matter how much you owe or what the status of your loans are
Why working with non-profit counselors is a must
When looking for help to manage your debt, there are many advantages in choosing a non-profit credit counselor over a for-profit debt relief agency. Non-profit companies charge little to nothing for their services, while for-profit agencies typically charge hefty fees. Non-profit counselors will help you make a plan to pay off your debt in ways that won’t ruin your credit, land you in legal jeopardy, or drive you deeper into debt. For-profit companies, on the other hand, often engage in risky strategies that can create more financial difficulty for you. Non-profit credit counselors will help you understand the reasons you got into debt in the first place and provide you with tools and strategies to avoid debt in the future. For-profit companies typically do not offer these kinds of educational resources.
The advantages of choosing ACCC
When you work with a non-profit credit counselor from ACCC, you can:
- Take advantage of free credit counsel services
- Work with a counselor to understand your situation and prepare a budget that will help you pay down your debt
- Potentially reduce your interest rates and finance charges and stop late and over-limit fees
- Make a plan to pay off your debt – usually within 60 months
- Learn more about sound money management practices and habits with free educational materials and financial tools
FAQs: What is a non-profit credit counselor?
What is a credit counselor?
Credit counselors provide guidance for consumers on managing money, repairing credit, eliminating debt, creating budgets, avoiding bankruptcy, and developing financial management skills. A credit counselor will typically help consumer get a clear sense of their financial situation, explore all the options available, and make a plan to resolve their financial issues.
What is a non-profit credit counselor?
Credit counselors work either for for-profit or non-profit credit counseling agencies. For-profit firms earn revenue through fees charged to consumers, while non-profit firms are primarily funded by grants. Consequently, non-profit credit counselors can offer free or low-cost services to consumers. Non-profit counselors are dedicated to educating consumers about the most effective ways to manage money and helping consumers to learn to avoid debt. Non-profit credit counseling agencies can also enroll consumers in a credit or debt management plan that can simplify finances and consolidate monthly payments to creditors.
