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The Best Credit Counseling Services

Where Can You Get the Best Credit Counseling?

Credit counseling services can be incredibly helpful to individuals who are struggling with debt, looking to improve their credit score, or simply need guidance on financial planning. However, with so many options available, it can be difficult to know where to turn for the best counseling services.

One of the primary benefits of credit counseling is that it can provide you with a comprehensive assessment of your financial situation. This assessment takes into account your income, expenses, debts, and assets, and helps identify areas where you may be overspending or under-saving. Based on this assessment, the credit counselor can provide personalized advice to you on how to create a budget that aligns with your financial goals.

Tuesday, March 19th

2024 Credit Counseling Service Reviews

Credit.org Review Top Consumer Reviews Best-In-Class Blue Ribbon Award 5 Star Rating

Credit.org

5 Star Rating Top Consumer Reviews Best-In-Class Blue Ribbon Award

For trustworthy credit counseling, Credit.org is a fantastic choice. The majority of their services are provided for free, with the remaining ones offered at very affordable rates. Whether you need guidance on creating a budget or purchasing your first home, Credit.org's counselors and informative website are available to assist you. With nearly 50 years of experience, this nonprofit organization has built a great reputation. Credit.org earns our highest rating for credit counseling services.

Money Management International Review 4.5 Star Rating

Money Management International

4.5 Star Rating

Money Management International (MMI) is a non-profit credit counseling agency that has been providing services since 1958. They have helped over 8 million people with their financial challenges and offer credit counseling, debt management, housing counseling, student loan counseling, bankruptcy counseling, financial education, and disaster recovery counseling. They have an excellent reputation, with a perfect "A+" rating and accreditation from the BBB and over 1,500 five-star ratings from happy clients who saved as much as $25K in credit card interest fees. MMI is a top choice for credit counseling.

American Consumer Credit Counseling Review 4.5 Star Rating

American Consumer Credit Counseling

4.5 Star Rating

ACCC is a non-profit organization offering free credit counseling and affordable debt management programs. Their certified credit counselors provide guidance on credit card, housing, bankruptcy, and student loan issues. Consumers can work with debt counselors to assess their finances and explore debt repayment options. As a non-profit, ACCC offers free credit counseling services and low-cost debt management program fees. They have 30 years of experience, an "A+" BBB rating, and membership in the NFCC. Because this credit counseling service has received numerous five-star reviews from clients, ACCC easily earns our recommendation as well.

Apprisen Review 4 Star Rating

Apprisen

4 Star Rating

Apprisen is a non-profit credit counseling agency founded in 1955 that offers a range of financial services to help people improve their financial situation. They provide credit counseling, debt management plans, housing counseling, financial education, and more. Apprisen is accredited by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), which is considered the gold standard in the credit counseling industry. They have helped over 750,000 individuals and families across the United States, and have a strong reputation for providing quality services and transparent pricing on any fee-based services. Apprisen is worth a look when choosing where to get credit counseling.

Advantage Credit Counseling Service Review 4 Star Rating

Advantage Credit Counseling Service

4 Star Rating

Advantage Credit Counseling Service (CCS) is a non-profit credit counseling agency that offers various services to assist individuals in managing their finances. These include credit counseling, debt management programs, pre-filing bankruptcy counseling, pre-discharge education classes, credit report review, and several types of housing counseling. CCS has been in operation since 1968 and has helped over 400,000 clients eliminate more than $1.2 billion in debt. While their fees are reasonable, and we love that consumers can get a preliminary action plan online any time of day or night, CCS' limited client feedback makes it difficult to compare them to our top-ranked credit counseling providers.

Consolidated Credit Review 3.5 Star Rating

Consolidated Credit

3.5 Star Rating

Consolidated Credit has helped more than 10 million people over the past 30 years, reducing credit card debt and helping consumers get on top of their personal finances. There's no need to sign up for a debt management plan to use the abundant resources on the site: learn about budgeting, teach your teens how to build their credit, and much more. And, if a DMP is right for you, over 7000 people give Consolidated Credit a perfect five stars for that service. But, other types of credit counseling are limited (and even glitchy) here, so some prospective clients will need to go with a different organization.

DebtWave Review 3.5 Star Rating

DebtWave

3.5 Star Rating

DebtWave Credit Counseling is a little newer than some services on the market, getting its start back in 2001. As you'd guess from the name, the primary focus here is debt management, though interested individuals can also take advantage of free credit counseling and inexpensive pre- and post-bankruptcy help. Although DebtWave's fees for DMPs are slightly higher than average and the site itself could use some touching up, almost every client leaving a review for this service gives it five stars. DebtWave could be worth considering if you don't find the help you want with a higher-rated organization.

NFCC Review 3 Star Rating

NFCC

3 Star Rating

As the largest and most long-standing nonprofit credit counseling organization in the US, NFCC functions as a hub for evaluating other nonprofit credit counseling providers. Through their network, they can link you with trustworthy services in your region. While the NFCC does not offer credit counseling directly, their website has an abundance of resources to educate you on the process and prepare you for your partnership with one of their affiliate organizations.

GreenPath Review 3 Star Rating

GreenPath

3 Star Rating

GreenPath has worked with nearly five million clients since 1961, helping them manage their debt and understand how credit works. Like most non-profits in this industry, you'll get access to a wide range of services, most of which are complimentary. However, GreenPath's fees on paid services (like debt management plans) are higher than average, and beyond the "A+" rating and accreditation from the BBB, there's not a ton of feedback from GreenPath clients. This isn't a bad choice for credit counseling, but there are other options that do it a little better (and for less money).

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Continued from above...

Another benefit of credit counseling is that it can help you develop a plan to pay off your debts. This plan may involve consolidating debts, negotiating with creditors, or creating a debt repayment plan. By working with a credit counselor, you can develop a debt repayment plan that is tailored to your specific financial situation, which can help you achieve financial freedom more quickly.

In addition to debt repayment, credit counseling can also provide education and resources on how to manage credit and financial products. This education can help you make informed decisions about credit cards, loans, and other financial products, which can improve your credit scores and make it easier to access credit in the future. By learning about the different types of credit products available, you can choose the products that are best suited to your financial goals and needs.

The first step in finding the best credit counseling service is to identify your specific needs. Are you currently dealing with significant credit card debt? Are you looking for guidance on how to improve your credit score? Do you need help with financial planning or budgeting? Depending on your situation, you may need to seek out a credit counseling service that specializes in a particular area of financial counseling.

Once you have a clear understanding of your needs, you can begin your search for the best credit counseling service for you. A good place to start is by checking with non-profit credit counseling organizations, as they typically offer free counseling services and may also be able to direct you to resources that can help you better manage your finances.

There are also a number of for-profit credit counseling services available, many of which offer free consultations to help you determine whether their services are right for you. When considering a for-profit credit counseling service, it's important to do your research and make sure that the organization is reputable and has a solid track record of success.

When evaluating any credit counseling service, be sure to consider these factors as well:

  • Experience and credentials. How long has the service been operating? How many clients have they helped? What kind of certifications does the provider have?
  • Types of service offered. Will you receive basic counseling or in-depth, hands-on help with making a budget and paying down debt? Which services are free and which ones are fee-based?
  • Client feedback. Read reviews and testimonials from previous clients to get a better sense of their effectiveness and customer service. Credit problems are stressful enough on their own, so finding a counseling service that has a good reputation can ease your worries during the process of turning over a new leaf.

Ultimately, the best credit counseling service for you will depend on your individual needs and situation. Top Consumer Reviews has done the hard work of researching all of today's most popular credit counseling providers, making it easy for you to choose the one that will best help you make better financial decisions and achieve your goals.

The Best Credit Counseling Services Compare Credit Counseling Services Compare Credit Counseling Service Reviews What are the best Credit Counseling Services Best Credit Counseling Service Reviews

Credit Counseling Service FAQ

Credit counseling is a broad term used to refer to any advice or assistance regarding consumer credit. This could be a database of articles about topics like student loans or credit scores, programs designed to work with creditors to consolidate your debt, or even one-on-one guidance from an experienced advisor.
That depends on where you go for services. Some programs do an in-depth analysis of your financial situation and help you remove negative entries on your credit history or negotiate with creditors to manage your debt. Others provide advice about getting the best student loans or qualifying for a first-time mortgage. The spectrum of services included in credit counseling is broad: there's something for everyone!
According to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, more than a million consumers take advantage of counseling every year. And, with so many Americans struggling with debts, unsure how to improve their credit scores, and questioning where to turn for the best advice, many millions more should be using credit counseling programs!
Many times, they're free! There are a lot of services whose programs come at no cost to you - and even the ones with nominal fees are usually very affordable when you consider the benefits of reducing your debt and improving your credit score.
For some programs, yes: you might need to have a certain minimum amount of debt (like $5,000). But, there are many credit counseling services where the only requirement is that you're interested in working with them to become better-educated and to get control of your finances.
The more thorough you are with your credit counselor, the more accurate the advice they'll be able to provide. Some documentation that can help them have the clearest picture would include your credit card statements, pay stubs from your employer, bank statements, and any notices you may have gotten from bill collectors or creditors.
Absolutely. Some credit counseling services have a history that spans decades, helping millions of people to understand how to make better decisions with their money. Of course, it's always a good idea to see what other consumers have to say before choosing which credit counseling provider to use. The Better Business Bureau is a solid resource for determining a credit counseling service's reputation and overall standing too.

Compare Credit Counseling Services

Select any 2 Credit Counseling Services to compare them head to head

best-credit-counseling-services
  • Credit.org
  • Money Management International
  • American Consumer Credit Counseling
  • Apprisen
  • Advantage Credit Counseling Service
  • Consolidated Credit
  • DebtWave
  • NFCC
  • GreenPath
Credit.org vs Money Management International Credit.org vs American Consumer Credit Counseling Credit.org vs Apprisen Credit.org vs Advantage Credit Counseling Service Credit.org vs Consolidated Credit Credit.org vs DebtWave Credit.org vs NFCC Credit.org vs GreenPath Money Management International vs American Consumer Credit Counseling Money Management International vs Apprisen Money Management International vs Advantage Credit Counseling Service Money Management International vs Consolidated Credit Money Management International vs DebtWave Money Management International vs NFCC Money Management International vs GreenPath American Consumer Credit Counseling vs Apprisen American Consumer Credit Counseling vs Advantage Credit Counseling Service American Consumer Credit Counseling vs Consolidated Credit American Consumer Credit Counseling vs DebtWave American Consumer Credit Counseling vs NFCC American Consumer Credit Counseling vs GreenPath Apprisen vs Advantage Credit Counseling Service Apprisen vs Consolidated Credit Apprisen vs DebtWave Apprisen vs NFCC Apprisen vs GreenPath Advantage Credit Counseling Service vs Consolidated Credit Advantage Credit Counseling Service vs DebtWave Advantage Credit Counseling Service vs NFCC Advantage Credit Counseling Service vs GreenPath Consolidated Credit vs DebtWave Consolidated Credit vs NFCC Consolidated Credit vs GreenPath DebtWave vs NFCC DebtWave vs GreenPath NFCC vs GreenPath
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