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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, October 8th
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 (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.
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 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 (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 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 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.
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 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).
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:
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.
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