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Advantage Credit Counseling Service vs GreenPath

Thursday, November 7th

2024 Credit Counseling Service Reviews

Advantage Credit Counseling Service Review 4 Star Rating

Advantage Credit Counseling Service

4 Star Rating
  • Non-profit credit counseling
  • In service for over 50 years
  • 5 in-person locations in Pennsylvania
  • Over $1.2 billion in debt eliminated
  • Over 400,000 clients counseled
  • Services include free credit counseling, including an online version available 24/7
  • Fee-based services include debt management programs, bankruptcy counseling and education, housing (pre-purchase, foreclosure prevention, reverse mortgage), and credit report review
  • DMP has a one-time setup fee of $50 and monthly fees from $10 to $50 depending on your state
  • "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB
  • Member of NFCC

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.

GreenPath Review 3 Star Rating

GreenPath

3 Star Rating
  • Non-profit organization accredited by the NFCC
  • In operation since 1961
  • Has helped nearly 5 million people
  • Available in English and Spanish
  • Many services are free
  • Debt management plans may have a setup fee of up to $50 and monthly service fees of up to $75
  • "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB

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).

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.

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.
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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.

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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