Looking for a Credit Counselor? Here’s How to Find a Good One

Quick Answer

You can find a credit counselor by reviewing your financial needs, comparing reputable counselors and scheduling information-gathering meetings to see if they're a fit.

Looking for a Credit Counselor? Here’s How to Find a Good One article image.

Credit counseling can help you improve your financial life by teaching you ways to efficiently pay off debt and create a budget that works for you. While guidance from a professional credit counselor can benefit anyone, it can be especially helpful for those who are struggling with credit card bills, battling bankruptcy or feeling buried in debt.

"When someone meets with a certified credit counselor, they get expert advice for overcoming their most urgent financial challenges," says Bruce McClary, senior vice president of communications at the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC). "Consumers benefit from a comprehensive review of their entire financial situation. Every counseling session is completely confidential with advice that is uniquely designed for each individual."

Follow these steps to find the right credit counselor for your unique financial situation.

1. Decide What You Need to Work On

Certified credit counselors offer services such as credit report reviews, budget advice, mortgage counseling, student loan counseling, bankruptcy counseling and referrals to other helpful financial resources.

To effectively compare the services offered by various agencies, take inventory of your finances before you start your search. Write down the major financial obstacles you're dealing with, as well as your goals for the future. Not only does figuring this out beforehand help you narrow down your search, but having this information handy will make it easier to clearly explain your struggles and desired outcomes to your counselor once you meet.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the thought of analyzing your debt, you're not alone. Taking an honest and in-depth look at your financial situation is the first step to gaining control.

2. Find Reputable, Accredited Counselors Through a Counseling Organization

Avoid unaccredited or for-profit companies by starting your search with one of these credit counseling organizations, which connect you with reputable and certified credit counselors only:

The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC): Start your search with the NFCC, the nation's largest nonprofit credit counseling organization. Each of its member agencies is certified through the Council on Accreditation.
The Financial Counseling Association of America (FCAA): The FCAA is a national association that links consumers to member agencies that meet the organization's standards for quality financial services. Keep in mind, however, that the FCAA works with both nonprofit and for-profit agencies. You should closely examine the fees charged by any credit counseling agency you're thinking about working with, especially if it's a for-profit company.
The U.S. Trustee Program: The U.S. Department of Justice maintains a search tool you can use to find a credit counselor. You can filter by state as well as language spoken. Each agency listed has been vetted by the program. Each firm listed through this service provides bankruptcy counseling, but many also offer other credit counseling services.

After you've narrowed your search to a few candidates, check the reputation of each through your state's attorney general's office or local consumer protection agency. Run a search for any complaints against the agency through the Better Business Bureau as well.

3. Set Up a Preliminary Meeting

Create a shortlist of two or three reputable agencies you may like to work with and schedule information-gathering meetings with each. Consider it a red flag if an agency asks you to pay a fee for this first meeting, and seek help elsewhere.

Your goal in the meeting is to gain a clear picture of what they'll offer you and how much they'll charge. Here are a few questions to help you get to know the agency:

How much does it cost to work with you? Many of the resources a credit counselor offers should be free. If an agency tells you that all information, even basic budgeting advice, comes at a price, the agency should be avoided. Your counselor may suggest a debt management plan, which is a more involved plan for those in serious credit card debt and usually comes with an upfront fee as well as a small monthly service fee. Get a price quote or breakdown of all service fees in writing before you agree to work with an agency.
How can you help me reach my long-term goals? A good counselor won't just offer quick fixes for your problems, but will also help you come up with a plan for achieving your long-term goals and tracking your progress over time.
How do you protect my personal data? Ask the agency if they ever sell any of your information, including your address, financial information or phone number.

4. Watch Out for These Major Red Flags

While legitimate credit counselors can be an invaluable resource, beware of credit counseling scams, which can make your financial situation worse. Often, they'll claim they can help you tackle your financial problems but will instead take advantage with false promises, ineffective practices or overpriced services. Common warning signs include:

Pushing a debt management plan as your only option: These plans shouldn't be viewed as the only possible solution. If a counselor pushes you to sign up for one before you've gone over your finances together, this is an indication that the counselor isn't offering you personalized help.
Withholding key information: An agency should provide you with any information you request about its pay structure, services and fees. If you feel like a credit counselor isn't telling you the whole truth, don't move forward. Wait until you fully understand what you're signing up for before you agree to anything, and always ask for information in writing.
Miracle claims and "credit repair doctors": Does a counselor promise results that sound too good to be true, like instant debt erasure or an overnight 100-point credit score increase? If a company you meet with starts making claims like this, avoid giving them your personal information and look for help elsewhere.
Paying their employees on commission: Avoid credit counselor agencies with a commission-based pay structure. Compensating counselors extra for pushing paid services on you creates a clear conflict of interest. Your counselor's bottom line should be your financial success.

The Bottom Line

The right counselor can help you create a successful budget, devise a plan to pay down debt and learn how to save money for your future. Just be sure to work with an accredited and legitimate credit counseling organization whose bottom line is helping you improve your financial situation.

If you're working to get your finances back on track, be sure to keep tabs on your credit health as well. Check your credit score for free through Experian so you know where you stand.

How Good Is Your Credit Score?

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580 credit score 581 credit score 582 credit score 583 credit score 584 credit score 585 credit score 586 credit score 587 credit score 588 credit score 589 credit score 590 credit score 591 credit score 592 credit score 593 credit score 594 credit score 595 credit score 596 credit score 597 credit score 598 credit score 599 credit score 600 credit score 601 credit score 602 credit score 603 credit score 604 credit score 605 credit score 606 credit score 607 credit score 608 credit score 609 credit score 610 credit score 611 credit score 612 credit score 613 credit score 614 credit score 615 credit score 616 credit score 617 credit score 618 credit score 619 credit score 620 credit score 621 credit score 622 credit score 623 credit score 624 credit score 625 credit score 626 credit score 627 credit score 628 credit score 629 credit score 630 credit score 631 credit score 632 credit score 633 credit score 634 credit score 635 credit score 636 credit score 637 credit score 638 credit score 639 credit score 640 credit score 641 credit score 642 credit score 643 credit score 644 credit score 645 credit score 646 credit score 647 credit score 648 credit score 649 credit score 650 credit score 651 credit score 652 credit score 653 credit score 654 credit score 655 credit score 656 credit score 657 credit score 658 credit score 659 credit score 660 credit score 661 credit score 662 credit score 663 credit score 664 credit score 665 credit score 666 credit score 667 credit score 668 credit score 669 credit score

670 credit score 671 credit score 672 credit score 673 credit score 674 credit score 675 credit score 676 credit score 677 credit score 678 credit score 679 credit score 680 credit score 681 credit score 682 credit score 683 credit score 684 credit score 685 credit score 686 credit score 687 credit score 688 credit score 689 credit score 690 credit score 691 credit score 692 credit score 693 credit score 694 credit score 695 credit score 696 credit score 697 credit score 698 credit score 699 credit score 700 credit score 701 credit score 702 credit score 703 credit score 704 credit score 705 credit score 706 credit score 707 credit score 708 credit score 709 credit score 710 credit score 711 credit score 712 credit score 713 credit score 714 credit score 715 credit score 716 credit score 717 credit score 718 credit score 719 credit score 720 credit score 721 credit score 722 credit score 723 credit score 724 credit score 725 credit score 726 credit score 727 credit score 728 credit score 729 credit score 730 credit score 731 credit score 732 credit score 733 credit score 734 credit score 735 credit score 736 credit score 737 credit score 738 credit score 739 credit score

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Looking for a Credit Counselor? Here’s How to Find a Good One

In this article:

1. Decide What You Need to Work On

2. Find Reputable, Accredited Counselors Through a Counseling Organization

3. Set Up a Preliminary Meeting

4. Watch Out for These Major Red Flags

The Bottom Line

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How Good Is Your Credit Score?

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In this article:

1. Decide What You Need to Work On

2. Find Reputable, Accredited Counselors Through a Counseling Organization

3. Set Up a Preliminary Meeting

4. Watch Out for These Major Red Flags

The Bottom Line

Instantly raise your FICO® Score for free

How Good Is Your Credit Score?

Resources

Latest Research

Latest Reviews

Instantly raise your FICO^® Score for free