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What Is Debt Counseling?
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Debt counseling is a free or low-cost way to fix your finances or overcome a lost job or broken budget. If you need help managing your money, find a government-approved credit counseling agency that offers in-person, phone or online services that will help solve your situation.
Certified, nonprofit debt counselors can help you decide whether to take significant financial steps, such as enrolling in a debt management plan, consolidating your balances or even filing for bankruptcy. Just make sure you compare counselors and their agencies to find the best fit, avoiding debt counseling scams along the way.
How debt counseling services work
The goal of debt counseling is to teach consumers money management skills, so that they can make educated financial decisions going forward. Debt counseling agencies are usually nonprofit organizations, and their advisors are certified and trained in:
- Consumer credit
- Budgeting and money management
- Debt management, including all types of debt
If appropriate, a counselor may suggest debt consolidation or a debt management plan. You’ll have to meet with a financial professional in person, online or by phone to determine the best course of action for your needs.
A debt counselor can assist you and mediate with your creditors to create a plan for repaying your outstanding dues. In many cases, you would make payments to your debt counseling agency, which would then pass along the money to your creditors, for a small fee.A debt management plan isn’t the right step for everyone, however. It’s worth talking through all your options with a certified debt counselor.
You don’t need to have bad or fair credit to qualify for counseling, and you don’t need to wait until you’re struggling with debt to receive debt counseling services. Even if you’re doing well with money, you can utilize these services to find out where you could improve your finances.
Debt counseling is required when you file for bankruptcy
If you’re filing for bankruptcy, you’re required by law to obtain credit counseling. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding a certified credit counselor, though. According to U.S. bankruptcy code, the courts must maintain a list of government-approved debt counseling services and instructional personal finance courses.
Debt counseling agencies vs. debt settlement companies
Don’t mistake a debt counseling agency for a debt settlement company. One factor that differentiates counseling agencies from settlement companies is that accredited counseling agencies are usually nonprofit organizations. See below for more details:
| Key differences between debt counseling and debt settlement | ||
| Debt counseling agencies | Debt settlement companies | |
| Business model | Usually nonprofit organizations | Usually for-profit companies |
| Primary service | Connecting consumers with credit advice and counseling services | Arranging for debt settlement between you and your debt collectors |
| Cost to consumer | Many advisors offer free or low-cost services, as well as free debt advice and educational materials | Generally, you’ll pay a fee that’s based on the amount of debt that was settled |
| Tax implications | None for repayment plans | Depending on your situation, debt forgiveness may have tax implications |
| Credit score implications | Debt counselors will work with you to create a debt management plan; it will show up on your credit report but won’t negatively impact your credit score | If your debt settlement company directs you to stop making payments to your creditors, then your credit score will plummet. Companies will try this method to strong-arm creditors into settling your debt, but there’s no guarantee it’ll work |
The cost of debt counseling
Initial debt counseling sessions are typically free, but you could pay an enrollment fee and a monthly fee depending on the depth of services provided. Many nonprofit counseling agencies offer free debt advice and educational materials on their website; however, other services, including setting up debt management and repayment plans, come at a cost.
Any reputable debt counseling agency should provide you with pricing information when asked. Always ask for a free consultation — this way, you can see if a particular debt counselor is the right fit for your needs.
Debt counseling and your credit score
Debt counseling doesn’t affect your credit score, at least directly.
However, some counseling agencies may advise that you enroll in a debt management plan, which will show up on your credit report but won’t negatively affect your score. Over time, though, your credit score could improve if you’re making on-time payments to creditors.
It’s important to consider that through a debt management plan, you’ll make payments to an agency that will make payments to your creditors on your behalf.
How to find the best debt counseling agency for you
Find an accredited debt counseling service
Many nonprofit counseling agencies approved by the U.S. Treasury Department are also accredited through the Financial Counseling Association of America or the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.
There are also hundreds of nonprofits dedicated to consumer financial education listed on the U.S. Department of Justice website, but check out a few online resources below.
| Popular government-approved debt counseling services | ||
| Nonprofit | What sets them apart | Costs* |
| American Consumer Credit Counseling | ACCC offers catered services to seniors as well as young adults who are just starting their financial journeys. Veterans and military families will benefit from catered financial services from counselors who are specially trained in this sector. | Debt counseling session: Free
Bankruptcy counseling:
Debt management plan:
|
| Cambridge Credit Counseling | Cambridge Credit Counseling offers a variety of services, including student loan counseling. They’re also an HUD-approved housing counseling agency. | Debt counseling session: Free
Bankruptcy counseling courses:
Debt management plan:
|
| GreenPath Financial Wellness | GreenPath has been in business for about 60 years, and has a wealth of educational materials available on their website for free, including budget spreadsheets, online classes and a debt payoff calculator. | Debt counseling session: Free
Bankruptcy counseling courses:
Debt management plan:
|
| InCharge Debt Solutions | InCharge has served over 3 million clients. They also have a wide selection of financial literacy materials available on their website. | Debt counseling session: Free
Bankruptcy counseling courses:
Debt management plan:
|
| Money Management International | The largest full service nonprofit consumer credit counseling organization in the nation, MMI offers an array of niche services like natural disaster recovery and reverse mortgages for seniors. | Debt counseling session: Free
Bankruptcy counseling courses:
Debt management plan:
|
| * Fees are dependent on: 1) the state you live in and 2) the amount of debt you owe. You may qualify for reduced-cost services based on income through some organizations. | ||
Find an agency that specializes in the debt that you have
Credit card debt counseling isn’t the only option available to you. If you have student loan debt, mortgage debt or even business debt, choose a counseling agency that has experience working with people who have been in your shoes.
For instance, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) has a network of counselors who are specially trained and certified in student loan debt. Other debt counselors offer free business debt advice and more resources for small business owners.
Choose a counselor who offers a range of services
Your finances aren’t two-dimensional, and money habits often lean into one another: Your credit score and household income affect the amount of debt you can take out, and the amount of available debt you have affects your credit score. Because of this, you’ll want to find an organization that offers diverse services like:
- Budget counseling
- Credit advice
- Financial counseling classes
If you would like to know more about an agency’s services, just ask. Many debt counseling agencies will offer free educational materials, or at least more details about the services they offer.
Avoid debt counseling scams
Some credit repair scams may operate under the guise of reputable credit counseling, so it’s important to see if an agency is accredited before you trust them with your finances. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), these are some red flags that can indicate that a company isn’t accredited:
- They promise to remove negative marks from your credit report
- They pressure you to pay upfront fees for promised services
- They ask you to dispute accurate information on your credit report
- They fail to explain your rights to you
- They recommend that you don’t contact credit reporting bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion)
Get a price quote in writing
While many advisors offer free debt counseling consultations and educational materials, ongoing financial wellness services might come at a cost. Shop around for multiple quotes so you can get a good idea on how much you’ll pay for the services you’ll need.
Federal Trade Commission’s Questions to ask prospective debt counselors
- What are your qualifications?
- What are your services and fees?
- How does your agency make money?
- Do you have educational materials?
- Will you help me set plans to avoid my current predicament in the future?
- Will you keep my information private and secure?
- What if I can’t afford the costs of debt counseling?
- Will I need to sign a debt counseling contract?
Source: consumer.ftc.gov
What to bring to your debt counseling consultation
Your debt counselor will want a comprehensive look at your finances to determine the best solutions for your unique situation. To paint a full picture, you should bring:
- A list of your current expenses. Include fixed expenses, such as car payments and housing, as well as variable expenses like food, utility bills and phone bills. If you have a budget, bring a copy of that, too.
- Pay stubs going back a few months. Your counselor will want to know your household income.
- Credit card and loan statements to provide information about minimum payments and due dates.
It will also help to have a general idea of your credit score. Experian, Equifax and TransUnion are required by law (the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), specifically) to provide you with a free credit report once per year through AnnualCreditReport.com — plus, these bureaus began providing free weekly reports during the coronavirus pandemic.
In addition, many financial platforms, including LendingTree, will provide you with your credit score for free.