Best Credit Counseling Companies – Repayment Plans That Work
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When I graduated with my bachelor of arts degree, I immediately wanted to pursue a master’s. Except I couldn’t pay for a master’s on my own, and I already felt like I was drowning in debt.
It’s hard to deal with a bad credit score and heaps of debt. And student loans aren’t the only way to rack up debt — about 58% of debt collected in the U.S. is medical. If you need to be rushed to the hospital or treated for a chronic illness, you'll likely need to put your copay or even the full out-of-pocket cost on your credit card.
One good option to manage debt is to work with a credit counseling company. Some help with student loan counseling. Some can work with you on veteran debt or mortgages. All of them are focused on helping you make a debt payment plan that works best for you. Here’s a list of the seven best credit counseling companies and how they might help you with your debt.
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Overview of the best credit counseling companies
Credit Counseling Company | Best for… |
Financial Counseling Association of America | Those new to the credit counseling world needing a place to start |
National Foundation for Credit Counseling | Blog readers searching for reliable content |
Incharge Debt Solutions | Distressed renters and future homeowners |
Consumer Credit Counseling Service | Those looking for localized and in-person credit counseling |
Greenpath | Smartphone users needing an app for on-the-go DMP tracking |
Cambridge Credit Counseling | Those seeking accessibility, transparency, and ease-of-use |
Money Management International | Podcast listeners in need of financial advice |
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Best credit counseling companies
Financial Counseling Association of America
A great place to start looking for credit counseling services is through the Financial Counseling Association of America (FCAA). The FCAA website can link you with a credit counseling agency that can help you get back on track with your debt. They offer free credit counseling sessions with no strings attached.
The FCAA also offers several services to either support your own credit research or to help you get more specified counseling. You can use the Debt Freedom Tool for basic budget help. Or you can talk to a certified credit counselor about housing, bankruptcy or credit reports. They offer a lot as a general one-stop shop for financial help.
Another great service the FCAA provides is its Student Loan Counseling. This program includes six lessons providing training on navigating new loan lending changes and more. The training costs $199/enrollment.
All FCAA agency members are licensed according to their state laws. Still, it’s important to check that the agency you’re working with scores well with the Better Business Bureau. The FCAA does not seem to have a BBB listing, but a quick search of your matched agency’s name + “BBB” should pull up results.
- Costs:
- Free – Credit Counseling Sessions
- $199 – Student Loan Training Program Enrollment
- Where to find: FCAA.org
- Where accessible: Online only
National Foundation for Credit Counseling
If you like to read, you might consider the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC). Their blog articles are very well-researched and provide concrete information. Plus, they’ve been in business for over 70 years and are in touch with the current economic climate.
The NFCC functions similarly to the FCAA by connecting you with a credit counseling agency. They have prominently committed to providing equal opportunity service for everyone, including minorities. If you’ve been turned away by other places, you shouldn’t be here.
The NFCC does certify their credit counselors, but they do not control pricing as they operate to connect you with an agency. It’s always good to ask how much you will be charged. If your agent is being vague, that’s a red flag.
The NFCC offers services tailored for renters, veterans, and the self-employed. If you’re running a small business and need a hand, they can help. The NFCC scored an A+ on the BBB website.
- Costs: counseling services usually “no or low cost.”
- Where to find: NFCC.org
- Where accessible: Phone call or online
InCharge Debt Solutions
Need housing help? Check out InCharge Debt Solutions. They offer both general housing counseling and foreclosure prevention counseling. If you’re facing eviction, they also provide information on rental assistance and eviction prevention counseling.
If you’re hoping to eventually purchase a house, InCharge also provides a homebuyer education course called HomeTrek. Some down payment assistance programs require you to take a homebuyer course. HomeTrek is HUD-approved as one such course, and for $99 you’ll receive certification after completion.
InCharge offers multiple ways to help with debt. You can access solutions such as debt settlement, consolidation and management. According to InCharge, debt settlement companies helped clients realize an average of 30% savings.
Incharge also offers resources on filing for bankruptcy. And customers seem happy with them — the Better Business Bureau rated InCharge with an A+ as an accredited business.
- Costs:
- Free – Credit Counseling
- Free – In-Person Homebuyer Education Workshops (Orlando Only)
- $99 – HomeTrek Online Homebuyer Education
- Where accessible: Online with some in-person services in Florida
Advantage Credit Counseling Service (formerly Consumer Credit Counseling Service)
A consumer credit counseling service is your best bet if you want something localized or in-person. There are many individual consumer credit counseling agencies across the United States. A fast way to find one near you is to use the BBB website and search “consumer credit counseling.” Be sure to turn off the Show BBB Accredited Only filter — otherwise, you may not get good results.
Advantage Credit Counseling Service (formerly Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Western Pennsylvania, or CCCSPA) is one of these many nonprofit credit counseling agencies. Advantage serves the Pittsburgh, PA area with locations serving a handful of other cities like Altoona.
Advantage provides regular services like bankruptcy counseling, access to debt management programs, and financial education. They also offer online credit counseling. Need immediate help? You can use their Live Chat feature to speak to someone fast.
Something to be aware of is that localized credit counseling services are often small. They may not offer access to the same resources as larger agencies. Read your agreements with them carefully and take note of what your duties are as a client. If you need to provide them information on a regular basis, set a reminder on your phone.
Advantage has an A+ on the BBB website and five stars. If you plan to work with them through a state other than Pennsylvania, check their States Serviced page. In any case, they provide great resources with helpful information about other organizations that might offer support or grants.
- Costs:
- Free – Credit Counseling Session
- $50 – Consultation/Setup Fee for Debt Management Plan
- Where to download/enroll/find: AdvantageCCS.org
- Where accessible:
- In-person locations in Pennsylvania
- Online in most states.
- Debt management services are NOT provided in Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin
GreenPath
Busy and on the go? GreenPath Financial Wellness has an app for you. GreenPath offers financial and housing counseling online with access to your debt management plan from your phone.
The MyGreenPath app allows you to see how much of your debt has been paid to your creditors. Additionally, you can send and receive communications with your debt management team through the app. However, some users have reported issues with the app’s communication feature.
If you’re looking for in-person counseling, GreenPath also has that covered. You can find in-person locations in 18 states, mostly in the Midwest. They also have long telephone hours, operating from 8am to 10pm Eastern time, Monday through Thursday.
In addition to their wide range of financial counseling services and app, Greenpath also offers a podcast called Real$tories. Overall, they hit a lot of bases providing good service. Greenpath earned an A+ from the BBB.
- Costs:
- Free – Credit or Rental Counseling
- $50 – DMP One-Time Setup Fee Cap
- $75 – DMP Monthly Fee Cap
- $199 – Reverse Mortgage Counseling
- See FAQ for more fees
- Where to find: Google Play, App Store, GreenPath.com
- Where accessible: Online in all 50 states or in-person in 18 states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
Cambridge Credit Counseling
For transparent and easy-to-navigate credit counseling, try out Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. They’re a nonprofit organization providing their clients with an average of 25% off their monthly payments. They also have massively reduced their clients’ interest rates — down to 8% on average.
Cambridge’s website is extremely intuitive. Looking for their FAQ? It’s in the third category of the About dropdown menu. Need a larger font? Just click the accessibility (wheelchair) symbol on the top left corner.
They’re also very transparent about their prices and how they rank in the eyes of their clients. You can find their pricing very easily in the FAQ section, and reviews are accessible via a Trustpilot link halfway down the landing page. ;
To add to their 4.9 stars on Trustpilot, the Better Business Bureau awarded Cambridge an A+ rating.
- Costs:
- Free – Consultations and Full Financial Assessment
- $75 – DMP Initial Client Fee Cap
- $50 – DMP Monthly Payment Cap
- $39 – Pre-Filing Credit Counseling Briefing
- $39 – Pre-Discharge Debtor Education Course (same price for couples)
- Where to find: Cambridge-Credit.org
- Where accessible: Online (secure client server) or by phone
Money Management International
If you’re a night owl or working the graveyard shift, Money Management International (MMI) would be your best bet. They offer in-person counseling in 25 states as well as 24-hour access to debt counseling over the phone.
MMI services include help with credit card debt repayment and multiple counseling services like disaster recovery counseling. They offer debt relief and repayment plan options for borrowers of all types. No matter your financial situation, they can help.
MMI also offers free financial literacy education including workshops, guides, and a podcast. They also offer education specifically for military families. Part of this is through an online portal called MilitaryReconnect, which offers specialized access for armed forces members.
MMI received an A+ rating as an accredited organization from the BBB, and they’re a certified nonprofit agency through the NFCC. Additionally, they’re HUD-certified and provide three online homebuyer education courses in Spanish and English.
- Costs:
- Free – most services
- $35 – Essentials For Buying A Home Course
- $75 – Framework Course
- $99 – eHome America Course
- Where to find: MoneyManagement.org
- Where accessible: Online or over the phone wherever you are, or in-person in certain states, including Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia.
Relieve $25k+ in Credit Card Debt or Personal Loan Debt With TurboDebt
- Relieve $25k+ in credit card debt or personal loan debt with this special relief program.
- TurboDebt has a Trustpilot rating of 5/5 based on 1288 reviews
- Subject to qualification and approval. $1,500 monthly income required.
- Apply in 5 minutes. If you qualify, chat online with a friendly online debt representative.
How the best credit counseling companies stack up
It can get frustrating to pick which company best suits your needs. Here’s a quick visual of how these organizations compare. I recommend picking one that works best for your debt management needs first. Then you can snatch up any extras that come at a lower price elsewhere, like a homeowner course.
Credit Counseling Company | Defining Features | Costs/Fees (1st Consult + Any Other Costs) |
Financial Counseling Association of America | Broad spectrum connection to credit counseling Student Loan Training Program | Free – Credit Counseling Sessions $199 – Student Loan Training Program Enrollment |
National Foundation for Credit Counseling | Connections to nationally accredited agencies High-quality blog | Low or no cost |
InCharge Debt Solutions | Credit counseling and housing help HomeTrek | Free – Credit Counseling Free – In-Person Homebuyer Education Workshops (Orlando Only) $99 – HomeTrek Online Homebuyer Education |
Consumer Credit Counseling Service | Localized services for in-person credit counseling | Free – Credit Counseling Session $50 – Consultation/Setup Fee for Debt Management Plan |
Greenpath | MyGreenPath App In-person credit counseling in the Midwest | Free – Credit or Rental Counseling $50 – DMP One-Time Setup Fee Cap $75 – DMP Monthly Fee Cap $199 – Reverse Mortgage Counseling See FAQ for more fees |
Cambridge Credit Counseling | Easy to navigate, built-in accessibility features | Free – Consultations and Full Financial Assessment $75 – DMP Initial Client Fee Cap $50 – DMP Monthly Payment Cap $39 – Pre-Filing Credit Counseling Briefing $39 – Pre-Discharge Debtor Education Course (same price for couples) |
Money Management International | Military specialized services Disaster recovery counseling | Free – most services $35 – Essentials For Buying A Home Course $75 – Framework Course $99 – eHome America Course |
FAQs
How do I tell a credit counseling organization is legit?
Here’s how to double-check a credit counseling organization’s legitimacy: Watch out for agents who are vague about their pricing. Google the company you’re working with, and try keywords such as “legit” or “scam.” Be aware of what should and shouldn’t be happening, especially with debt consolidation. Check if they have a page on the Better Business Bureau’s website. Check other online reviews, especially employee reviews like on Glassdoor.
Can I get credit counseling for medical bills?
Absolutely. If you paid your medical bills using a credit card, you should be able to get credit counseling and even a debt management plan.
How much will it cost?
The majority of counseling sessions should be free. And a lot of credit counseling organizations provide free information through their blogs. You’ll likely have to pay fees for things like setting up a debt management plan, but that should cost, on average, $75 or less initially. And monthly, you should pay an average of $50 or less. Other services might have individual fees.
Is a credit counseling company the same as a credit repair company?
No, there are some key differences between credit repair and credit counseling. Credit repair companies work to remove incorrect information from your credit score that has unfairly damaged your standing. Credit counseling seeks to help you control damage and rebuild your score through consistent (and lower) payments. If you’re looking to repair your credit score, check out these resources on affordable ways to do it.
Why you should choose credit counseling
In the current economy, you can’t survive without a credit card. Moving companies like UHAUL often require you to pay for their services with credit. And it’s difficult to convince a landlord you’ll be a reliable renter without a credit score. (It’s even worse if you have a bad score.)
There are many ways to fall into debt; there’s no shame in admitting when you need help managing it and improving your credit score. If you’re struggling with late or missed payments, it’s more than okay to talk to someone about it. If you can, get help early.
The companies on this list are good nonprofit credit counseling organizations to reach out to. They all provide good financial education and often free credit counseling. And being a nonprofit means, they’re designed to serve your needs as a client first and at a lower cost.
Relieve $25k+ in Credit Card Debt or Personal Loan Debt With TurboDebt
- Relieve $25k+ in credit card debt or personal loan debt with this special relief program.
- TurboDebt has a Trustpilot rating of 5/5 based on 1288 reviews
- Subject to qualification and approval. $1,500 monthly income required.
- Apply in 5 minutes. If you qualify, chat online with a friendly online debt representative.
The bottom line
The last couple of years have been hectic, and no one is alone in having a hard time right now. Nonprofit credit counseling is an affordable option for seeking necessary help and financial education. Do exercise caution, though. Some scammers pose as credit counselors.
Still, it’s very good to seek help, and credit counseling is a great route to get it. It’s not an easy or quick fix, but it can make your financial future a lot more certain. Do your research, make a choice, and see what happens. You could be back in a secure place and thriving financially in a few years.
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Writer
A veteran wordsmith and research nerd, Brittany Wren spent a decade working in higher education where she helped people overcome challenges to chart a path forward. These days, she writes about personal finance, careers, parenting and education. Her content has been published by a wide variety of brands including T-Mobile, Intuit, LifeLock, Reliant Fund Administration and CURO Financial Technologies Corp.
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