What does consumer credit counseling help with?

Consumer credit counseling helps you understand credit card debt, create a realistic payoff strategy, review your budget, and learn how credit decisions affect your credit report and score. (EN/ES)

Can credit counseling help me pay off credit card debt?

Yes. A counselor can help you evaluate payoff strategies, prioritize balances, and create a plan that fits your income and expenses. (EN/ES)

Does Credit.org offer loans or credit cards?

No. Credit.org is a nonprofit organization and does not lend money or issue credit cards. (EN/ES)

Is consumer credit counseling free?

Yes. The initial consumer credit counseling session is free. Any optional program fees are disclosed before enrollment. (EN/ES)

Do you work with people who have bad credit?

Yes. Credit counseling is designed to help people with good, fair, or poor credit understand options and improve credit habits over time. (EN/ES)

Do you provide services outside of California?

Yes. Credit.org provides phone and virtual consumer credit counseling services nationwide. (EN/ES)

Consumer Credit Counseling Can
Help You Achieve Creditworthiness

A man seated at a table with cutting a credit card and papers, after participating in a credit counseling session.

Regain Control, Eliminate Debt

Our certified credit counselors will review your credit card debt, interest rates, and monthly expenses to build a personalized debt management plan designed to lower your payments, reduce interest costs, and establish a clear path to becoming debt-free.

Make Progress, Boost Credit

Your credit score affects your interest rates, loan options, and financial opportunities. Your counselor will walk through your credit report with you, identify what's impacting your score, and give you a step-by-step plan to improve it.

Excited woman celebrating financial progress on computer, showing success in boosting credit with smart money management.

Smiling man working on laptop with dog by his side, showing confidence in mastering credit through smart financial planning.

Gain Confidence, Master Credit

Getting out of debt is only part of the goal. Credit.org's counselors give you the financial education and tools to manage credit confidently and stay on track for the long term, because lasting debt relief means staying out of debt, too.

Step-by-Step
Credit Counseling Process

Step 1
Start With a Free Credit Card Debt Review and Budget Consultation

Your certified counselor will review your credit card debt balances, interest rates, income, and monthly expenses to get a clear picture of where things stand. There's no judgment, no sales pitch, and no obligation. Just an honest look at your options.

Step 2
Analyze Debt, Interest Rates, and Spending to Find Opportunities

A detailed breakdown of your total debt, interest rates, and spending patterns helps identify real opportunities for debt relief, including ways to consolidate payments, reduce interest costs, or address credit card debt more efficiently than you're doing now.

Step 3
Create a Personalized Credit Card Debt Repayment and Relief Plan

Based on your unique situation, your counselor will build a personalized debt management plan. For many clients, this includes enrollment in a Debt Management Program (DMP), which can lower interest rates, consolidate multiple credit card debt payments into one, and create a clear timeline for paying off what you owe.

Step 4:
Receive Support, Tools, and Education to Stay Debt-Free

Paying off debt is one part of the journey. Credit.org also provides ongoing access to budgeting tools, debt tracking resources, and personal counselor guidance to help you build the habits that keep you financially stable long after your plan is paid off.

Frequently Asked Question

How does consumer credit counseling work?

A certified Credit.org counselor will review your income, expenses, debts, and financial goals in a confidential one-on-one session. Before your appointment, it helps to have recent pay stubs, bills, and creditor statements handy. Your counselor will then walk you through your debt relief options, including debt management plans, budgeting strategies, and other pathways, to help you choose the right next step.

What does a credit counselor do during a counseling session?

During your confidential session, your counselor will review your income, monthly expenses, credit card debt, and other financial obligations. They'll explain your options in plain language, answer your questions, and help you build a personalized plan to manage debt and cover your living expenses. Sessions typically run 45 to 60 minutes.

Is Credit.org's credit counseling really free?

Yes. Your initial credit counseling session is completely free of charge. There is no cost to speak with a certified counselor, review your finances, and explore your options. If you choose to enroll in a Debt Management Program, a small monthly service fee may apply, but fee waivers are available for those who qualify. There is never any obligation or cost to get started.

Will credit counseling stop legal action and phone calls?

Once enrolled in a Debt Management Program, many creditors reduce or stop collection activity as long as you stay current on your plan payments. While we can't guarantee all legal action will cease, clients who make consistent on-time payments typically see a significant reduction in creditor contact. Your counselor will set realistic expectations during your session.

If I need legal advice, can a credit counselor help?

Credit counselors are certified financial professionals, not attorneys, and are not able to provide legal advice. If your situation involves creditor lawsuits or bankruptcy proceedings, we recommend consulting a qualified attorney. For the financial side, debt management, budgeting, credit relief, our counselors are here to help.

What makes Credit.org a nonprofit credit counseling agency?

As a nonprofit, Credit.org's counselors work in your best interest, not on commission, and with no products to sell. We're a founding member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), a HUD-approved housing counseling agency, and accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA) and Better Business Bureau (BBB). With more than 50 years of service and 5.2 million counseling sessions completed, our mission has always been the same: to help families achieve lasting financial stability.

Improve Your Credit with Consumer Credit Counseling