Natalie toggles between news stories and enterprise reporting to bring timely personal finance topics to readers. Her mission is to help inform people of all financial backgrounds about events that may affect their financial futures. Her work has appeared in numerous publications such as CNBC, Bankrate, Buzzfeed, ABC Action News, The Chicago Tribune, The Associated Press and the Tampa Bay Times. She’s appeared on various podcasts and news shows to discuss personal finance topics, including Nasdaq’s Trade Talks.
Natalie toggles between news stories and enterprise reporting to bring timely personal finance topics to readers. Her mission is to help inform people of all financial backgrounds about events that may affect their financial futures. Her work has appeared in numerous publications such as CNBC, Bankrate, Buzzfeed, ABC Action News, The Chicago Tribune, The Associated Press and the Tampa Bay Times. She’s appeared on various podcasts and news shows to discuss personal finance topics, including Nasdaq’s Trade Talks.
Since her first tax article appearing more than three decades ago in Money magazine, Caren Weiner has written and edited stories about money management topics ranging from investment fees and health costs to household budgets. Her finance- and investment-related stories and visualizations have been featured by NerdWallet, Bankrate, AARP, Money and GoodRx.
She has also worked at lifestyle publications including InStyle, Entertainment Weekly and All You.
Since her first tax article appearing more than three decades ago in Money magazine, Caren Weiner has written and edited stories about money management topics ranging from investment fees and health costs to household budgets. Her finance- and investment-related stories and visualizations have been featured by NerdWallet, Bankrate, AARP, Money and GoodRx.
She has also worked at lifestyle publications including InStyle, Entertainment Weekly and All You.
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Credit counseling organizations often provide useful information and help for various financial matters, including debt consolidation services, bankruptcy counseling and housing assistance for buyers, renters and homeowners. Depending on your needs, some of the services may be free, while others may require a fee.
The best credit counseling organizations are transparent about their charges, have a stellar customer service record and employ knowledgeable staff.
Best Credit Counseling Services of 2024
Summary: Best Credit Counseling Services
What Are Credit Counseling Services and What Do They Do?
Credit counseling services are usually nonprofit agencies that assist people with meeting financial goals or handling money problems. The counselors typically have a personal finance certification from an organization such as the Council on Accreditation. A counselor will analyze your financial situation and give you options for meeting your goals—whether they include paying down debt or buying a house.
Often, the initial counseling session is free. This first session may include a deep dive into your finances to help you make an action plan. However, if you decide to consolidate your debt, the counseling organization may charge a fee for that service.
Credit counseling can include:
- A comprehensive review of your finances and credit score
- Help in developing a budget
- Educational materials and workshops
- A debt management plan to pay down your debts
- Student loan, housing and bankruptcy counseling
Things To Try Before Using Credit Counseling
Some people may steer clear of credit counseling because they assume that it automatically means debt consolidation. Consolidation is not a requirement.
Other alternatives to debt consolidation are making minimum payments on the debt until you can afford to pay more, or transferring your debt to a low-interest credit card. These options will likely save your credit score, which can be important if you’re looking for a job or getting a mortgage.
How To Stay Safe if You Use a Credit Counseling Service
When looking for a credit counseling service, you’ll want to ensure they have a good reputation and employ certified credit counselors. Reputable credit counseling agencies will be transparent about their fees. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, if a credit counseling agency insists on getting your personal information or money before giving you information about their services, consider that a red flag.
Bottom Line
If you’re struggling with debt or just need financial guidance, a credit counseling agency can be a great resource. Take time to research various agencies before choosing one; reading reviews and getting word-of-mouth recommendations are two good places to start.
The National Foundation for Credit Counseling and the Financial Counseling Association of America maintain lists of accredited credit counseling agencies. The Department of Justice also publishes a state-by-state list of approved credit counseling agencies.
Methodology
Forbes Advisor compared the top credit counseling services on the market today to find the best options for the largest number of consumers. We considered each organization’s variety of services, cost for services, customer reviews and overall consumer experience. To assess the overall experience, we looked at the availability of online chat, apps and personalized dashboards.
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