{"id":2521,"date":"2017-02-28T06:27:17","date_gmt":"2017-02-28T06:27:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/safecreditsolutions.com\/tips-on-finding-a-good-credit-counseling-agency\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T21:29:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T21:29:34","slug":"tips-on-finding-a-good-credit-counseling-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/safecreditsolutions.com\/en\/blog\/tips-on-finding-a-good-credit-counseling-agency\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for Finding a Good Credit Counseling Agency"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"99\" data-end=\"317\">Financial obligations can pile up because of neglect or emergencies. In no time, you could drain your savings and <strong data-start=\"213\" data-end=\"224\">max out<\/strong> your credit cards. That hurts your finances and your credit history. Who should you turn to?<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"319\" data-end=\"615\">Even if you\u2019re late to it, finding a good advisor or a <strong data-start=\"374\" data-end=\"402\">credit counseling agency<\/strong> is often your best option. You want to pay off your debts, rebuild your score, and\u2014while you\u2019re at it\u2014stop the persistent calls from your creditors. As you assess your situation, this will help you choose wisely.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"617\" data-end=\"666\">Key recommendations when looking for an agency<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"668\" data-end=\"916\"><strong data-start=\"668\" data-end=\"696\">1) Prioritize reputation<\/strong><br data-start=\"696\" data-end=\"699\" \/>Ask around about <strong data-start=\"716\" data-end=\"737\">trustworthy firms<\/strong>. Friends or family may have used\u2014or know someone who used\u2014a proven, reliable company. It might feel awkward to talk about money, but the people you trust want to see you succeed.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"918\" data-end=\"1213\"><strong data-start=\"918\" data-end=\"956\">2) Evaluate your options carefully<\/strong><br data-start=\"956\" data-end=\"959\" \/>Your decisions affect your <strong data-start=\"986\" data-end=\"1002\">credit score<\/strong>. <strong data-start=\"1004\" data-end=\"1018\">Bankruptcy<\/strong> should be a <strong data-start=\"1031\" data-end=\"1046\">last resort<\/strong> because of its impact on your record. Look for an agency that helps you <strong data-start=\"1119\" data-end=\"1144\">preserve your profile<\/strong> through a viable <strong data-start=\"1162\" data-end=\"1186\">debt management plan<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"1191\" data-end=\"1212\">credit counseling<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1215\" data-end=\"1445\"><strong data-start=\"1215\" data-end=\"1249\">3) Review the list of services<\/strong><br data-start=\"1249\" data-end=\"1252\" \/>Experienced agencies handle everything from <strong data-start=\"1296\" data-end=\"1328\">credit card debt elimination<\/strong> to <strong data-start=\"1332\" data-end=\"1359\">complex monthly budgets<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"1364\" data-end=\"1381\">payment plans<\/strong>. Many post their offerings online. Look for variety, such as:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1446\" data-end=\"1581\">\n<li data-start=\"1446\" data-end=\"1464\">\n<p data-start=\"1448\" data-end=\"1464\">Debt education<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1465\" data-end=\"1507\">\n<p data-start=\"1467\" data-end=\"1507\">Homebuying and <strong data-start=\"1482\" data-end=\"1505\">mortgage counseling<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1508\" data-end=\"1539\">\n<p data-start=\"1510\" data-end=\"1539\"><strong data-start=\"1510\" data-end=\"1526\">Student loan<\/strong> counseling<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1540\" data-end=\"1581\">\n<p data-start=\"1542\" data-end=\"1581\"><strong data-start=\"1542\" data-end=\"1570\">Pre- and post-bankruptcy<\/strong> counseling<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1583\" data-end=\"1819\"><strong data-start=\"1583\" data-end=\"1638\">4) Choose an agency that offers financial education<\/strong><br data-start=\"1638\" data-end=\"1641\" \/>Don\u2019t let anyone rush you into signing a plan. Prefer an agency that takes time to <strong data-start=\"1724\" data-end=\"1737\">teach you<\/strong> about your personal finances and gives you <strong data-start=\"1781\" data-end=\"1790\">tools<\/strong> to avoid repeating mistakes.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1821\" data-end=\"2058\"><strong data-start=\"1821\" data-end=\"1842\">5) Check the fees<\/strong><br data-start=\"1842\" data-end=\"1845\" \/>Counseling isn\u2019t free, but it shouldn\u2019t be <strong data-start=\"1888\" data-end=\"1902\">exorbitant<\/strong> either. You want to get out of debt, not add more costs. Look for a <strong data-start=\"1971\" data-end=\"1985\">reasonable<\/strong> fee structure; avoid <strong data-start=\"2007\" data-end=\"2023\">upfront fees<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"2028\" data-end=\"2057\">excessive monthly charges<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2060\" data-end=\"2295\"><strong data-start=\"2060\" data-end=\"2100\">6) Confirm licenses and registration<\/strong><br data-start=\"2100\" data-end=\"2103\" \/>In most U.S. states, agencies must be <strong data-start=\"2141\" data-end=\"2155\">registered<\/strong>, and counselors must be <strong data-start=\"2180\" data-end=\"2192\">licensed<\/strong>. Make sure the firm <strong data-start=\"2213\" data-end=\"2238\">complies with the law<\/strong> and transparently publishes its <strong data-start=\"2271\" data-end=\"2294\">registration status<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2297\" data-end=\"2578\">Let\u2019s be honest: many people neglect their finances until they realize they need help. Fortunately, there are <strong data-start=\"2407\" data-end=\"2434\">advisors and counselors<\/strong> ready to support you. Follow these tips and you\u2019ll be much closer to <strong data-start=\"2504\" data-end=\"2533\">finding a reliable agency<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"2538\" data-end=\"2559\">regaining control<\/strong> of your situation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Financial obligations can pile up because of neglect or emergencies. In no time, you could drain your savings and max [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2010,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[85,86],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2521","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-en","category-credit-legal-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/safecreditsolutions.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2521","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/safecreditsolutions.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/safecreditsolutions.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/safecreditsolutions.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/safecreditsolutions.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2521"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/safecreditsolutions.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2521\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3294,"href":"https:\/\/safecreditsolutions.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2521\/revisions\/3294"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/safecreditsolutions.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2010"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/safecreditsolutions.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2521"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/safecreditsolutions.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2521"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/safecreditsolutions.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2521"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}