If you’re struggling to pay off credit card debt, free credit counseling can help you explore options for debt relief to find the best solution for your needs. Nonprofit credit counseling services provide information on your best option to get out of debt, free of charge. But you need to ask the right questions to get the most out of it.
What to expect during free credit counseling
- The session will take about 30 minutes.
- They will ask how you got into debt and what challenges you’ve faced getting out.
- They’ll also ask about your income and expenses to get a clear picture of your budget.
- Then they will gather information about each debt you owe.
- They’ll request the last four digits of your Social to check your credit report (its a soft pull, so it will not affect your credit score.
- Finally, they’ll review each option you have for getting out of debt to help you identify the best solution for your needs.
During your consultation, there are some key questions that you need to ask to make sure you’re dealing with an accredited credit counseling organization. Scams happen and some disreputable debt settlement companies intentionally mislead people into thinking they’re signing up for one service, instead of another.
Before we get into the questions to ask during your free session, answer this question: Is credit counseling the best debt relief solution for you? Use Instant Debt Advisor℠. It’s also free, and will take only three minutes to find your answer. The best part is it has no impact on your credit. If you learn credit counseling is the best route today, here’s how to prepare for your free session.
Asking the counselor the right questions
Is this service nonprofit?
Why nonprofit is preferrable
The first thing you want to confirm is that the agency you’re talking to is not-for-profit. Some, but not all credit counseling agencies are 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations. As such, these organizations are held to different standards than their for-profit credit counseling counterparts.
Nonprofit credit counseling agencies are not allowed to advertise that as a selling point. However, they are permitted to tell you if you ask. Here’s why a nonprofit agency is better:
- They cannot “push” you into a solution. Although nonprofit and for-profit agencies both offer debt management programs, nonprofit agencies can’t push you into taking their solution. If there’s a better option out there for your financial situation, they must tell you.
- The fees will be lower. Nonprofit credit counseling organizations get funded through grants from the credit card companies. This allows them to keep fees at a minimum. You won’t pay anything for the initial consultation and even the fees to administer your debt management program will be lower if you decide to enroll.
What trade association is your organization a member of?
Accreditation matters
Reputable nonprofit credit counseling organizations will be part of a national trade association. These associations hold member agencies to high business and ethical standards. They require members to adhere to strict guidelines in providing credit counseling to consumers.
There are two main associations of credit counseling agencies in the U.S.:
- The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC)
- The Financial Counseling Association of America (FCAA), which was formerly the Association of Credit Counseling Professionals (ACCPros)
Working with an agency that belongs to one of these organizations ensures you will receive the highest standard of service.
Are your counselors certified?
Counselor certification is essential
The credit counselor that you speak with should be certified. This means that they went through a rigorous training process to learn about finance, specifically with regard to relief options for credit card debt. They also received training on how to provide counseling fairly and without bias. They would be required to train with a mentor and pass a certification test, as well as an ethics test.
All national trade associations require credit counselors to be certified and to recertify every two to three years. However, even if the counselor says the agency belongs to a national trade association, make sure that the person you’re speaking with is a certified credit counselor and not a customer service representative.
How much would a debt management program lower my monthly payments?
A solution should provide relief
Once the certified counselor reviews your debts and budget, they should be able to tell you two things:
- If you qualify for a debt management program (DMP)
- Exactly how much that program would lower your monthly payments
On average, debt management programs lower eligible consumers’ total credit card payments by 30 to 50 percent. However, the amount your monthly payments will decrease depends on your debts and budget. Before you finish the call, you should know exactly how much you’d pay. This information will help you make an informed decision and compare a DMP to other solutions, such as debt settlement.
What fees would I pay if I enroll in a debt management program?
Fees should be reasonable
Fees for a debt management program are low compared to other solutions, but you will still pay something. There is generally a setup fee and monthly administration fees. For nonprofit agencies, these fees are capped at $79 nationwide and often capped even further by state regulations. On average, eligible consumers usually end up paying about $49 per month for the agency to run their debt management program.
Any fees will be rolled into your debt management program payment and will be based on the level of financial hardship you face. The credit counselor should be able to tell you exactly what fees you’ll pay before the end of your free session.
How many payments will it take for me to become debt-free?
Setting a timeline
The counselor should also be able to tell you exactly how many months you’ll be enrolled in the program. On average, most DMP plans run for about 36 to 60 payments. In other words, you should be out of debt in less than five years.
How will I make my monthly payments?
Know how and when you’ll pay
Most agencies usually require you to make payments by Direct Debit from your checking account. This means that you will pick a monthly payment due date that works for your budget and bill pay calendar. You’ll give the credit counselor your bank routing number to set up an ACH transfer from your account. On your monthly due date, the funds will be withdrawn from your account.
Some agencies may provide other methods of paying, although this is rare. If you set up Direct Debit and find that you can’t make your payment one month, simply call the agency. They should be able to help you make arrangements to accept your payment later, so you can stay enrolled.
Can I leave a credit card out of the program for emergencies?
Thinking ahead
Some, but not all, credit counseling agencies allow you to leave a credit card out of the program for emergencies. Others may require you to include every open credit card account. Remember that the credit counselor will check your credit report, so they know what cards you have open.
Whether you decide to work with an agency that requires you to include all your cards is up to you. Keep in mind that all cards you enroll in the program will be frozen while you are enrolled. Your credit card companies will generally close the accounts once you pay them off.
Some people prefer to keep a card open for a few reasons:
- You have something to use if you face a real emergency, so you don’t need to turn to risky lending tools like payday loans
- Keeping your oldest account that’s been maintained in good standing open can help you maintain a good credit score as you complete the program.
On the other hand, if you’ve been dependent on credit cards or are prone to overspending on luxuries because you have credit available, then including all your accounts may be beneficial. It can help you learn to live on a budget. without relying on credit.
Can I include any other types of debt in my debt management program?
Eliminating as much debt as possible.
A key part of the credit counseling process is the credit counseling team calling your creditors to negotiate. There are three things they’re working to accomplish:
- Getting your creditors to accept payments through the debt management program.
- Negotiate to reduce or eliminate interest rates applied to your debt.
- Stopping future penalties and fees.
Most major creditors and even private retailers that offer store credit cards will readily agree to work with nationally recognized counseling organizations. But in some cases, the agency may be able to help you include other debts, such as:
- medical debt collections
- unsecured personal loans from banks, credit unions, and online lenders
- debt consolidation loans
- payday loans
If you have other debts to pay off, check to see if they can be included in your DMP. Even if the agency doesn’t have a standing relationship with the creditor, they may be able to negotiate. The more debts you can include in a DMP, the closer you can get to being completely debt-free.
Could I consolidate on my own successfully?
Make sure you need professional help.
Debt consolidation refers to any solution that rolls repayment of multiple debts in a single monthly payment. A debt management program is one way to consolidate debt because it creates a consolidated repayment for your credit cards. But it’s not the only way to consolidate.
There are also do-it-yourself solutions for debt consolidation:
- You can use a balance transfer credit card to consolidate balances from other cards.
- You can also take out an unsecured personal loan to consolidate. This is called a debt consolidation loan.
If you have a good credit score, then both solutions could work for you, depending on how much you owe. Balance transfers tend to work best if you owe less than $5,000. Debt consolidation loans can work up to $25,000, as long as you can afford the monthly payments.
As long as the agency you call is a nonprofit agency, the credit counselor will discuss these options readily. That way, you can see if you can try to solve your challenges with debt on your own. This may also help you avoid having to close your accounts and potentially drop your credit score.
How will this program affect my credit?
Understand exactly what will be reported.
A DMP can have a varying effect on your credit, depending on where your score is when you enroll. Unlike other debt solutions, such as settlement, a debt management program does not create any notation item on your credit report. Asking how the program will be reported helps ensure you’re getting the right service.
The counselor should also explain that you build a positive credit history while you’re enrolled. Every payment you make will appear as an on-time payment in the account history of each credit card you include in the program.
However, once you complete the program your creditors will close your accounts. Although these accounts will be listed as paid in full, they will still be closed. This can negatively affect your score because it will reduce the number of active, open accounts that you have. If you also close your oldest account, it can decrease your “credit age.” All these factors can drop your credit score if your score is high when you start the program.
However, if your score is low when you start the program, then you can actually see your credit score increase. So, the results vary depending on where you start. You need to ask the counselor what will happen to your score given your credit history. The counselor should be able to help you set the right expectations for your score before you enroll.
Would debt settlement or bankruptcy be better for my situation?
Explore all your options.
Once you enroll in a debt management program, companies that provide other solutions will descend on you. They will try to convince you that they have a better, faster, cheaper, easier solution. Debt settlement companies are notorious for this. And they won’t tell you about the negative credit effects of settlement.
Full disclosure, debt settlement usually is a faster, cheaper solution. As long as you don’t mind damaging your credit score with each debt you settle, settlement can be a viable solution. But each debt settled creates a negative item in your credit report that sticks around for seven years. This can significantly damage your score. But if you want to avoid further credit damage, then you don’t want to settle.
A consumer credit counselor that works for a nonprofit agency should be willing to have an open, honest conversation to help you compare debt management to debt settlement. They’ll help you understand which solution is better for your unique financial situation. They’ll also help you consider bankruptcy if that’s an option you’re willing to consider.
Having the ability to discuss all your options with an unbiased professional is invaluable. Most experts drive you into whatever solution their company sells, but a nonprofit credit counselor will give you the unvarnished truth.
What other resources do you offer?
Financial education is essential for long-term stability.
Once you get out of debt, you’ll need the skills to stay out of debt. Budgeting, saving, financial planning for major life events. Techniques for rebuilding your credit score so you can qualify for low interest rates. Information on how to use credit cards in a healthy way or other tools that can help you maintain a high score without credit cards.
The top credit counseling organizations offer extensive financial education programs to their clients. They may have financial literacy courses, budgeting tools or credit recovery resources. Some agencies also offer additional services, such as housing counseling and financial coaching.
Check to see what services the agency offers. The more support your credit counseling agency can provide, the less likely you are to run into more challenges with debt in the future. Your goal should be to achieve long-term financial stability. The credit counseling agency you choose for your debt management program will be your partner in achieving that.
