American Consumer Credit Counseling Reviews

ACCC’s organizational mission is to help consumers regain control of their finances and plan for a debt-free life. For over 30 years, the organization has provided financial education, counseling and debt management services to consumers across the U.S.

If you’re struggling with credit card debt or have questions about bankruptcy or foreclosure, you can schedule a free counseling session with one of ACCC’s certified credit or housing counselors. ACCC is not a lender and does not provide debt consolidation loans.

American Consumer Credit Counseling offers free financial counseling sessions for consumers struggling with unsecured debt. During the session, a qualified credit counselor reviews your income, expenses, assets and liabilities. Then they lay out possible courses of action, and provide helpful resources, including educational materials and social service referrals. Depending on your financial situation, the company may suggest enrolling in its debt management program, which is available for a monthly fee.

American Consumer Credit Counseling also offers other services, including:

• Budget counseling
• Bankruptcy counseling
• Student loan counseling
• Housing counseling

American Consumer Credit Counseling offers its debt management program for a small monthly fee. The company's goal is to make sure you have access to the best possible debt solution, whether it's joining a debt management program or working on your own.

Under the company's debt management program, you make one monthly payment to American Consumer Credit Counseling. Its representatives then use that money to pay your creditors. American Consumer Credit Counseling also negotiates with your creditors in an attempt to reduce your interest rates.

If you choose to join an American Consumer Credit Counseling's debt management program, it helps you establish healthy payment habits. Its debt management program lasts for four to five years, but your time in the program primarily depends on the amount of debt you have and your creditors' willingness to work with you.

To get started with ACCC, visit its website and fill out the contact form for a free consultation. You’ll provide your name, email address and phone number. You’ll also input information about your financial situation, including:

• How much you credit card debt you owe in total
• The status of your payments (current, falling behind, etc.)
• Types of services you are looking for (credit counseling, debt management, etc.)
• The amount of credit card debt you have with individual creditors
• Monthly income

Once you submit the form, a certified credit counselor will call to schedule a consultation to discuss your situation and offer recommendations. This free counseling session also includes a budget and action plan with the next steps. If your counselor recommends a debt management plan, ACCC provides a client portal that allows you to track your repayment progress.

Before your consultation, ACCC recommends you gather the following documents:

• Recent credit card bills and statements
• Pay stubs
• Any correspondence with creditors, like emails or letters

As a nonprofit organization, ACCC provides a variety of services that educate consumers about credit, bankruptcy, foreclosure, homeownership and reverse mortgages. Those services include:

• Credit counseling: Offers advice about improving your credit and paying off debt. Each credit counseling session includes a full financial review. After the session, you’ll receive a budget and an action plan based on your goals.
• Debt management plans: Consolidates unsecured debt into one monthly payment to ACCC. The credit counselor develops a debt management plan with your budget and overall financial situation in mind. ACCC repayment plans aim to pay off debt within 5 years.
• Bankruptcy counseling: Provides expert advice on the bankruptcy process. Through counseling, ACCC counselors can also help you identify other alternatives to bankruptcy, if appropriate, given your situation.
• Reverse mortgage counseling: Educates consumers on the benefits and drawbacks of a reverse mortgage. ACCC is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency.
• Homebuyer and foreclosure education: Provides homeownership courses and certification that certain lenders may require before getting a loan. ACCC also offers resources and counseling for consumers facing foreclosure.

Counseling and financial education are free with ACCC. However, fees for other services, like debt management, can vary. ACCC may waive or discount fees for active service members in the U.S. military or consumers who can show financial hardship.

Yes, ACCC is a legitimate nonprofit organization that has provided financial education and counseling to the public since 1991. The initial consultation is free, so you’ll receive expert advice from a credit counselor at no cost.

ACCC is a strong choice for self-motivated consumers who desire to pay off debt. We like that it provides expert advice at no charge, a plus for cost-conscious consumers on a tight budget. However, keep in mind that if you can’t make payments as part of a debt repayment plan, you may need to find a company that can negotiate your debt to a manageable payoff amount.