Credit counseling tools and resources fall into two major interdependent categories: education and agencies. Credit education courses teach consumers how to avoid incurring debts that can't be repaid, how to create and stick to a budget, techniques for building up savings, basic financial planning skills and general money management. Credit counseling agencies assist clients who are already in debt by developing repayment plans, consolidating debt and negotiating payments. Credit counseling agencies generally include credit education courses as part of their services.
National Foundation for Credit Counseling
The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) is an online clearinghouse for consumer credit tools. NFCC offers information on finding a credit or housing counselor, financial education resources, bankruptcy counseling, national initiatives and consumer alerts. NFCC's free tools include budget worksheets, calculators, consumer tips, news, publications and products and a financial blog.
National Foundation for Credit Counseling
NFCC 801 Roeder Road
Suite 900
Silver Spring, MD 20910
800-388-2227
nfcc.org
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides a free consumer resource outlining what to look for when choosing a credit counselor. The FTC outlines legitimate credit counseling practices, red flags to take note of when shopping for an agency and a list of questions to ask a potential service provider. This resource also explains facts and misconceptions about debt management plans and debt negotiation programs, and how to avoid being ripped off.
Federal Trade Commission
Consumer Response Center
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580
877-382-4357
ftc.gov
Credit.org
Credit.org offers free access to an extensive archive of financial, credit and debt education articles. Articles include a range of topics, such as: credit card and credit score tips, teaching children about money, divorce and debt, budgeting, basic rules of money management, developing a winning financial attitude, spotting financial danger signs, planning ahead, controlling impulse buying, dining out on a budget, avoiding over-borrowing for college and housing and mortgage advice.
Springboard
4351 Latham Street
Riverside, CA 92501
800-431-8456
credit.org
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