Nonprofit
Resources Available in Your State
Nonprofit credit counseling organizations are
prepared to help you rebound from your current financial
situation. Credit counseling involves meeting with you in person
or by phone to discuss any problems that you are experiencing
with your credit and your debt.
Credit counseling agencies in this directory
have agreed to meet the following minimum requirements:
-
Charitable mission
-
501(c)(3) nonprofit tax-exempt status
-
Public service
-
Counselor accreditation
-
Counselor training and retraining
These nonprofit agencies will be able to match
you with a qualified and trained counselor that has been
certified by the Association for Financial Counseling and
Planning Education (AFCPE) or the Council on Accreditation (COA).
Each agency is required to abide by industry standards.
Some agencies serve a very small community.
Others may serve a number of states, combining in-person
counseling with telephone and internet counseling. Feel free to
call and speak with a counselor before committing to a session.
Counselors are prepared to answer common questions and they can
comment on any unique circumstances that you find yourself in.
One thing you will want to look for is the
qualify of counseling provided. These agencies do not simply
provide debt management plans. On the contrary, their goal is to
first find ways for you to get back on track on your own.
What sets these nonprofit organizations apart is
their commitment to public service and education. Rather than
simply focusing on your debt, these accredited counselors will
review your entire financial situation.
It is not enough to simply look at just one
aspect of your financial situation. The experienced counselors
at reputable nonprofit organizations examine all aspects of your
finances. They pay attention to your income, fixed and variable
expenses, net worth and credit health. That way, they can
identify potential options that can help you improve your
current situation.
What may be most important is that the most
experienced counselors will not judge you or lecture you on
proper spending habits. You can go into a counseling session
knowing that they are there to listen. They want to know what is
important to you, what you feel you are capable of and what you
are willing to let them help with.
You can feel good about opening up to your
counselor because your conversation is confidential. No friend,
neighbor, family member or creditor may gain any access to
information shared in your counseling session without your
express written permission. They cannot share details of your
session with anyone unless you specifically authorize such
contact.
The result is that you can get friendly,
knowledgeable and unbiased help without committing to any one
option. Your counselor can discuss the pros and cons of
self-guided strategies, debt management plans, debt settlement,
sale of property and even bankruptcy. If you are having trouble
with secured debts such as auto loans and home mortgages, then
they can normally help you understand options related to those
types of debts as well.
You can find a tax-exempt nonprofit organization
that is recognized as a charity by the IRS because of the
education and public service the agency provides. To find a
reputable nonprofit organization that can help with your
financial situation, begin by
selecting your state.
© 2004-2009 Vision Credit Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
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