# How do I find a reputable credit counseling company?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-a-reputable-credit-counseling-company/674732>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [November 25, 2013, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-a-reputable-credit-counseling-company/674732 "2013-11-25T04:23:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2013, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-a-reputable-credit-counseling-company/674732/1 "2013-11-25T04:23:10Z")

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One that might actually be able to help me reduce my consumer debt. (I already know about spending less, at least in theory…)

Do I look for one that charges a flat fee? Charges a % of what I would save? Doesn’t charge anything? Does it matter if it’s online or in my town?

I must admit that I don’t really know what to look for. I have heard that there are some Not Good Options out there, though, and would obviously like to avoid them if at all possible. Help?

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2013, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-a-reputable-credit-counseling-company/674732/2 "2013-11-25T06:43:48Z")

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**Moderator Action**

This is more of an advice/opinion thing than a factual question.

Moving thread from General Questions to In My Humble Opinion.

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**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-a-reputable-credit-counseling-company/674732/3 "2013-11-25T19:28:22Z")

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I have always heard good things about Consumer Credit Counceling Service. They are a non-profit with locations all over the US (I assume you are in the US).

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**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-a-reputable-credit-counseling-company/674732/4 "2013-11-27T12:22:02Z")

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> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#):
>
> I have always heard good things about Consumer Credit Counceling Service. They are a non-profit with locations all over the US (I assume you are in the US).

I worked for CCCS about fifteen years ago, and can vouch for it being (at least then) a genuine free, charitable service which seemed to do a good job. It gave out advice and negotiated with creditors to set up payment plan if that was the right solution (sometimes bankruptcy was advised). I did have ethical qualms about their funding coming at least somewhat from the banks themselves - but they seemed quite open about this, and I suppose it’s just a way for the banks to recoup what might otherwise be a complete loss on debts.

I did work in a UK branch though - the US CCCS may be a hive of corruption and villainy for all I know.