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Hearts & Minds - Information for ChangeSM
Debt/Credit Counseling
Find out how
to manage your debt |
Credit cards can be very convenient when used properly
About.com – Tools and Advice for Managing Credit and Debt
249 West 17th Street
New York, NY 10011
Email: http://home.about.com/gi/pages/pform.htm
Website: www.about.com/money, http://credit.about.com
”One of the top 15 websites, used by one of
every five people on the Internet. [The whole site, not just the money section] features
23 content channels and promotes original content on 50,000+ topics.”
Packed with information. -RH
The website offers information about credit
scores, stopping collection calls, changes to bankruptcy laws, your rights under the
Federal Credit Reporting Act and how to avoid credit scams. -DN
American Consumer Credit Counseling
130 Rumford Ave., Suite 202
Newton, MA 02466
Phone: 1-800-769-3571, open M -
Th 9:00 AM - 9:30 PM, F 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Sat 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (EST)
Fax: 1-617-244-1116
Website: http://www.consumercredit.com
“Confidential credit management education and
debt counseling for consumers nationwide. As one of the nation’s leading providers of
education and credit counseling, we help consumers to reduce their debt and regain
financial stability."
The site has a web chat feature, offers classes,
credit report analysis and various calculators to help your budgeting. -DN
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Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling
PMB 626, 11350 Random Hills Road, Suite 800
Fairfax, VA 22030
Phone: 1-703-934-6118 or 1-800-450-1794 (toll free)
Fax: 1-703-802-0207
Email: assoc@aiccca.org
Website: http://www.aiccca.org
"A
member-supported national association representing non-profit credit counseling companies
that provide consumer credit counseling, debt management and financial education services.
Represents the common interests of member agencies to ensure that all who seek help with
their debt problems receive the highest quality assistance."
Provides links to various credit counseling
agencies, organized by state - very helpful to find agencies in your state. -DN
Using cash is a good way to control what you
spend and avoid getting in debt
Better
Business Bureau
4200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 800
Arlington, VA 22203-1838
Phone: 1-703-276-0100
Website: www.bbb.com
“We work for the highest ethical relationship
between businesses and the public through voluntary self-regulation, consumer and business
education and service excellence. Core services include Business Reliability Reports,
Dispute Resolution, Truth-in-Advertising, Consumer and Business Education and Charity
Review."
Helps protect consumers from bad businesses,
including credit fraud and many other problems. Has information on many companies and you
can also file a complaint against any company that has committed fraud against you. -RH I agree. -DN
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Budget
& Credit Counseling Services (BuCCS)
55 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10003
Phone: 1-212-675-5070
E-mail: info@buccs.com
Website: www.buccs.com
“A community service organization in business
since 1976. We to assist individuals and families who experience financial difficulties
and to educate consumers about their rights and responsibilities.”
You can find many useful resources on its
website, including financial calculators. One of the most popular credit counseling
services in New York. It offers educational services to community groups, churches,
schools and major corporations. A for-profit agency. -RH
I agree. -DN
Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc.
5701 West Sunrise Blvd,
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33313
Phone: 1-800-320-9929, open M - F 9 AM to 10 PM (EST)
Fax: 1-954-233-3305
E-mail: http://www.consolidatedcredit.org/feedback.asp
Website: http://www.consolidatedcredit.org
"We assist families throughout the United States
in ending financial crisis and solving money management problems through education and
professional counseling."
Offers a free quote and budget analysis over the
phone. Also has an online debt counselor. -DN
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Every cent counts when you are in debt. Start
saving today!
Consolidated Credit Counseling for Union Members
1125 15th St., N.W., Suite 300
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 1-877-833-1745
Fax: 1-202-293-5311
E-mail: http://www.unionplus.org/customer/
feedback.cfm
Website: http://www.unionplus.org/credit-counseling.cfm
or español
"We design programs that help union members
enjoy life at a great price. By using the collective buying power of unions, we offer a
variety of high quality, discounted products and services exclusively to working
families."
Offers a free budget analysis. Provides
counseling and various tools including calculators and questionnaires. -DN
Consumer Credit Counseling Services (CCCS)
9009 West Loop South, Suite 700
Houston, TX 77096
Phone: 1-713-923-2227 or 1-800-873-2227(toll free), open 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week (by phone and internet)
E-mail: http://www.cccsintl.org/index.asp
Website: http://www.cccsintl.org
"The nation’s largest full-service credit
counseling agency. We enhance consumers' financial well being and awareness by providing
products and services designed for their specific needs."
Offers online credit counseling, credit education,
various loan calculators, financial worksheets and planning tools. -DN
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Debt Advisory
906 Tenth Avenue, Suite 304
San Diego, CA 92101
E-mail: inquires@debtadvisory.net
Website: http://www.debtadvisory.net/index.shtml
"We help Americans overcome debt and credit
problems by providing information that no other website is willing to give or disclose. We
are only here to provide you with Free Information, Resources, Strategies and Tools as a
consumer."
The visitors' area provides plenty of financial
information ranging from debt consolidation to credit scores. It also has useful tools
such as a loan and mortgage calculator. -MKK
It offers help with credit. Membership is
free. The site is slightly out of date: it says new member applications will not be
accepted until 2/5/06. -DN
It may not be such a good idea to have so many credit cards. People who do
are more prone to get in debt
Debtors
Anonymous
General Service Office
PO Box 920888
Needham, MA 02492
Phone: 1-781-453-2743
Fax: 1-781-453-2745
E-mail: new@debtorsanonymous.org
Website: www.debtorsanonymous.org or
español
"The primary purpose of our members is to stay
solvent and help other compulsive debtors to achieve solvency. We are a fellowship of men
and women who share experience, strength and hope. The only requirement to join is a
desire to stop incurring unsecured debt. No dues or fees. We're self-supporting through
members' contributions."
Hosts meetings in more than 500 places in the
USA, as well as online meetings. Follows the 12 steps used by the Alcoholics Anonymous
organization. -SLG
The site is very clear and easy to navigate.
Also shows how to start meetings in your area. -MKK
Also has a quiz to help see if you have a credit
problem. -DN
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Debt
Consolidation Online
1 Park Plaza, 6th Floor
Irvine, CA 92614
Phone: 1-800-618-8567
E-mail: inquiries@debt-consolidation-online.com
Website: www.debt-consolidation-online.com
Provides information that can help you
determine whether a problem exists and how to solve it. -PT
Shows ways to check your financial stability and
to protect yourself from wasteful consumer spending. -MKK
Provides information on how to obtain a copy of
your credit report and how to deal with negative information on it. Also offers a
checklist for finding a reputable credit counseling agency, as well as links for debt
consolidation by state. -DN
Managing your credit cards shouldn't be a
burden. There are many organizations out there that can help.
Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
Phone: 1-888-202-4025 (Sales) or 1-800-685-5000 (Customer Service)
Website:: www.equifax.com
“Providing value-added information solutions to
businesses and consumers for over 105 years. Now a global service provider with over $1.2
billion in annual revenue and 4600 employees in 13 countries.”
Best known for being one of three large companies
offering credit reports. Also offers credit monitoring services and educational programs
dealing with managing your credit. -RH I agree. -DN
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Experian
475 Anton Blvd.
Costa Mesa California 92626
Phone: 1-888-397-3742
Website: www.experian.com
“With approximately 30 years of experience and
more than 30,000 clients in North America, we combine our unsurpassed data with the
knowledge, expertise and creativity to help companies build successful relationships with
their customers. We offer U.S. consumers tools and services to help them understand,
manage and protect their personal credit profiles.”
One of the three big companies offering
credit reports. It also provides vehicle history reports, a small educational area and
services for businesses. -RH
Offers free credit report and score if you begin a
free 30-day trial membership. -DN
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington D.C. 20580
Phone: 1-202-326-2222 or 1-877-438-4338 (Complaints)
Website: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/credit/index.html
or español
“To ensure the smooth operation of our free
market system, we enforce federal consumer protection laws that prevent fraud, deception
and unfair business practices. We also enforce federal antitrust laws that prohibit
anti-competitive mergers and other business practices that restrict competition and harm
consumers. We combat telemarketing fraud, Internet scams and price-fixing schemes. We
protect consumers.”
The site has a very large area of education for
consumers. You can find answers to questions about autos, credit, home ownership, business
opportunities and much more. An excellent place to get educated on many financial topics
and it is all free. -RH It offers various resources relating to credit counseling.
-DN
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Learning
how to manage your money is essential for living a debt free life
Money
Management International (MMI)
9009 West Loop South, 7th Floor
Houston, TX 77096
Phone: 1-877-833-1745
E-mail: info@moneymanagement.org
Website: www.mmintl.org
"A non-profit, community service organization.
Provides professional financial guidance, counseling, community-wide educational programs
and debt management assistance. Over 44 years experience helping consumers regain
financial control of their lives and reduce their debt liabilities. Thousands of consumers
nationwide have chosen our Debt Management Program as an alternative to bankruptcy."
The site is easy to navigate with lots of
resources like calculators, self-help financial courses and teacher programs for grades
3-6. -SLG
It also provides bankruptcy counseling, over the
phone and online. -DN
Springboard - Non-Profit Consumer Credit Management
P.O. Box 5438
Riverside, CA 92517-5438
Phone: 1-877-947-3752, open M-F 5 am-9 pm, Sa 8 am-3 pm, Su 9 am-5 pm (PST)
Fax: 1-951-781-8027
Email: SPRINGBOARD@credit.org
Website: http://www.credit.org
“We offer a wealth of services to consumers who
experience difficulty and want to regain financial freedom. Our most requested service is
credit counseling. Quite simply, we can help you repay your debts without borrowing by
developing a repayment plan you can live with.”
The site provides a number of services, including
education, debt management, home ownership services and employee assistance programs.
-DN
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The
National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC)
801 Roeder Road, Suite 900
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: 1-301-589-5600 or 1-888-850-6322 (toll free)
Fax: 1-301-589-5600
E-mail: questions@nfcc.org
Website: www.nfcc.org
"Founded in 1951, sets the national standard for
quality credit counseling, debt reduction services and education for financial wellness. A
non-profit organization with more than 1,300 offices country wide, helping over 1.5
million households annually."
Offers information on debt consolidation. -KJG
It offers several personal plans and programs, as well as online searching for credit
counseling agencies. -SLG
Includes contact information for free or low cost
debt and money management counseling. Also, the site has links to articles concerning
money saving tips. -MKK
I agree. -DN
TransUnion
Consumer Disclosure Center
P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
Phone: 1-800-888-4213
Website: www.transunion.com
“We are a leading global provider of business
intelligence services supported by more than 3600 employees, in more than 24 countries
worldwide. With technology-based intelligence products, including innovative credit
decision help and fraud prevention tools, advanced target marketing products, risk and
profitability models and portfolio management, we enable businesses to manage financial
risk and capitalize on market opportunities.”
One of the three biggest companies that offer
credit reports. Also offers an area where you can can get information on what is in your
credit report and what you can do to dispute any errors. -RH
I agree. -DN
If you feel you may have a debt addiction, please
see: Helpful Advice for
Addicts and Ex-Addicts.
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Latest update by Dmitry N (DN),
previous updates and reviews by Raul H (RH), PT, KLG, SLG and Michael Kim (MKK)
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page © by Microsoft Clip Art,
http://www.heartsandminds.org/self/links/debtcredit.htm - latest text
changes March 19, 2008. |
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