At a Glance
Rating Breakdown
About American Consumer Credit Counseling
American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991 and headquartered in Auburndale, Massachusetts. As a HUD-approved housing counseling agency and NFCC member, ACCC provides free credit counseling sessions and affordable debt management plans. The pricing difference matters: their setup fee caps at $39 and monthly fees at $39, placing them at the lower end of the nonprofit counseling industry where some agencies charge up to $75 for setup and $50 monthly. ACCC has helped hundreds of thousands of consumers manage their debt through reduced interest rates and consolidated monthly payments. They and are accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA), a distinction that requires meeting over 900 standards of quality. ACCC is also one of the few NFCC agencies that publishes its annual Form 990 prominently on its website, allowing consumers to verify exactly how their fees are allocated between program services, administrative costs, and executive compensation. A critical nuance of ACCC's model: like all NFCC agencies, a significant portion of their funding comes from 'fair share' contributions — payments from creditors equal to roughly 7-10% of each disbursement ACCC forwards. This means ACCC receives revenue both from your monthly fee and from the creditors you are paying. While this does not make them illegitimate, it is a structural incentive worth understanding when evaluating whether a DMP is truly the best option compared to debt settlement, balance transfer cards, or other alternatives.
Key Features
Free Initial Counseling With No Upsell Pressure
Every client receives a free, no-obligation financial assessment from a certified credit counselor. Unlike some agencies that treat the free session primarily as a sales funnel for DMP enrollment, ACCC counselors are required by COA standards to present all options — including self-pay strategies, balance transfers, and bankruptcy — before recommending a DMP.
HUD-Approved Housing Counseling
ACCC is approved by HUD for pre-purchase and foreclosure prevention counseling. This is a meaningful credential because HUD conducts performance reviews of approved agencies, creating an external accountability layer that does not exist for debt-only counseling services.
Below-Average Fee Structure
DMP monthly fees are among the lowest in the NFCC network, capped at $39/month versus the industry range of $25-$50. ACCC also waives or reduces fees for documented hardship cases — a practice required by NFCC standards but inconsistently enforced across agencies.
COA Accreditation
Council on Accreditation (COA) review evaluates over 900 standards covering governance, financial management, and service quality. Only a fraction of NFCC member agencies pursue COA accreditation because the audit process is expensive and time-consuming.
How It Works
Free Consultation
A certified counselor goes through your income, expenses, and debts. No cost, no obligation to enroll in anything.
Budget Analysis
Your counselor builds a budget around your actual numbers and points out where money is leaking.
DMP Proposal
If a DMP makes sense for your situation, they put one together with reduced interest rates. If it does not make sense, they say so.
Creditor Approval
ACCC reaches out to each creditor to lock in the new rates and enroll your accounts.
Monthly Payments
One payment per month to ACCC. They split it up and send it to each creditor on your behalf.
What They Do
- Debt Management Plans
- Credit Counseling
- Housing Counseling
- Financial Education
- Bankruptcy Counseling
Debt Types They Take On
- Credit Cards
- Medical Bills
- Personal Loans
- Store Cards
- Collections
Fee & Cost Structure
Regulatory & Trust
Review Summary
Notable Case Studies
Dual-Income Household Credit Card Spiral
Couple with $28,000 across 4 credit cards at an average 24% APR enrolled after minimum payments barely covered interest. ACCC negotiated rates down to 4-7% across all accounts.
Medical Debt Plus Credit Cards
Single parent with $19,000 in credit card debt and $6,000 in medical collections. ACCC enrolled the credit card debt in a DMP and helped negotiate payment plans for the medical debt separately.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free initial credit counseling session with no enrollment pressure
- HUD-approved and NFCC member with COA accreditation
- Lowest fee cap in the industry ($39 setup, $39/month max)
- client satisfaction with 30+ year track record
- Publishes Form 990 for full financial transparency
Cons
- DMP repays debt in full — no principal reduction
- Must close enrolled credit card accounts, reducing available credit
- Not ideal for debts over $50,000 where settlement may save more
- Fair share creditor contributions create structural conflict of interest
User Reviews (11)
cheapest legit DMP I could find - $39/mo max
I spent two weeks comparing every NFCC agency. ACCC caps monthly fees at $39. InCharge goes up to $50. Over 48 months thats $528 in savings just on fees. Same creditor concession rates because those are set by the banks not the agency. My Chase went from 24.9% to 2%. Discover went to 0%. $31k enrolled and I pay $640/mo all in.
free counseling session was genuinely free
No upsell. No "limited time offer." My counselor laid out DMP, self-pay, balance transfer, and even mentioned settlement as an option. She said "if your debt is over $30k and you dont care about credit for 3 years, settlement might save more." An NFCC agency recommending settlement? That's honest. I chose the DMP for $26k. Rates dropped to 2-5%.
they publish their financials for anyone to check
ACCC puts their Form 990 right on the website. I looked. 82% of revenue goes to program services. Executive compensation is reasonable for a nonprofit of their size. Most agencies make you FOIA request this stuff. The transparency alone earned my trust. $24k across 5 cards, rates down to 3-7%, done in 42 months.
great service but wish they had more local offices
Headquartered in Auburndale MA which is great if you're in New England. I'm in Texas and everything was phone/online. Worked fine but I would have preferred an in-person session for the initial consultation. The counselor was thorough over the phone though. $19k enrolled, $420/mo for 48 months.
COA accreditation means they passed 900+ standards
Council on Accreditation reviewed ACCC against 900+ quality standards. That is NOT the same as BBB which just checks if you respond to complaints. COA evaluates governance, financial controls, service delivery, and outcome tracking. Only a fraction of NFCC agencies even bother applying because the audit is expensive. $28k enrolled, smooth experience.
online portal is functional but basic
ACCC's client portal shows payments and balances but its not real-time and the interface looks like it was built in 2010. Compare to Clearpoint's portal which has real-time tracking and projected payoff dates. Results were fine ($21k at 3-7% rates) but the technology needs investment. I shouldn't have to call to confirm a payment posted.
HUD approved for housing counseling too
Was dealing with $22k in credit card debt AND falling behind on my mortgage. ACCC handled both. Credit cards went on a DMP at 4-6% rates. Housing counselor helped me apply for a state hardship program. One agency, two problems solved. Most DMP-only agencies would have sent me elsewhere for the housing piece.
fair share revenue is worth understanding
ACCC gets paid by YOU ($39/mo) and by your CREDITORS (7-10% of each payment they forward). This dual revenue stream is standard across all NFCC agencies but most consumers dont know about it. Does it create a bias toward DMPs over settlement? Maybe. But ACCC was transparent about it when I asked directly. $34k enrolled, rates at 1-6%.
counselor told me NOT to do a DMP
Went in with $8k in credit card debt. Counselor ran the numbers and said a balance transfer card at 0% for 18 months would save me more than a DMP after accounting for monthly fees. She helped me apply. Got approved. Paid off the $8k in 16 months with zero interest and zero agency fees. An agency that turns away revenue is one I trust.
had to close all 4 credit cards - that hurt
DMP requirement: close enrolled accounts. Lost $42k in total credit limits which dropped my utilization from 60% to... well technically 0% available credit on those accounts. Score initially dropped 45 points. After 12 months of on-time DMP payments it recovered past where it started but that first year was rough. Nobody warns you about this enough.
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Important Credit Counseling Disclaimers
- Credit counseling agencies help you create a plan to repay your debts in full, typically over 3-5 years through a Debt Management Plan (DMP). Unlike debt settlement, a DMP does not reduce your principal balance.
- Nonprofit status does not mean free. Most nonprofit credit counseling agencies charge setup fees ($25-$75) and monthly maintenance fees ($25-$50). These fees are regulated and capped in most states.
- Enrolling in a DMP may require you to close enrolled credit card accounts, which can temporarily lower your credit score. However, consistent on-time payments through the DMP typically improve your score over time.
- A DMP is not a loan. You still owe each creditor individually; the agency distributes your single monthly payment to each creditor on your behalf.
- Credit counseling agencies negotiate reduced interest rates (often 0-9%) and waived fees with creditors, but not all creditors participate in every agency's program.
- Zogby does not provide credit counseling or debt relief services. We are an independent comparison service.
This page is informational, not financial or legal advice. Talk to a qualified professional before making any big money decisions.
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