At a Glance
Rating Breakdown
Performance Overview
Scores out of 5, based on our editorial analysis
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 found
ACCC caps at $39/mo. InCharge goes to $50. Over 48 months that adds up. Same creditor rates either way because those are set by the banks not the agency. Chase went from 24.9% to 2%. Discover to 0%.
free session was actually free
No upsell no limited time offer. Counselor even mentioned settlement as an option. An NFCC agency recommending settlement? That's honest. I chose the DMP. Rates dropped to 2-5%.
they publish their Form 990
Right on the website. 82% of revenue to program services. Most agencies make you FOIA request this stuff. The transparency earned my trust. Rates down to 3-7% done in 42 months.
meh
meh
good
good
portal looks like 2010
Not real-time. Interface is dated. Compare to Clearpoint which has real-time tracking. I shouldn't have to CALL to confirm a payment posted. It's 2025. Update your tech.
handled my mortgage AND cards
CC debt AND falling behind on mortgage. ACCC handled both. Cards on a DMP at 4-6%. Housing counselor helped me apply for a state hardship program. One agency two problems.
creditors pay them too btw
ACCC gets paid by you AND by creditors (7-10% of each payment they forward). Standard across all NFCC agencies but most people don't know. Does it bias toward DMPs? Maybe. They were transparent when I asked directly.
told me NOT to enroll
Had 8k in debt. Counselor ran the numbers and said a balance transfer card would save more than a DMP after fees. Helped me apply. Got approved. Paid off in 16 months with zero interest. An agency that turns away revenue is one I trust. Shoutout to counselor Rebecca.
had to close all 4 cards
DMP requirement. Lost $42k in credit limits. Score dropped 45 points initially. Recovered after 12 months of on-time payments but that first year was rough. Nobody warns you enough about this part.
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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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We make money from some companies on this page. That doesn't change our rankings -- the editorial team scores every product independently, and the business side has no say in what we recommend.