Credit Counseling

[allcomers]

Does anyone know of any non-profit credit counseling organizations in West Seattle (or near west seattle/downtown)?

I do not need debt consolidation, I just need advice and information that is customized to my specific situation (whatever that may be?).

I would prefer not to pay a fee or anything over a small donation.

Thanks!

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[roundthesound]

If you are a member of a Credit Union then you should contact them; they usually have a free service available to their members.

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[kathy]

Go to Patty Murray’s website http://murray.senate.gov/ She has a One Stop Economic Resource link that lists all kind of help for various financial needs.

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[Magpie]

Most Credit Unions work with a company that is called Balance and they offer free credit counseling over the phone by appointment to Credit Union members. There is usually a link directly on the website. They are affiliated with Consumer Credit Counseling and are a very good organization.

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[Zenguy]

Having been a bill collector in a former life, the only people I would deal with is Consumer Credit Counseling Service, now this company…they are non-profit.

http://landingpages.moneymanagement.org/Debt/default.asp?RCTAG=TTCO&CMP=KNC-gaw

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[dawn211]

Here is a link for a free electronic copy of Suze Orman’s new 2009 Action Plan financial book. Offer expires Thursday.

http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20081119_tows_bookdownload

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[Magpie]

I’m not sure if I was clear or not, Balance is Consumer Credit Counseling Service of San Francisco. They partner with Credit Unions to do all kinds of free credit counseling services including budgeting, actual credit counseling (the kind you might need if you were planning on filing bankruptcy and the kind where they negotiate lower interest and payments to your creditors for you at no cost to you), how to save for a home, etc. They saw a need in the community and since their counselors work 7 days a week, they can set up phone interviews, etc at a convenient time for people who work. They also have all kinds of budgeting tools available..totally free to Credit Union members whose Credit Unions support them. Also, totally non profit. I believe they have one thing they charge for and that is for credit bureau review.

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[pam]

Be careful how far you go with these services, using a credit counseling service can go on your credit report for 7 years – just as bad as a bankruptcy to creditors.

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[Magpie]

Using the credit counseling service does not show up on your credit file. What goes on your credit file is if they actually negotiate a lower payment for you and you pay via the service. What will happen is that there will be a comment under the tradeline on your credit file that states included in Credit counseling. Consumer Credit Counseling (non profit 501c) have all kinds of budgeting plans etc that can help someone get out of debt without actually using their services. The counselors in the Consumer Credit counseling services have to be certified and can often help someone get their credit in better order without actually going on the plan. If you are having financial problems, your credit has probably already been affected and a non prof like a Balance program can help you keep it from getting worse.

You need to be careful of the debt settlement companies and some of the other fly by night companies that promise lots, but deliver little and people can end up with their credit completely ruined by listening to a bad credit counselor.

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[allcomers]

Thank you everyone!

I’ll look into talking with both Consumer Credit Counseling and my local BECU branch.

This info is exactly what I needed.

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