How to Get Free Credit Counseling in Washington

Find a Washington Non Profit Credit Counseling Agency

The most important step in obtaining credit counseling in Washington is finding a reputable, accredited non-profit credit counseling agency. Reputable non-profit credit counseling agencies are certified and accredited by the National Foundation of Credit Counseling. Foundations like the NFCC and FCAA ensure that the credit counseling organizations they certify abide by industry standards. For example, your initial credit counseling session should always be free. If you are ever asked to pay upfront for an initial credit counseling session, whether online or in-person, that is a red flag that you may not be dealing with a reputable credit counseling agency.

If you can’t locate a reputable credit counseling agency locally, there are several national non-profit credit counseling agencies such as Money Management International, CESI or GreenPath that offer their credit counseling services throughout the United States. To get a list of others, you can try the Financial Counseling Association of America or the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.

Information to Research Before Talking to a Washington Credit Counseling Agency

No matter what agency you choose to go with, you can do some basic research on the credit counseling agency before you meet with them to ensure it has a good track record with helping other consumers in your state. First, check to see if any complaints have been filed against them with your local consumer protection agencies like the Washington Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division or the national Better Business Bureau. If you find anything that makes you feel uncomfortable about dealing with that credit counseling agency, choose another one and do the same research on it as well until you find one that you’re satisfied is trustworthy and reputable.

Questions to Ask the Washington Credit Counselor Before Signing Up

Once you have chosen the credit counseling agency you intend to meet with, you will get more out of your initial credit counseling session if you put together a list of prepared questions to ask your Washington credit counselor. Some of the questions you might want to ask or some areas you might have questions about including the following:

• Is there any cost for the initial session? What costs will I incur if I decide to follow your recommendations? Ask upfront if the credit counseling agency charges anything for the initial credit counseling session. This answer should always be no. Then ask what cost you will incur if you decide to follow any of the counselor’s recommendations. The counselor may not be able to give you the exact amount of each cost, but they should be able to tell what costs you will incur, like a one-time set-up fee and the monthly cost of administering your debt relief plan.

• Ask for specific details on the counseling session itself like how long it will last. Most initial counseling sessions last 45 minutes to one hour but yours may be shorter or longer. Ask where it will take place. Many credit counseling agencies offer sessions in-person, online or over the telephone. Ask how the session will be conducted. Will you be meeting with a live person, completing the session online, at a computer terminal or conducting the session over-the-phone? Many credit counseling agencies offer all three, but you may need to schedule an appointment for an in-person session.

What to Expect During Credit Counseling

During your initial credit counseling sessions, you will meet with a trained and certified Washington credit counselor. Your counselor is a combination of “educator, advocate, and coach.” They help you review your finances from top to bottom in order to determine what’s not working and what needs to change. Your Washington credit counselor’s objective when meeting with you is to get the best and most accurate picture of your current financial situation. The more they know about your financial situation and what challenges you are dealing with the more options they can give you. As a result, some typical questions you may be asked include: What is your household income? What are your monthly expenses? Do you have a budget? What credit cards, student loans, medical bills or other debts do you have? Together, you and your Washington credit counselor will come up with a plan to help you overcome your financial challenges and reach your goals. They will usually also provide you with free educational materials on how to manage your money and become debt-free. The length of each session is tailored to your specific situation, but typically will last from forty-five to sixty minutes.

What Happens After Credit Counseling in Washington

Seeking out and taking advantage of free no-risk credit counseling in Washington is a big first step in overcoming crippling debt or addressing a growing problem with being unable to pay all your bills. After your initial credit counseling session, depending on what you decide is best for you, the non-profit credit counseling agency you chose to work with will help you put the debt relief plan of your choice into action.