Advantage Credit Counseling Services
With over 45 years of experience, Advantage Credit Counseling Services offers world-class customer service and great pricing.
Advantage Credit Counseling Services is a non-profit credit counseling organization. Incorporated in 1968, Advantage CCS has more than 45 years of experience in credit counseling and debt management. They also offer additional services, including: bankruptcy counseling, bankruptcy education classes, and home ownership counseling for both pre-purchase and foreclosure.
The Good
- Reduced interest rates
- Eliminate late and over-draft fees
- Reduce harassing creditor calls
Reduced Interest Rates
Advantage Credit Counseling Services has 45 years of experience dealing with debt management and counseling. Advantage CCS offers what is called a debt management program. They work with the creditors to reduce monthly payments, interest rates, and repayment time. Clients can expect to see interest rates drop down to 15 percent and as low as zero percent when enrolled in their debt management program.
Free Consultation
The company provides free credit counseling sessions where counselors educate each client about their financial situation, methods to repaying debts, and how to create an overall better budget to manage their finances. Each session is customized to meet a particular set of unique client situations. Each session runs about one hour in length and clients are encouraged to be fully open and honest about their situation to receive the best program solution for them.
We appreciate Advantage CCS in taking a personalized approach by providing only one client counselor for each counseling session. Once the counseling session is complete, consumers have the option to take part in their debt management program, housing counseling, bankruptcy counseling, and many others.
Educational Resources
Advantage has gone to great lengths to provide consumers and clients with educational resources to help them attain the financial literacy to get and stay out of debt. They offer updated blog posts on various topics, including finances and the holidays, which is always a hot topic for consumers. Also among their educational offerings is an abundance of tools such as financial calculators, online budget advisors, newsletters, an online library, and video guides to help consumers navigate on the path to financial freedom.
The Bad
- Money-back guarantee
- Lack of accreditation
Money-back Guarantee
We like several aspects of Advantage CCS but one aspect we would liked to see outlined on their company webpage is an offering of a money back guarantee. This may help clients rest assured that they will be getting the best service this company has to offer.
Lack of Accreditation
An additional concern is their lack of FCAA accreditation. This accreditation guarantee a certain level of quality for the services rendered. Consumers do not enter into any contract and may cancel at any point in the process. If a customer does opt out of the service, by law, debt management companies must inform the creditor which will likely restore interest rates and payment expectations to their previous levels.
The Bottom Line
Advantage CCS offers free credit counseling to their customers and an array of program options to help the financially struggling individuals get back on their feet. While their lack of accreditations concerns us, they offer consolidation services that are worth considering. We recommend taking advantage of their free consultation and credit counseling services to determine if their product offerings would be suitable for you.
Want to see the top rated Debt Consolidation Companies? Click Here
About Advantage Credit Counseling Services
Advantage Credit Counseling Services has been in the industry for 49 years. They are a non-profit organization that assists customers in consolidating their debt into one monthly payment while also decreasing the interest rate on the debt. In the process of consolidating debt, Advantage Credit Counseling Services will provide certified counselors to analyze a customer’s current financial situation to provide the most practical solutions. In addition to debt consolidation, Advantage Credit Counseling Services provides assistance in bankruptcy, credit counseling, housing counseling, credit report review, and an online budget advisor. They also offer a few free tools like a calculator for credit card debt, mortgage loan, auto loan, emergency savings, college, and retirement.
Price
Prices are undisclosed at this time.
Up-Front Fees
Prices are undisclosed at this time.
Free Consultation
Yes. Online Credit Counseling is accessible 24/7, counselors are available over the phone or in person during business hours.
Time In Business
49 years. They incorporated in 1968.
Debt Education
In addition to free counseling, they provide a useful blog, loads of information regarding financial topics related to debt and credit management, FAQ, an active social media presence across multiple channels including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube and Google+, and free online goal tracking tools.
Money Back Guarantee / Cancellation Policy
Advantage CCS has no contracts, so customers may cancel at any time. No money back guarantee is provided.
Unsecured vs. Secured Loans
They assist customers with Unsecured debt, however, they provide useful education materials with information regarding secured debts.
Mobile Friendly
Their site is mobile friendly.
Contact Information
E-Mail:
Address:
2403 Sidney Street
Suite 400
Pittsburgh, PA, 15203
Business Hours:
Business hours include 8 am – 8 pm Monday through Friday and 8 am – 2 pm Saturday. Online credit counseling is available 24/7.
Types of Services Available
Advantage CCS offers a range of services including free credit counseling that’s available online, in-person and over the phone, debt management services, bankruptcy counseling, bankruptcy education classes, and home ownership counseling for both pre-purchase and foreclosures. In Pennsylvania they offer help with reverse mortgages and credit report review services in person.
Minimum Debt Accepted
$5k
Online Dashboard
Once customers are on a debt management program, they are given access to the online dashboard. The online portal allows customers to monitor their account and access card balances and information.
CPFC Certified
All of ACCS’ credit counselors are certified through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC). To become certified, their credit counselors are required to pass six NFCC certification exams that measure experience and tests counselors’ knowledge of credit and financial counseling.
ISO Certified
ACCS is ISO certified. They are accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA).
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User Score103 people found this review helpful!When I initially signed up with ACCS, I had 10 credit cards, downsized and unemployed. Without question, I did not feel as if I would ever be able to pay off my credit cards. ACCS presented me with a manageable plan, reduced interest rates that would allow me to achieve that goal in 3 years and 10 months. On June 26, 2015 I made my FINAL PAYMENT. What a wonderful feeling to be Credit Card Debt Free!!! ACCS was wonderful throughout the process and the new skills I learned about budgeting, and living within my means were priceless lessons. Thank you so much, I constantly recommend the service to my friends who find themselves in similar situations, in addition to visiting the website for financial life lessons. I cannot Thank You enough, plus I am confident in my ability to be fiscally responsible in my future endeavors.Was this review helpful? YesRead More
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User Score102 people found this review helpful!It was a very easy process. One visit to an office and the rest was direct debited from my account. I also appreciate that I didn’t feel like I was hiding out from my creditors. Its a very respectable process. It was a pleasure to deal with such qualified, knowledgable people.Was this review helpful? YesRead More
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User Score102 people found this review helpful!My wife and I got into the program and couldn`t be happier that we did! It was a struggle at times to get through it.But with the discipline that is required to finish the program,it was worth every bit of the sacrifices we had to endure at times. We would recommend ACCS to anyone who asks. Thanks again!Was this review helpful? YesRead More
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User Score102 people found this review helpful!Advantage Credit Counseling Services was honest, fair, and non-judgemental. They helped me work out a realistic plan to get out of debt. I think I’m a smart guy but I’m still amazed that I was so easily sucked into the debt trap. I’ve finally learned the benefits of being debt-free. I appreciate their help with this.Was this review helpful? YesRead More
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User Score101 people found this review helpful!ACCS was an awesome company to work with! I would definitely recommend you to others. Of course, you have to be willing to do your part too.
Every time I called with questions, they were answered promptly and all the agents I dealt with were very nice. I probably drove those girls crazy when I was getting ready to pay off because I wanted things done right, but I was walked through the process and there were no problems. Thanks, I am now debt free!Was this review helpful? YesRead More -
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User Score102 people found this review helpful!ACCS was great. They worked with our creditors to lower our interest rates, setup payment plans, and provided guidance and advice throughout the process.
One suggestion I would make would be to have occasional check ups to go over the progress. They were always there for us when we had questions, I’m thinking more about them proactively setting something up for review.
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User Score102 people found this review helpful!Advantage Credit Counseling Services are top of the line Awesome!!! If it was not for their debt management program I would still be swamped in credit card debt, if not on the verge of filing bankrupt. They are always there to answer questions with polite, courtesy, and knowledgeable employees. Never once did they make me feel bad for the debt I had. They were more than willing to help me figure out what was best and where to go from there since day one!Was this review helpful? YesRead More
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User Score103 people found this review helpful!ACCCS helped my family and I so much! We were in dire straits with debt up to our eyeballs. I was paying out more than I was bringing in. After 5 years, we learned how to manage without using credit cards and how to stabilize our finances. And, at the end, it was like getting an additional paycheck every month with the money we saved from paying CCCS for the debt.Was this review helpful? YesRead More
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Blog Post
- Takes your existing debt and try to settle with your creditors for a lower amount. If you pay off the settled amount, your debt will be considered paid in full.
- Negotiates with your creditors on your behalf.
- Fee based on a percentage of your total starting debt or a percentage of the debt they save you.
- Most settlement companies have you create a separate "escrow" account where you will make monthly contributions over a certain amount of time to contribute to your settlement. Once there is a substantial amount of funds to show your creditors, the settlement company will try to negotiate a lower amount of debt.
- Combines all your debts and creditors into one monthly payment.
- Allows you to pay one monthly payment to the consolidation company, instead of multiple payments to different creditors.
- You no longer owe your original creditors; instead you pay one monthly payment to your consolidation company.
- Consolidation companies can help negotiate lower interest rates on your debts and help lower your total debt payment in the long run. A lower interest rate will lower the amount you owe in the end.
- Allows you to consolidate all your different debts into one personal loan that can be paid off over time.
- Can offer borrowers a lower interest rate with a longer payback term (compared to high-interest credit cards or medical bills). This will lower the amount of money required to pay off the loan over time.
- Personal loan debt consolidation can be an effective way to raise your credit score quickly (within 3-6 months).
- Borrowers can receive funds from their loan within only a few days.
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22 Advantage Credit Counseling Services Reviews