Pros
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.
Best Debt Consolidation Companies
Cons
No Money-back Guarantee
We like several aspects of Advantage CCS but one aspect we would like 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 guarantees 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.
Our Recommendation
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 working with a nationally accredited company with positive reviews. See the Top-Ranked Debt Consolidation Companies?
Advantage Credit Counseling Services FAQ
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.
What type of information do they have on their site?
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.
How much does Advantage Credit Counseling Services cost?
Monthly and up-front fees are undisclosed at this time.
Do they offer a free consultation?
Yes. Online Credit Counseling is accessible 24/7, counselors are available over the phone or in person during business hours.
What is Advantage Credit Counseling Services cancellation policy?
Advantage CCS has no contracts, so customers may cancel at any time. No money back guarantee is provided.
What are Advantage Credit Counseling’s 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.
What types of services do they offier?
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.
What is the minimum amount of Debt I can enroll?
$5k
Are there any inaccuracies in this review? We take our accuracy very seriously and would love your feedback. Give feedback here.
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User Score103 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 Score102 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 Score104 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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User Score103 people found this review helpful!I can’t thank them enough for helping my husband and I achieve financial freedom from what seemed like a ton of credit card debt. We’ve been very pleased every step of the way and so glad we found Advantage CCS. They were there for us when we had questions and didn’t know where to turn to. Advantage Credit Counseling truly is a blessing!Was this review helpful? YesRead More
- 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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16 Advantage Credit Counseling Services Reviews