American Consumer Credit Counseling Review: ACCC Debt Management Plans That Don’t Damage Your Credit

No Min. Debt Required to Enroll

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Our take: American Consumer Credit Counseling is a strong nonprofit option for people who want structured repayment without damaging their credit. Its low fees, A+ BBB rating, and no minimum debt requirement make it a safer alternative to for-profit debt settlement, especially if you can afford a steady monthly payment over four to five years.

Debt Management Plan

• Smaller impact on credit score than debt settlement
• No minimum debt requirement
• Nominal fees may be waived
• Nonprofit company with stellar reputation
• Financial education and resources
• Bankruptcy and housing counseling

• Not all debt may be eligible
• No guarantee of reduced rates and fees
• Longer than typical debt settlement program

Solutions offered	Credit counseling, debt management plans, bankruptcy counseling, and housing services
Debt required	No minimum
Counseling consultation fee	Free
Enrollment fee	$39 (may be waived or reduced)
Maintenance fee	$7 per account per month; max $70 per month (may be waived or reduced)
Timeline	4 – 5 years

Table of Contents

1. What is ACCC?
2. What does ACCC do?
   1. Debt management plan vs. debt settlement
   2. How does ACCC’s DMP affect my credit?
   3. What kinds of debt does ACCC manage?
   4. Costs
   5. How does it save me money?
   6. Other ACCC services
3. How it works
4. Pros and cons
5. Is it legit?
6. Alternatives

What is ACCC?

American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) is a nonprofit credit counseling agency that helps people manage unsecured debt through budgeting support, debt management plans, and financial education.

ACCC works directly with your creditors to lower interest rates and consolidate payments without requiring a new loan. It’s designed as a safer, credit-friendly alternative to traditional debt relief programs.

What does American Consumer Credit Counseling do?

ACCC’s core service is its ACCC debt management program, which consolidates eligible unsecured debt into one payment and works with creditors to reduce interest rates and fees.

It also offers:

• Credit counseling
• Bankruptcy counseling
• Housing services

For most, it all starts with the free credit counseling session, during which an expert at ACCC will help you determine the best path forward to tackle your debt. Typically, that means setting up a debt management program (also called nonprofit debt consolidation).

We’ll cover those other services (bankruptcy and housing) below.

Is ACCC debt management the same as debt settlement?

Many people compare ACCC with debt settlement companies, like National Debt Relief, because both claim to reduce debt. The key difference: ACCC helps you fully repay what you owe through lower interest rates and a structured payment plan, while debt settlement aims to negotiate balances for less but may hurt your credit in the process.

If you’re unsure which path fits your situation, understanding the trade-offs early can help you choose the right kind of help.

Debt management plan vs. debt settlement

Many people looking up ACCC are also researching for-profit debt relief companies such as National Debt Relief (NDR). Although both options help with unmanageable unsecured debt, they work quite differently:

• ACCC’s debt management plan (DMP) helps you repay your debt in full, at lower interest rates and with fewer fees, while keeping long-term credit damage minimal.
• Debt settlement (offered by companies like NDR) negotiates with creditors to reduce the total amount you pay, but you must stop making payments, which significantly harms your credit and can lead to late fees or collections before a settlement is reached.

When a DMP is better

You can afford a predictable monthly payment and want a safer path that preserves credit and avoids risk.

When settlement may help instead

You can’t afford full repayment, even at reduced rates, and are facing serious delinquency or hardship. (If this is your situation, be sure you consult with a reputable debt relief company. National Debt Relief is our favorite.)

How does ACCC’s DMP affect my credit?

Enrolling in a debt management plan with ACCC can have a small, short-term impact on your credit. You’ll be required to close all of your credit accounts, which may cause a dip in your score. However, the long-term benefits can outweigh the initial hit:

• On-time payments made through ACCC’s plan help rebuild your payment history, the most important factor in your credit score.
• Delinquent accounts may be removed from your credit report after several months of on-time DMP payments, improving your score over time.
• Lower credit utilization also becomes more achievable as interest rates and fees are reduced, making debt more manageable.

While your credit score may dip slightly after enrollment, the damage is typically far less severe than the impact from debt settlement, which often requires you to stop making payments entirely.

What kinds of debt does ACCC manage?

You can enroll various unsecured debts into your American Consumer Credit Counseling debt management program, including:

• Credit cards
• Department store cards
• Collection debt and collection accounts
• Some installment loans

Does ACCC offer debt consolidation?

Not in the traditional sense. ACCC does not provide debt consolidation loans. Instead, its debt management program acts as a nonprofit consolidation alternative. You make one monthly payment to ACCC, and it distributes the funds to your creditors.

This is different from loan-based consolidation, which replaces your debts with a new loan. Those looking for “ACCC debt consolidation” should know that ACCC’s program lowers interest rates and organizes payments but does not involve taking out new credit.

How much does the American Consumer Credit Counseling debt management program cost?

The initial credit counseling session with ACCC is entirely free. If, after discussing your options, you determine that a debt management program is the best path forward, you can expect the following fees:

1. A one-time $39 enrollment fee
2. A monthly $7 maintenance fee per account, up to a maximum of $70 per month (the average fee paid by program participants is $25, according to ACCC)

American Consumer Credit Counseling fees are modest compared to industry norms, and many clients pay even less due to state caps or financial hardship reductions.

How does ACCC save me money?

American Consumer Credit Counseling saves clients money by working with creditors to significantly lower interest rates and reduce fees, including late fees. While you must still make payments over several years (four to five, on average, but it depends on the amount of debt), you’ll ultimately save on interest and fees.

So how do these savings compare to what you’d get with a traditional debt relief company?

Debt relief companies actually settle your debt for less, which means you don’t pay off your full debts—if the debt relief company is successful. However, you’d owe a large fee to the debt relief company for any successfully reduced debt, and your credit score would likely plummet.

Other ACCC services

In addition to credit counseling and debt management programs, ACCC offers bankruptcy counseling and housing services, such as reverse mortgage counseling and homebuyer education and certification.

• Bankruptcy counseling is required by law before you can officially file for bankruptcy. You can take this session with ACCC to evaluate your situation and learn more about the bankruptcy process. ACCC offers pre-filing online counseling for $49 per household and post-bankruptcy online counseling for $39 per household.
• Reverse mortgage counseling is another government requirement before seeking a reverse mortgage. You can start this process with ACCC by filling out this form.
• Homebuyer education and certification is sometimes required to get a mortgage. You can complete the course through ACCC and Framework, if needed.

How American Consumer Credit Counseling works

Completing a debt management program with ACCC is a straightforward process. Here’s how it works:

1. Have a free counseling session: Most people start with ACCC counseling, a free session where a certified counselor reviews your budget, debts, and repayment options to assemble a DMP for you to enroll in, if that’s the right path forward. The counselor will also help you come up with a realistic budget to avoid major debt in the future.
2. Wait for ACCC to determine account eligibility: ACCC will reach out to your creditors to see whether they’ll agree to your DMP with reduced interest rates and fees and an extended payment timeline. If the creditors agree, ACCC will take over management of the accounts. (Note: Some creditors may not agree to the DMP, in which case you’ll need to manage those accounts on your own.)
3. Transfer your accounts to ACCC: You’ll close all credit accounts—which will have a small negative impact on your credit score, but nothing like the negative impact from the missed payments that are a hallmark of debt settlement programs—and ACCC will begin paying your creditors for those accounts directly.
4. Make monthly payments to ACCC: You’ll have one consolidated payment to ACCC each month. Even after one account is paid off, your monthly payment will not change; instead, the extra funds will go toward paying down your remaining debts faster.
5. Expect to be debt-free within 4 to 5 years: Program length depends on the size of your debt and the details your creditors agree to. Most participants complete the program within 60 months.

Pros and cons of ACCC’s debt management program

Pros

• Smaller impact on your credit score

  Unlike debt settlement, ACCC’s debt management plan (DMP) doesn’t require you to stop making payments to creditors. You may see a slight drop when accounts are closed, but on-time payments and potential removal of delinquent marks can improve your credit over time.

• No minimum debt required to enroll

  Whether you have $1,000 or $50,000 in unsecured debt, you can access help—making this a flexible option for people who may not qualify for traditional debt relief programs that require $10K+ in debt.

• Fees are often waived or reduced

  Although ACCC charges modest fees (a $39 enrollment fee and monthly maintenance fees), many clients pay less due to state caps or demonstrated financial hardship.

• Nonprofit with a strong reputation

  ACCC is a long-established nonprofit accredited by the Better Business Bureau (A+) and the Council on Accreditation. It’s also a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC).

• Includes financial education and support

  In addition to lowering your interest rates, ACCC helps you build better financial habits with budgeting guidance, housing counseling, and access to educational tools.

Cons

• Not all debt qualifies

  Secured debts (like car loans) and some private student loans typically cannot be included in your DMP. You may still be responsible for those accounts separately.

• No guarantee of reduced rates or fees

  While many creditors work with ACCC and lower interest rates, they’re not obligated to. Some may wait for on-time payments before making adjustments, or refuse altogether.

• Takes longer than debt settlement

  A DMP usually lasts four to five years. That’s longer than some debt settlement timelines, but it comes with the benefit of less credit damage and full repayment of your debts.

Is American Consumer Credit Counseling legit?

American Consumer Credit Counseling is a legitimate nonprofit organization that helps people take control of their finances through budgeting, credit counseling, housing counseling, bankruptcy counseling, debt management programs, and financial education resources.

When reading ACCC credit counseling reviews, you’ll find consistently positive feedback about the agency’s transparency and support. Across platforms, American Consumer Credit Counseling reviews highlight helpful counselors and long-term financial guidance.

It’s accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA). It has a great reputation with the Better Business Bureau; the American Consumer Credit Counseling BBB profile shows an A+ rating and a long history of resolved complaints. ACCC is also a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) and has 5 stars on ConsumerAffairs, based on consumer feedback.

Alternatives to ACCC

ACCC cannot enroll all types of debt in a debt management program. For instance, you aren’t able to include secured debts such as car loans and private student loans in the DMP. It’s also possible that creditors may not accept ACCC’s proposal or that you can’t afford the consolidated monthly payment ACCC would have you pay as part of the program.

In those cases, it may make more sense to consider a debt relief company, specifically those aimed at debt settlement. The fees can be significant, and your credit score will suffer, but these companies may be able to dramatically reduce how much you owe on some accounts.

The table below includes details for the three best debt relief companies we’ve rated: