American Consumer Credit Counseling Review July 2026
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Best for: People with credit card or other unsecured debt who can repay what they owe in full and want a nonprofit, low-fee debt management plan instead of debt settlement.
American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) is a nonprofit credit counseling agency founded in 1991 and headquartered in Auburndale, Massachusetts. It reports helping more than 2 million people since 1991, and its clients paid off $248 million in debt in 2025. ACCC provides counseling services and enrolls qualified customers in debt management plans.
| Counseling Services |
|
|---|---|
| Coverage | Certificate of Authority in all 50 states and DC. Not all services are available in all states. |
| Accreditation | BBB A+ since 2009, NFCC member, COA accredited, HUD-approved, DOJ-approved for bankruptcy courses. |
- Free initial counseling session
- Among the lowest published DMP fees
- Strong accreditation
- No minimum debt requirement
- Excellent BBB customer score
- Clients may access a free, self-directed study course for financial literacy
- Enrolled credit cards generally must be closed, reducing your available credit
- A 3-to-5-year commitment, and completion isn't assured
- Monthly fees of up to $70 can add up over 4 to 5 years
- Interest-rate concessions are set by each creditor and aren't guaranteed
- A DMP repays 100% of principal, so it may not fit if you can't afford full repayment
- If you miss two consecutive payments, ACCC could drop you from the plan
American Consumer Credit Counseling overview
You're carrying several credit card balances, the interest keeps eating your payments, and you want a structured way out without borrowing more. American Consumer Credit Counseling works with people in exactly that spot.
The nonprofit offers free budget counseling and a debt management plan (DMP) that rolls your unsecured debts into one monthly payment at rates your creditors agree to reduce. There's no minimum debt to enroll.
Before you read further, a few debts are off the table. Secured debts like a mortgage or car loan can't go on the plan, and neither can student loans. Still with us? Read on.
Plans typically run 3 to 5 years, and you can enroll by phone, online, or in person, in English or Spanish. Not sure you want to go this route? Our debt relief programs guide compares your options.
American Consumer Credit Counseling top features
ACCC is a nonprofit counseling agency, not a debt settlement company or a lender. Its debt management plan (DMP) repays your enrolled debt in full at interest rates your creditors agree to reduce. Here's what stands out.
Established nonprofit: ACCC has operated since 1991 and holds nonprofit status, tax-exempt since 1994.
Program length of 3 to 5 years: ACCC designs its DMP to finish in roughly 4 to 5 years at minimum payments. You could finish sooner if you raise your monthly payment.
Eligible debts with no minimums: The DMP accepts unsecured debts: credit cards, department store cards, some installment loans, and many collection accounts. Secured debts like a mortgage or car loan can't be enrolled, and neither can student loans. ACCC sets no minimum debt amount.
Strong accreditations: ACCC holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has been BBB accredited since 2009. It belongs to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) and holds Council on Accreditation (COA) approval.
Free consultation: The first budget and credit counseling session costs nothing and carries no commitment. A certified counselor reviews your income, expenses, assets, and debts, then lays out your options.
Low, transparent fees: ACCC publishes exact numbers: up to $39 to enroll, then $7 per account each month, capped at $70. The average client pays about $25 a month. ACCC may waive or cut fees for hardship, state rules, or active military service.
Educational resources: Clients who enroll in a DMP are enrolled in a free, self-directed course that teaches financial literacy. Clients can also call representatives with financial questions.
Online portal and mobile app: DMP clients manage their program through a secure online portal.
Is American Consumer Credit Counseling legit?
American Consumer Credit Counseling is a legitimate nonprofit, verified through its public IRS filings. Its credentials check out across the major registries. The BBB has accredited ACCC since June 2009 and gives it an A+ rating. NFCC membership requires COA accreditation and independently certified counselors, and ACCC holds both.
Our research found no enforcement actions against ACCC from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), or any state attorney general.
How much does American Consumer Credit Counseling cost?
ACCC charges a one-time enrollment fee of up to $39, then $7 per enrolled account each month, capped at $70. The average client pays about $25 a month. Your initial counseling session is free.
Fees may drop or go away based on your state's rules, financial hardship, or active U.S. military service. State law caps what any agency can charge. In Texas, for example, setup runs up to $140 and the monthly fee can't exceed the lesser of $14 per account or $70.
Here's what a typical program could cost:
| Item | Example |
|---|---|
| Enrolled debt | $20,000 in unsecured debt |
| Enrollment fee | Up to $39 |
| Monthly fee | Average of $25, up to the $70 cap |
| Fees over 48 months | About $1,239 at the average, up to $3,399 |
ACCC advertises that its DMP could lower your interest rates and monthly payments. It publishes no average savings figure and no completion rate. Its own disclaimer reads: "Individual results may vary depending upon a number of factors including creditor participation." Typical negotiated DMP interest rates run about 7% to 10%, and that figure is an interest rate, not an APR. Rates vary by creditor and aren't guaranteed.
Important considerations when choosing American Consumer Credit Counseling
Credit score impact
A DMP treats your credit far more gently than debt settlement. You repay 100% of what you owe at lower interest, and on-time payments keep your payment history intact.
Account closure is the real credit consideration. ACCC generally advises you to close all enrolled cards, which lowers your available credit.
DMP vs debt settlement
You repay enrolled debt in full at rates your creditors agree to. Nothing is forgiven, so there's no tax bill on canceled debt. Debt settlement works the other way: forgiven debt is generally taxable income unless an exclusion like insolvency applies.
A DMP and debt settlement are different tools. A DMP repays everything you owe at lower interest with relatively minor credit impact. Settlement repays less than you owe but damages your credit and carries tax and lawsuit risks. Settlement exists for people who can't afford full repayment.
Commitment and completion risk
Plan on 3 to 5 years of consistent monthly payments. ACCC's program guide states that missing two consecutive payments can result in removal from the plan. Many people complete their plans, and no reliable industry completion percentage exists, so treat any specific number you find elsewhere with skepticism.
American Consumer Credit Counseling customer service and satisfaction
ACCC's BBB customer reviews average 4.98 out of 5 across 1,845 reviews as of July 10, 2026. Customer reviews don't factor into the BBB's A+ letter grade. The two are separate measures.
Trustpilot tells you almost nothing here: the profile holds only two reviews, too few for a meaningful score.
Recent BBB reviewers praise counselors as patient, thorough, and clear about options. BBB's complaint file shows mostly disputes over payment timing, and ACCC responded to each one on record.
| Platform | Rating | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| BBB | A+, 4.98/5 customer reviews | 1,845 reviews as of July 10, 2026 |
| Trustpilot | No meaningful score | 2 reviews |
You can reach ACCC by phone six days a week, through departmental email, or through the client portal. Counseling hours:
- Monday to Thursday 9:00 AM to 10:30 PM ET
- Friday to 8:00 PM
- Saturday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
There's no live chat on ACCC's site.
Where is American Consumer Credit Counseling available?
ACCC holds a Certificate of Authority in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The agency is licensed or registered as a debt management provider where state law requires it. ACCC notes that not all services are available in all states, and it doesn't publish a list of excluded states.
How do I contact American Consumer Credit Counseling?
Call 800-769-3571 (toll-free), or email info@consumercredit.com.
Get rid of your debt faster with debt relief
Take the first step towards a debt-free life with personalized debt reduction strategies.
Choose your debt amount
Or speak to a debt consultant 844-731-0836
How does American Consumer Credit Counseling work?
ACCC starts you with a free counseling session where a certified counselor reviews your income, expenses, and debts. If a debt management plan fits, ACCC sends a proposal to your creditors, and once they accept, you make one monthly payment to ACCC, which pays your creditors each month. Creditors may lower interest rates, waive late fees, and bring past-due accounts current.
Does American Consumer Credit Counseling charge a fee?
The initial budget and credit counseling session is free. The debt management plan costs up to $39 to enroll, then $7 per account each month, capped at $70, and the average client pays about $25 a month. ACCC may waive or cut fees for hardship, state rules, or active military service.
Is American Consumer Credit Counseling an NFCC member?
ACCC is a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), which requires Council on Accreditation approval and independently certified counselors.
Does American Consumer Credit Counseling have complaints?
ACCC's complaint volume is low for its size, and its BBB customer reviews average 4.98 out of 5 across 1,845 reviews as of July, 2026. The complaints on file with the BBB mostly involve disputes over payment timing, and ACCC responded to each one on record. Our research found no enforcement actions from the CFPB, the FTC, or any state attorney general.
What are the downsides of American Consumer Credit Counseling?
The main trade-offs are the ones built into any debt management plan: you'll generally close enrolled credit cards, commit to 3 to 5 years of payments, and repay 100% of what you owe. Interest-rate concessions are set by each creditor and aren't guaranteed. If you can't afford full repayment, a DMP may not fit.