Consumer credit counseling, debt management, and financial education services provided by non-profit credit counseling companies designed to establish equilibrium between consumers, creditors, and member agencies for the successful rehabilitation of debt-challenged families and individuals.

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Our Mission

The AICCCA mission is to promote quality and professional delivery of credit counseling services. AICCCA independent non-profit member agencies assist millions of consumers annually with counseling and debt management services. Find out more about joining the AICCCA.

Recent AICCCA News

Press Releases

4/29/13 AICCCA Warns Consumers that Payday Loans make Bad Situation Worse

4/8/13 AICCCA Advises: Rethink Borrowing From 401(k) Retirement Plans

3/11/13 AICCCA Offers Spring Break Travel Advice

2/11/13 AICCCA Advises Consumers to Plan at Tax Time

1/16/13 Suze Orman Headlines AICCCA's 20th Annual Conference

1/4/13 AICCCA Offers Advice for Consumers seeing Red after the Holidays

12/10/12 Stop, Look and Listen to avoid Red Tuesday^TM that Follows Black Friday, Cyber Monday Shopping

11/15/12 AICCCA Offers Five Tips for an Affordable Holiday Season

10/29/12 Consumer Beware of Red Tuesday^TM says AICCCA

10/15/12 AICCCA Offers Tips to Keep the Red Tuesday^TM Monster Away this Halloween

9/20/12 AICCCA Advises Four Tips to Protect Your Credit in Divorce

Upcoming Events

AICCCA's 21st Annual Meeting
May 2014 in San Francisco!
Details to be announced as they become available

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Tweets by @TrustAICCCA

AICCCA News

Find a Spokesperson/Client

Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies can connect you with experts on personal finance issues including college students and credit, bankruptcy alternatives, consumer debt, and many others. In addition, we are often able to locate a consumer to help personalize your story. We understand the nature of deadlines and will respond to your resource requests quickly and efficiently.

If you are on an immediate deadline call Ken Scott, Public Relations Representative, at 713-682-1382 or cell, 713-397-9091. Or you can e-mail the following information and we will arrange for you to speak with a qualified spokesperson who can provide background and comments for your story.
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News Releases

Date

Title

4/29/13	AICCCA Warns Consumers that Payday Loans make Bad Situation Worse
4/8/13	AICCCA Advises: Rethink Borrowing From 401(k) Retirement Plans
3/11/13	AICCCA Offers Spring Break Travel Advice
2/11/13	AICCCA Advises Consumers to Plan at Tax Time
1/16/13	Suze Orman Headlines AICCCA's 20th Annual Conference
12/10/12	Stop, Look and Listen to avoid Red Tuesday^TM that Follows Black Friday, Cyber Monday Shopping
11/15/12	AICCCA Offers Five Tips for an Affordable Holiday Season
10/29/12	Consumer Beware of Red Tuesday^TM says AICCCA
10/15/12	AICCCA Offers Tips to Keep the Red Tuesday^TM Monster Away this Halloween
9/20/12	AICCCA Advises Four Tips to Protect Your Credit in Divorce
9/14/12	Joseph Curcio is New Director of Creditor Relations
8/22/12	AICCCA Offers Back-to-School Money Tips
7/31/12	AICCCA Offers Five Questions to Help Parents Prepare College Students for Financial Independence
6/26/12	AICCCA Advises Now is the Time to Start Holiday Planning
5/1/12	AICCCA Advises Take a "Paidcation"
4/2/12	Five Toxic Money Moves Consumers Should Avoid
3/15/12	AICCCA Offers Financial Spring Cleaning Tips
2/27/12	AICCCA Says Prepare Now for Predicted Increase in Gasoline Prices
2/9/12	AICCCA Says Follow the Five Fs if You Owe Taxes
1/25/12	AICCCA Says Just Say No to Refund Anticipation Loans
1/10/12	AICCCA 19th Mid-Winter Conference to Address Critical Personal Financial Issues
12/27/11	AICCCA Offers Help For Red Tuesday Sufferers
12/14/11	AICCCA Offers Panic-Free Tips for Last Minute Shoppers
11/17/11	AICCCA Says Consumers Need a Plan to Avoid Red Tuesday^TM
11/1/11	AICCCA Warns Consumers to Beware of Red Tuesday^TM
10/24/11	AICCCA Counselors Say Saving is Number One Way to Prevent Financial Problems
10/5/11	AICCCA Credit Counselors See Clients Today With Different Problems
8/15/11	AICCCA Says Take a Back to Basics Approach to Back-to-School Shopping
6/28/11	AICCCA's 18th Annual Conference Provides Exclusive Opportunity to Hear Experts Address Critical Issues Facing the Credit Counseling Industry
6/2/11	AICCCA Launches New Website
5/24/11	AICCCA Counselors Suggest Consumers Answer Five Questions Before Spending
4/25/11	AICCCA Advises Consumers to Take a "Paidcation" This Year
4/11/11	AICCCA Finds Surprising New Evidence of Growing Financial Literacy
3/23/11	AICCCA's Six Things a Top Quality Credit Counseling Agency Will Tell You
3/3/11	AICCCA's Tax Time 2-step
1/31/11	AICCCA's Three Dos and Three Don'ts for Income Tax Refund
1/6/11	AICCCA 18th Mid-Winter Conference Features Experts To Address Critical Personal Financial Issues
12/29/10	AICCCA Says Get a Plan to Tackle Holiday Debt
11/29/10	"Red Tuesday" Follows Black Friday and Cyber Monday Shopping Problem debt the gift that lowers your standard of living
11/3/10	AICCCA Warns Consumers that the Use of Credit on Black Friday and Cyber Monday Could Result in a Red Tuesday^TM
10/14/10	AICCCA Advises - Plan now for Holiday Expenses Recession easing no excuse for overspending
10/6/10	Continue to Save Even as Recession Eases Four Saving Incentives
8/30/10	AICCCA Provides Five Strategies for Prioritizing Debt
7/30/10	AICCCA Works With FTC on New Rule Protecting Consumers from Unfair Debt Settlement Practices
7/13/10	AICCCA's 17th Annual Conference Provides Exclusive Opportunity to Hear Experts Address Critical Issues Facing the Consumer Credit Counseling Industry
6/9/10	AICCCA Warns a Leading Cause of Bankruptcy Missing Early Warning Signs of Financial Trouble
5/24/10	AICCCA Advises Consumers -Tread Vacation Waters Carefully
4/26/10	AICCCA Finds Consumers Confused About Differences Between Credit Counseling and Debt Settlement
4/14/10	AICCCA Advises Consumers Learn Five Basic Financial Principles During Financial Literacy Month
4/5/10	As Demand for Credit Counseling Services Jump, Consumers are too Slow to Ask for Help
3/23/10	AICCCA reveals what consumers need to know if they owe
3/15/10	AICCCA Advises Consumers Learn Five Basic Financial Principles During Financial Literacy Month
3/8/10	AICCCA Says Don't Let Spring Break Break the Bank
2/22/10	AICCCA Advises Consumers Credit CARD Act Provides Protections But High Credit Card Balances Still Need to Go
2/4/10	AICCCA Says Patience Pays Big Time - Just Say No to Refund Anticipation Loans
1/7/10	AICCCA 17th Mid-Winter Conference Features Experts To Address Critical Personal Financial Issues

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FAQs

What is Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies?

The Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCCA) is a nonprofit national membership organization, established to promote quality and consistent delivery of credit counseling services.

AICCCA fulfills its mission by establishing a consensus among consumer professionals regarding credit counseling service standards and professional industry conduct, as well as by establishing and maintaining strong relationships with credit management professionals and consumers.

What is a Debt Management Plan?

In addition to providing professional credit counseling and consumer education, any AICCCA member agency can enroll a consumer in a plan designed to eliminate unsecured debt. A Debt Management Plan (DMP) involves negotiating with creditors to reduce or eliminate interest and penalties while the consumer makes regular payments through the agency. The agency pays the consumer's creditors from the funds received and provides regular statements to the consumer showing the distribution of the funds received. While the DMP is in effect, the consumer should not incur additional credit card debt so that the plan can successfully work to eliminate current debt.

Will Being On a Debt Management Plan Affect My Credit?

Most consumers, who qualify for a DMP, have already experienced difficulty with credit. However, creditors recognize a sincere consumer effort to repay their debt and become rehabilitated through a responsible credit counseling agency. Some creditors do report to credit bureaus that a consumer has entered a DMP. This notation on a credit report is generally not seen as negative. One of the surest ways to rebuild credit is to gain control of family finances through successful completion of a DMP and educational help from a credit counseling agency. Missing payments to a creditor is far more damaging and expensive due to late penalties, increased interest rates, and fees.

Are Debt Management Plans Expensive?

AICCCA members are bound by standards that limit the charges for their services. Some states also have strict limitations. A responsible credit counseling agency can provide enrollment in a DMP at reasonable costs. Counseling is typically free and will be supplied whether or not a consumer is eligible for a DMP. Consumers should beware of any agency that requires high fees or asks for large contributions. Some non-AICCCA agencies ask for as much as $200 to $400 or more to enroll in a DMP.

How Long Does It Take To Complete a Debt Management Plan?

The length of a DMP depends upon the total amount of debt, the consumer's ability to repay, and the specific creditors involved. Some consumers need as much as 60 months to satisfy all of their unsecured debt. Others can do so in much less time. The key is to make a concerted effort to get your family back on the right financial track and to maintain control of your finances in the future. This takes resolve, time, and effort. Most consumers find that a DMP is a better solution than personal bankruptcy or continuing to live under a mountain of debt. With help, the behaviors that resulted in heavy debt can be corrected.

TOLL FREE HELP LINE: 866-703-TRUSTAICCCA (866-703-8787)

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