Credit Counseling is a free service offered by nonprofit credit counseling agencies — like Take Charge America — that helps consumers find solutions for their credit card debt. The process includes reviewing a consumer’s income, expenses and debts, formulating a workable budget and developing an action plan to tackle credit card debt. At Take Charge America, you may complete this process on the phone with a certified credit counselor or on your own using our online financial review. Let’s take a look at what these two counseling options have in common, and how they’re different.      

What Phone Counseling and Online Counseling Have in Common

If you’re struggling with credit card debt or simply need help budgeting for expenses, a credit counseling session can help you find answers. When you complete credit counseling on the phone or online, you receive:

• Full review of all income, expenses and debts
• Personalized budget based on your unique situation
• Suggestions for cutting costs
• Action plan with a recommendation for the best debt solution
• Peace of mind your information is kept secure and confidential

Credit Counseling on the Phone

A phone credit counseling session can take anywhere from 45-90 minutes, depending on your unique circumstances. In addition to everything above, you receive one-on-one attention from a certified counselor. Phone counseling is an excellent choice for consumers who may need extra guidance through the process and would benefit from an objective, empathetic advocate to help talk through their options.

Online Credit Counseling

Consumers who prepare documentation of their income, expenses and debts before they begin their online credit counseling session may be able to complete it in as little as 20 minutes. Online counseling is a great choice for people who are short on time, or who can’t block out time during business hours for phone counseling. Online credit counseling is available 24 hours a day and consumers can save their progress and return later if they can’t complete the process in one sitting. And if you start the online review and find you need extra help, you can switch to phone counseling to receive assistance from a counselor.

Whether you choose to go through credit counseling on the phone or online, you will have peace of mind when you discover your best solution for paying off credit card debt.