This Consolidated Credit Solutions review for 2023 provides a detailed overview of the company’s services and reputation. It covers customer testimonials, pricing details, and important information about Consolidated Credit.
Consolidated Credit Solutions, Inc. is a well-established non-profit credit counseling agency that has been operating since 1993. They specialize in offering a range of debt relief services, including consumer credit counseling services (CCCS), debt management plans (DMP), debt consolidation, and bankruptcy counseling.
To address a common misconception, it’s important to clarify that Consolidated Credit and Consolidated Credit Solutions are the same entity. The company maintains multiple websites, such as www.ConsolidatedCredit.org and www.ConsolidatedCreditSolutions.org, both of which lead to the same profile on the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
5 key features of Consolidated Credit Solutions:
- Credit Counseling: Consolidated Credit Solutions provides credit counseling services to help you understand your credit score and develop a plan to improve it. Additionally, they will help you create a budget analysis and plan to pay down your debt balances.
- Debt Management Plans: The company offers debt management plans (DMPs) that can help you consolidate your credit card debt into one manageable payment. The DMPs typically last for close to five years and can help reduce interest rates and fees.
- Debt Consolidation Loans: Consolidated Credit Solutions can help you obtain a debt consolidation loan to pay off your debts. The company works with a network of lenders to find a loan that suits your needs and budget. Consolidate Credit Solutions is not a direct lender.
- Bankruptcy Counseling: If you’re considering filing for bankruptcy, Consolidated Credit Solutions can provide you with pre-bankruptcy counseling and post-bankruptcy education to help you navigate the process. Their consumer credit counseling program (i.e., DMP) will be the program they assist you with enrolling in to provide you with a more affordable monthly payment.
- Educational Resources: The company has a wealth of educational resources on its website, including articles, videos, and infographics, to help you learn about debt and money management.
Consolidated Credit Solutions is a reputable credit counseling agency that can help you get out of debt and improve your financial situation. However, make sure you research all of your options before deciding on any one particular path. Compare Consolidated Credit to other debt relief companies to determine which suits you best. And here at NoMoreCreditCards.com, we make that research process easier for you to conduct.
Keep in mind not all companies offer real solutions. Some exploit gaps in your knowledge to make money. Therefore, it’s essential to review each company’s offerings carefully. NoMoreCreditCards.com offers in-depth, neutral research for the debt relief, settlement, and consolidation industry to help develop the most accurate, unbiased company reviews. For a comparison of the best debt relief companies for 2023 check out this page next.
About Consolidated Credit Solutions
- Legal Name: Consolidated Credit Solutions
- Consolidated Credit President: Mr. Gary Herman
- Industry: Debt Counselling
- Address: 5701 West Sunrise Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33313
- Website: https://www.consolidatedcreditsolutions.org/ or, https://www.consolidatedcredit.org/
- Phone: (844) 845 9343 or (855) 466 4311
- Licensed? Yes, licensed for Consumer Credit Counseling in multiple states including Vermont, Maryland, Michigan, Oregon, Kansas, and Virginia. Visit Consolidatedcredit.org/licensing/ for more details about Consolidated Credit’s licenses.
- Certifications and Accreditations: Member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Financial Counselling Association of America (FCAA), Certified ISO 9001 through Bureau Veritas Certification, US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Certified Financial Counsellors (CFC).
How Does Consolidated Credit Solutions Work?
Consolidated Credit offers credit counseling and debt relief programs to individuals seeking to resolve their debts without resorting to bankruptcy.
They provide free access to various financial literacy resources to educate consumers on better financial management. Additionally, they offer personalized financial planning services for individuals who want to pay off their debt at an affordable rate.
- First, a certified credit counselor assesses your debts, credit, and budget to determine if they can assist you in finding the right solution for your needs and determine an affordable payment amount. This evaluation is free of charge.
- Next, the counselor helps you understand the different options available, such as a debt management plan (DMP), debt relief, or debt consolidation.
- Consolidated Credit’s debt management program collaborates with your creditors to reduce the interest rates on each enrolled account.
- Clients then make a single monthly payment to Consolidated Credit.
- The company then distributes the payments to each creditor on a monthly basis at a reduced interest rate. Furthermore, Consolidated Credit may charge clients a maximum fee of $50 per month, which is often included in the payment.
- With Consolidated Credit, credit card debt can be paid in full within approximately five years.
What is a debt management program?
A debt management program is a structured repayment plan specifically created to assist individuals in eliminating their credit card debt with high-interest rates. To enroll in the program, you work with a credit counseling agency that helps you determine a monthly payment that is manageable within your budget.
Debt management programs are designed to help consumers become debt-free within approximately five years. This timeframe is comparable to the duration of a Chapter 13 bankruptcy payment plan, but it has a lesser impact on an individual’s credit score.
What is a debt relief program?
A debt relief program is a method of resolving unsecured debt through a process called debt negotiation or debt settlement. Instead of making monthly payments directly to your creditors, you make a single monthly deposit into a dedicated savings account. Your monthly payments continue to accumulate in this account until enough funds are available to settle one of your debts, for about half of the total amount owed.
This means that your creditors do not receive regular monthly payments. In order for the program to progress, your monthly payments must become delinquent and reach a point where the accounts are written off and sold to third-party collection agencies. At this stage, the debts can be settled for less than the full balance owed.
The program’s debt negotiators are monitoring your savings account balance. Based on the amount of funds available in this account will determine what creditor gets settled first.
Learn more about debt settlement services.
However, does Consolidated Credit offer a debt settlement?
Non-profit consumer credit counseling companies are not permitted to offer debt settlement services. If a company claims to provide credit counseling and debt settlement services, it may have established a referral partnership with another company.
Nevertheless, even such a referral partnership may violate strict laws that prohibit consumer credit counseling companies from offering debt settlement services.
According to ConsolidatedCredit.org, when asked about whether they provide debt settlement programs, their response was:
“No. We provide a debt management program, which is different from a settlement program. However, our certified credit counselors can offer advice to consumers on whether a settlement program would be a better option for relief based on their individual situation.”
Top Debt Settlement Companies for 2023:
What is debt consolidation?
Consolidating your various debts into a single low monthly payment can make it easier to manage your finances compared to making multiple monthly payments.
Debt consolidation involves refinancing multiple debts by acquiring a new loan at a lower interest rate. By combining multiple debts into one, you can simplify the repayment process for credit cards, loans, and other bills. Debt consolidation loans are typically repaid through monthly installments that include interest and fees.
If you are considering a debt consolidation loan, it is essential to carefully review your contract to understand the interest rate, fees, and terms associated with the loan. Take the time to calculate and ensure that your debt consolidation plan is more cost-effective than what you’re currently on path to paying to resolve each debt.
What Type of Accounts Qualify for Consolidated Credit Solutions Program?
Consolidated Credit Solutions offers a free credit counseling program to anyone who wants to improve their finances.
This includes individuals struggling with high-interest rates, late payments, or even those just looking to consolidate their bills into one monthly payment to alleviate debts. The program works with consumers who have multiple accounts with different lenders. These include mortgages, auto loans, student loans, personal loans, and others.
Is Consolidated Credit Solutions Legitimate?
Yes. Consolidated Credit Solutions, founded in 1993, provides free credit counseling and educational materials to help consumers understand how to manage their finances better and pay off credit card debt faster. Consolidated Credit Solutions is licensed and has excellent customer reviews, including the following credentials:
- The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has given them an A+ rating.
- Consolidated Credit Solutions is accredited by the FCAA, and CFC,
- They are also certified with Bureau Veritas, a company that specializes in quality assurance and auditing.
- Additionally, the company is licensed by the Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities, and Healthcare Administration
- Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc is a Credit Counseling Agency Approved Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 11. Visit the Department of Justice’s website to verify their license.
- Consolidated Credit Solutions received 4.7 out of 5 stars and an “excellent” rating from TrustPilot, as one of the best companies to help consumers pay off their debts.
Consolidated Credit Solutions Pros:
- Experienced and certified credit counselors, including HUD-approved housing counselors.
- Provides extensive financial education through workshops, webinars, and wellness fairs.
- Excellent ratings on Trustpilot and BBB, indicating positive customer feedback and reputation.
- Specialized assistance available for military service members and veterans.
- Offers affordable or free consultations for credit card debt, secured debt, and first-time home buyers.
- Provides debt consolidation options for secured debt.
- Will not have a negative impact on credit scores.
Consolidated Credit Solutions Cons:
- Does not directly offer loans or debt settlement programs.
- Debt management programs and consumer credit counseling may take longer to complete compared to debt settlement.
- The entire debt amount must be repaid.
- Credit reports may include a third-party notation indicating accounts managed by a debt management program, which some future creditors may view as a negative mark.
Does Consolidated Credit Solutions Hurt Your Credit?
Can Consolidated Credit Solutions hurt your credit? The answer; it depends. Let’s take a look at the good and the bad.
The positive effect Consolidated Credit can have on credit scores:
Debt management and consumer credit counseling programs typically do not lower your credit score. Joining Consolidated Credit’s debt management program can improve your credit scores. This is because past-due accounts may be re-aged to reflect “current on monthly payments,” and late fees can be waived.
Creditors will also continue to get paid monthly until each debt is paid in full.
How Consolidated Credit Solutions can hurt credit scores:
Credit reports will indicate that you have enrolled in a consumer credit counseling program. A third-party notation will appear next to each creditor enrolled in the Debt Management Program (DMP). While this notation itself may not lower your credit score, it can be viewed negatively by future creditors when you apply for a loan. Creditors may view it as “you not being a responsible borrower,” needing to seek the help of a credit counseling program to pay your debt.
In other cases, Consolidated Credit’s credit counseling plan can lead to a decrease in a person’s credit score, depending on their initial credit score when they join the program. If a person’s credit score is already high, such as near 800 or higher, joining the program may have a negative impact on their credit score. This is because credit cards are typically closed as part of the program, which can affect a person’s credit utilization ratio. Credit utilization ratio accounts for approximately 30% of a person’s credit score, and a decrease in available credit can have an impact.
Does the Consolidation Credit Solutions Debt Settlement Program Work?
It is important to note that Consolidated Credit Solutions does not provide debt negotiation or settlement services.
Instead, Consolidated Credit offers an alternative solution to filing for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. They provide a debt management plan (DMP) where they work with your creditors to negotiate reduced interest rates on each account.
Understanding that DMP and credit counseling programs differ from debt settlement is crucial. Debt settlement typically involves intentionally falling behind on monthly payments until the accounts are charged off and sold to third-party collection agencies. At that stage, the debt can be negotiated and settled for less than the total amount owed.
How Much Does Consolidated Credit Solutions Cost?
The average monthly rate and fee for Consolidated Credit’s debt management plan (DMP) is $50 per month. Additionally, debt management and consumer credit counseling programs can charge up to $75 as an enrollment fee.
Multiply $50 per month by 60 months (i.e., the average length of the program) and you could end up paying $3,000 or more in total fees. Consolidated Credit Solutions is a non-profit consumer credit counseling company that is prohibited from charging any more than these amounts.
If you go through their debt consolidation process, you’ll be charged a monthly fee of $49. This includes the counseling session but excludes other expenses, such as the application and processing fees.
According to the IRS, “Fees for debt management plans must not exceed a maximum set-up fee of $75, nor will fees exceed $50 per month for maintenance of the plan.”
Source: IRS.gov, Credit Counseling Organizations Fees
Consolidated Credit Solutions Complaints at BBB
The Better Business Bureau received complaints about Consolidated Credit Solutions Inc., including allegations of deceptive advertising practices.
Consumers reported paying high fees and high rates of return for credit cards and loans. In addition, some customers alleged that they were told they could no longer use their existing credit card because it had been paid off. Others claimed they needed to apply for a loan to receive a lower rate.
Overall, the BBB received 11 complaints against Consolidated Credit Solutions in the last three years. This is a small number of complaints compared to the size of this company. Over the last thirty years, Consolidated Credit has helped over 10.2 million consumers and has consolidated over $9.75 billion in debt.
Consolidated Credit Reviews BBB
At the BBB, Consolidated Credit Solutions reviews have an average customer rating of 4.92/5. This is an excellent rating and it’s based on 195 customer reviews as of June 2023.
For more updated information, visit the BBB. Consolidated Credit Solutions BBB reviews can be seen here on its BBB profile page here.
Consolidated Credit provides customer support via email and phone. They respond within 24 hours and answer questions regarding their services.
Is Consolidated Credit Solutions BBB Accredited?
Consolidated Credit Solutions has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) since 2012. This accreditation demonstrates their commitment to maintaining compliance in their operations and ensuring client satisfaction.
It also signifies their dedication to resolving any complaints in a timely manner, further validating their reputation and credibility.
How to Cancel Consolidated Credit Solutions
To cancel your membership and program with Consolidated Credit Solutions, you have a few options available. Contact their Client Service Team at 1-877-201-7780 or visit their website for cancellation instructions. It is also advisable to review your debt management program contract, as it may include specific guidelines for cancellation.
To initiate the cancellation process, you typically need to sign a cancellation notice and submit it to Consolidated Credit’s customer service. It is important to note that once you cancel your debt management program, your credit card interest rates may revert to their original higher rates. Additionally, you will be responsible for managing and paying your bills independently, so it is crucial to have an alternative debt reduction plan in place.
Clients often decide to cancel a credit counseling program due to high payment amounts. If you choose to cancel your contract with Consolidated Credit and pursue debt settlement, it is recommended to select a reputable company that has high ratings and does not charge any fees until they achieve results.
Compare top-rated debt relief companies.
Bottom Line:
Consolidated Credit Solutions offers affordable debt management programs and a range of educational resources to assist individuals in effectively managing their finances. They provide free credit counseling and financial education materials to help consumers gain knowledge about budgeting, saving, and debt repayment. Their mission is centered around preventing individuals from filing for bankruptcy and empowering consumers to improve their money management skills.
If you are burdened by high credit card interest rates and aim to reduce these rates while consolidating your monthly payments without falling behind, Consolidated Credit Solutions is a reputable company to consider. However, if you are facing financial hardship and struggling to meet the minimum monthly payments on your own, a debt management program may not significantly reduce your monthly payments. In such cases, exploring debt negotiation services could be a more suitable option.
If your primary objective is to save money and achieve debt freedom quickly, debt settlement may be a more favorable approach. On the other hand, if maintaining a high credit score and staying current on monthly payments are your main concerns, consumer credit counseling is recommended.
Disclosure:
At NoMoreCreditCards.com, we strive to provide accurate and honest information to assist the public in making informed decisions regarding debt relief, settlement, and consolidation. If you believe any of the information on this page is inaccurate, please contact us at Info@NoMoreCreditCards.com, and we will make the necessary edits. It is important to conduct thorough research and not solely rely on the information provided in this review. We are not liable for the outcomes of any program you choose to participate in. It is advisable to review multiple sources for reviews about Consolidated Credit Solutions, including your state’s Attorney General office, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).