American Consumer Credit Counseling is one of the most reputable non profit credit counseling agencies in the industry. That doesn’t happen without the help of some well-trained and professional counselors. We wanted to take a moment to give you a behind the scenes look at what being a credit counselor is all about. So, we interviewed one of ACCC’s finest credit counselors, Koreen.
American Consumer Credit Counseling is here to help.
Interview With A Certified Credit Counselor
How long have you been a counselor at ACCC? Since 2012.
What’s the most common advice you give to the people you counsel? To create a household budget. It’s important to track all monthly expenses, even the small ones. When people can actually see how much money they have coming in each month, and how much they’re spending each month, then they can start to understand where they need to make changes and better financial decisions. I also recommend that they use cash whenever possible. When you see the money leaving your wallet, rather than just using credit cards, it can make you think a little more about how much you’re spending.
Do you take the same advice that you give to clients, and does it help with your personal finances? Absolutely. My training and experience has taught me a lot about improving my own financial management skills. I try to keep my credit card utilization rate under 30% and, actually, I never charge anything I can’t afford to pay off before my next billing cycle. That’s something we encourage all our clients to strive for, but it can be difficult depending on a person’s financial situation.
What’s the most common reason that people call for help? People hear about what we can do to help them get out of debt… lower their interest rates, lower their monthly payments, and consolidate their unsecured debt payments. They’re usually calling once they reach a point where they just can’t make a dent in their credit card debt.
Can anyone enroll in a Debt Management Program? No, the DMP is not an option for everyone. We provide a free credit counseling session to examine a client’s entire financial situation, which will determine what their debt relief options are. A DMP is very effective debt solution, but it may not be the best option for everyone.
What is your favorite part of the job? Relieving financial stress. Many of the people who call us for help are in a really bad debt situation, and you can tell how stressed out they are. It feels good to be able to help them find ways to get out of debt and get to a better place.
Special thanks to Koreen for taking the time to answer these questions!
If you’re trying to get out of debt and looking for a solution, certified credit counselors like Koreen are standing by. Schedule a free credit counseling session with us today.
