30%
of consumers have
poor or fair credit.
Your partner in
building good credit.And a good life.
Credit Council USA is a nonprofit helping you make sense of credit and debt, understand your options, and find a practical next step.
America’s credit picture. A closer look.
70M+
U.S. adults have had a debt
sent to collections.
42%
say their credit score
blocked a financial product.
Expert Guidance To Move Your Life Forward
Our nonprofit team of credit experts is standing by to answer your questions, help you understand your options, and work with you on a practical next step.
Support for Credit Report Disputes
A wrong balance, unfamiliar account, or inaccurate payment history deserves a closer look. We help review your reports, document the issue, and prepare a focused dispute.
- Compare account details, dates, balances, and reported payments.
- Gather statements and other records supporting the correction.
- Draft the dispute and review the response for possible follow-up.
Read more about Support for Credit Report Disputes
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Help Exploring Debt Payment Options
We review what you owe and what you can afford, then help pursue payment arrangements with creditors or collectors. When appropriate, we can communicate and negotiate on your behalf.
- Review the balance, creditor, and account history.
- Build a proposal around essential expenses and available income.
- Review proposed payment dates, amounts, and written terms.
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Support With Debt Collection Questions
We help identify the company contacting you, review the claimed debt and balance, and prepare requests for information. Then we help you decide how to respond.
- Identify the collector, original creditor, and account.
- Review notices and questions about how the balance was calculated.
- Prepare a written request and keep a record of the response.
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Letters That Explain Your Circumstances
We help put a specific request into writing: a letter for a landlord, a goodwill request about a past payment, or a hardship explanation to a creditor.
- Explain the circumstances and what has changed.
- State the adjustment or consideration you are requesting.
- For tenant support, explain the credit or debt work underway.
Read more about Letters That Explain Your Circumstances
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Identity Theft Recovery & Referral Support
We help organize identity-theft concerns, unfamiliar accounts, and reporting records. When an identity-theft or employment-reporting issue may need legal review, we can discuss an attorney referral.
- Organize affected accounts, notices, and a timeline.
- Work through official recovery resources and needed communications.
- Explore a referral when appropriate and available; representation is not guaranteed.
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Guidance for Building Better Credit Habits
Understand payment history, balances, credit use, and inquiries. We connect the information on your reports to practical habits you can work on over time.
- Understand the difference between a report and a score.
- Learn how balances, payments, and inquiries fit together.
- Build a credit checklist around your situation and goals.
Read more about Guidance for Building Better Credit Habits
Get Expert HelpMore than a number.
A life you’re building.
Credit questions often begin with a bigger plan.
Whatever’s ahead, start with a clearer understanding.
Get into a new car.
For the everyday drives and the roads you’ve yet to explore.
Move into a new home.
An apartment downtown. A house with a yard. A place to make your own.
Land that new job.
A new role, a different direction, or the fresh start you’ve been working toward.
Get approved for a credit card.
More choice for everyday life and the plans taking shape.
Your goals. Your next step.
Talk about what’s aheadCredit Insights to Help MakeA Clearer Path.
Plain-language resources to help you understand credit, navigate debt, and feel more prepared.
Your credit report, made clearer.
Get familiar with the details in your report, one section at a time.
Explore the guideMake sense of what you owe.
Read the guideA collection letter. What comes next?
Read the guideSmall habits. A stronger foundation.
Read the checklist