![woman with a score range marker behind her speaking to a man](https://www.bankrate.com/2022/02/02082616/Cards-Guide-To-Credit-Counseling.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&width=230&height=150)
Credit counseling: What to know before signing up
Credit counseling can help solve financial issues including debt and bad credit.
Bev O'Shea is a Georgia-based freelance journalist specializing in personal finance and consumer credit. She has worked in personal finance since 2007, when she joined MSN Money as a copy editor. She is a former personal finance writer for NerdWallet, where she was an authority on credit reports, credit scores and identity theft. At NerdWallet, she originated a "scam alert" column, frequently appeared on NerdWallet's Smart Money podcast and led coverage of a massive Equifax data breach.
More recently, she has written for HerMoney, NextAvenue and Experian. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, MarketWatch, USA Today, MSN Money and elsewhere. Every now and then, her credit score reaches 850.
Credit counseling can help solve financial issues including debt and bad credit.
If you are considering working with a debt relief company, make sure to watch out for debt relief and credit scams.
Closed accounts listed on your credit report are removed after a set amount of time – depending on the status.
Consider the benefits and drawbacks of a credit builder loan before applying.
Employ the tactics outlined in this credit repair guide and get your score back on track.
Discover which debt relief options exist, how they work and their pros and cons.
The best credit repair companies offer help disputing negative items on your credit report and improving your credit score.
Need credit card debt relief? Consider debt consolidation, debt management, debt settlement, or bankruptcy.