Family Credit Counseling Service receives hundreds of calls per week
from consumers looking for credit counseling and debt management
assistance. Often one of the first questions asked by a consumer is,
“Are you a non-profit organization?” My answer to this question is,
“Yes, but if you’re trying to find a trustworthy credit counseling
organization to assist you in becoming debt free, this is generally
not an adequate question to measure the legitimacy of a credit
counseling organization.”

Bottom Line: It’s good to know that an organization is a non-profit
organization. It’s even better if they are members of the Better
Business Bureau. If you’re really interested in ensuring you are
dealing with a legitimate organization, determine if that
organization is a licensed debt management provider in your state.
There are many states that don’t require licensing, but there are
many that do. Find out if your state requires licensing and if so,
choose a credit counseling organization from this short list. The
chances you will have the opportunity to speak to a credit counselor
that has your best interests in mind will increase greatly.