--- title: "Cambridge Credit Counseling Services for California Residents" description: "Cambridge Credit Counseling offers California residents free credit counseling, debt management plans, student loan, housing, and bankruptcy counseling." url: https://www.cambridge-credit.org/debt-help-in-california publisher: "Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp" updated: 2026-09-29 --- # Cambridge Credit Counseling Services for California Residents Cambridge Credit Counseling is a nonprofit agency that offers free credit counseling, debt management plans, and other services to California residents facing financial stress. California residents can access credit counseling, student loan counseling, housing counseling including first-time homebuyer courses, reverse mortgage counseling, and bankruptcy counseling and debtor education through Cambridge Credit Counseling. ## Credit Counseling and Debt Management Plans in California California residents can meet with Cambridge Credit Counseling for a free credit counseling session. A debt management plan consolidates unsecured debts into one monthly payment administered by the counseling agency. It is not a loan and does not involve borrowing new money. On a debt management plan, almost all concessions such as reduced interest rates or waived fees follow preset guidelines set by each creditor, not by Cambridge Credit Counseling. In some cases they can vary based on the level of hardship in the budget, and certain accounts may not be eligible for them. Counselors who work with California residents are certified, and Cambridge Credit Counseling is ISO 9001 registered and a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. ## Housing Counseling in California Cambridge Credit Counseling is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency, and California residents can use this service for first-time homebuyer courses. A mortgage is a long-term secured loan in which the house or property serves as collateral. A monthly mortgage payment typically includes principal, interest, real estate taxes, and property insurance, known as PITI, and often private mortgage insurance as well. A California homebuyer who makes a down payment of less than 20 percent of the home cost is required to obtain private mortgage insurance, which protects the lender if the borrower defaults. This cost varies by lender and can range from 0.15 percent to 2.5 percent of the loan amount. Once the loan reaches an 80 percent loan-to-value ratio, the homeowner should tell the lender that the premiums need to end. California residents who cannot afford a 20 percent down payment can contact a HUD-approved housing counseling agency to see whether they qualify for special homeownership programs. ## Student Loan Counseling in California Student loan counseling is available to California residents through Cambridge Credit Counseling as part of its nonprofit counseling services. ## Reverse Mortgage Counseling in California California residents who are considering a reverse mortgage, also called a HECM, can receive reverse mortgage counseling through Cambridge Credit Counseling. ## Bankruptcy Counseling and Debtor Education in California Cambridge Credit Counseling is approved by the Department of Justice to provide pre-filing bankruptcy counseling and post-filing debtor education to California residents. Bankruptcy counseling and debtor education each cost $50.00 per household per session and are available free or at a reduced rate based on ability to pay. The fee is per household, not per person, so a married couple filing together pays once. Households with income below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for their household size are presumed eligible for a fee waiver. Households above that line may still qualify for a reduced fee if they can show a temporary financial hardship, such as a recent job loss or drop in income, unexpected medical costs, disability, separation or divorce, the death of a household wage earner, or another documented financial circumstance that significantly impacts the household's ability to pay. Waivers and reductions are assessed on the household's current income, expenses and overall financial condition, and Cambridge Credit Counseling will not refuse services to anyone due to inability to pay. Approval by the U.S. Department of Justice Executive Office of United States Trustees does not endorse or assure the quality of our services. ## Debt Management Plans Are Not Debt Settlement Debt settlement means negotiating to pay less than the full balance owed. This is a different service from credit counseling and is typically offered by for-profit companies. California residents working with Cambridge Credit Counseling receive credit counseling and debt management plan services, not debt settlement. ## About Cambridge Credit Counseling Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1996 and headquartered in Agawam, Massachusetts. It offers credit counseling, debt management plans, housing counseling, student loan counseling, reverse mortgage counseling, and bankruptcy counseling to residents across the country, including California. California residents can reach Cambridge Credit Counseling for new counseling inquiries at 800-235-1407. ## Questions and answers ### Is credit counseling free for California residents? Yes. Credit counseling sessions at Cambridge Credit Counseling are free of charge for California residents who reach out for help. ### What is a debt management plan available to California residents? A debt management plan consolidates unsecured debts into one monthly payment handled by the counseling agency. It is not a loan. Almost all concessions like reduced interest rates follow preset guidelines set by each creditor, and certain accounts may not be eligible for them. ### Does Cambridge Credit Counseling offer debt settlement to California residents? No. Debt settlement means negotiating to pay less than what is owed and is typically offered by for-profit companies. Cambridge Credit Counseling provides credit counseling and debt management plans, which are different services. ### How can California residents contact Cambridge Credit Counseling? California residents can call 800-235-1407 to reach Cambridge Credit Counseling for new counseling inquiries, including credit counseling, housing counseling, and bankruptcy counseling. ## Sources - John Henle, Cambridge Credit Counseling, email of 24 September 2026; 28 CFR 58.21(b)(1) and 58.34(b)(1) (checked 2026-09-24) - Mortgage Downpayments| Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/mortgage-down-payments.html (checked 2026-08-04) - cambridge-credit.org credit counseling page: https://cambridge-credit.org/credit-counseling.html (checked 2026-08-03) - Gary Washington, Director of Bankruptcy Counseling, Cambridge Credit Counseling, by email 2 September 2026. (checked 2026-09-02) - Cambridge Credit Counseling: https://cambridge-credit.org/index.html (checked 2026-08-04) - Mortgage Downpayments| Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/mortgage-down-payments.html (checked 2026-08-04) - cambridge-credit.org about page: https://cambridge-credit.org/about.html (checked 2026-08-03) - NFCC Member Agencies register: https://www.nfcc.org/nfcc-member-agencies/ (checked 2026-08-28) - cambridge-credit.org housing counseling page: https://cambridge-credit.org/housing-counseling.html (checked 2026-08-03) - cambridge-credit.org bankruptcy page: https://cambridge-credit.org/bankruptcy-counseling.html (checked 2026-08-03) - cambridge-credit.org about page: https://cambridge-credit.org/about.html (checked 2026-08-03) - cambridge-credit.org contact page: https://cambridge-credit.org/contact.html (checked 2026-08-03) - Cambridge Credit Counseling: https://cambridge-credit.org/index.html (checked 2026-08-04) - Mortgage Basics | Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/mortgage-basics.html (checked 2026-08-04) - Mortgage Downpayments| Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/mortgage-down-payments.html (checked 2026-08-04) - Mortgage Downpayments| Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/mortgage-down-payments.html (checked 2026-08-04) - industry definition, NFCC: https://www.nfcc.org/resources/debt-management-plans/ (checked 2026-08-28) - Mortgage Basics | Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/mortgage-basics.html (checked 2026-08-04) - Federal Trade Commission, How To Get Out of Debt: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-get-out-debt (checked 2026-09-18) - How To Get Out of Debt, Federal Trade Commission: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-get-out-debt (checked 2026-08-28) - CFPB consumer guidance: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-the-difference-between-credit-counseling-and-debt-settlement-debt-consolidation-or-credit-repair-en-1449/ (checked 2026-08-28) - Mortgage Basics | Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/mortgage-basics.html (checked 2026-08-04) --- Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit credit counseling agency. Credit counseling is free. Talk to a counselor: 800-857-2808 | https://www.cambridge-credit.org/get-help Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Required disclosures and state licenses, the privacy notice and the terms are linked in the footer of every page.