--- title: "What Happens in Your First Credit Counseling Session?" description: "Learn what happens during your free, no-obligation credit counseling session with Cambridge Credit Counseling, a certified nonprofit agency." url: https://www.cambridge-credit.org/first-credit-counseling-session-2026-08 publisher: "Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp" updated: 2026-09-18 --- # What Happens in Your First Credit Counseling Session? Your first credit counseling session with Cambridge Credit Counseling is a free, no-obligation conversation with a certified counselor. You'll talk about your income and unsecured debts, such as credit cards, and learn about options like a debt management plan. Nothing is required of you, and you decide what happens next. ## The Session Won't Cost You Anything Cambridge Credit Counseling offers credit counseling as a free service for consumers who are having trouble paying credit card and other unsecured bills, or who are simply looking for a way out of debt. There is no charge to sit down and talk through your situation. ## You'll Talk With a Certified Counselor Our counselors are certified through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, and some hold additional certifications, such as PFE Certified Debt Management Professional. Cambridge Credit Counseling is also a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and the Financial Counseling Association of America. On average, our professional counselors have more than 14 years of experience helping people work through their finances. ## The Counselor Will Ask About Your Debts and Income Because credit counseling at Cambridge Credit Counseling is meant for consumers struggling with credit card and other unsecured bills, expect the conversation to focus on your current debts and income. This helps your counselor understand your full financial picture before discussing any options. ## You Might Learn About a Debt Management Plan A debt management plan is not the same thing as credit counseling itself, but setting one up is one possible outcome of a session. If a plan makes sense for your situation, one benefit creditors often extend to clients on a plan through an agency like Cambridge Credit Counseling is a reduction in credit card interest rates and one simple lower monthly payment. That said, there is never any obligation to enroll in a debt management plan after your session. ## Cambridge Credit Counseling Follows Established Rules Cambridge Credit Counseling is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency established in 1996 that offers credit counseling, housing counseling, reverse mortgage counseling, and bankruptcy counseling. We are accredited to the Financial Counseling Association of America's Code of Practice, a set of rules that governs how credit counseling agencies are expected to act. ## What To Do Next If you are ready to talk, we offer a free credit counseling session with no obligation to enroll in anything afterward. You can reach us during our counseling hours, Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm and Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern time. We are open on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Eastern time. Our office is closed on Sundays. ## Questions and answers ### Does the first credit counseling session cost anything? No. Cambridge Credit Counseling provides credit counseling as a free service for consumers who are struggling with credit card and other unsecured bills or who are looking for a way out of debt. ### Do I have to sign up for a debt management plan after my session? No. There is never any obligation to enroll in a debt management plan after a credit counseling session, even though setting one up is one possible outcome of the conversation. ### Who will I actually talk to during the session? You'll speak with a counselor certified through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. Our counselors average more than 14 years of experience, and Cambridge Credit Counseling is a member of both the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and the Financial Counseling Association of America. ### What if I need help with something other than credit card debt, like housing or bankruptcy? Cambridge Credit Counseling also offers housing counseling, reverse mortgage counseling, bankruptcy counseling, student loan counseling, and first-time homebuyer education courses, in addition to credit counseling and debt management plans. ## Sources - Bankruptcy Counseling | Cambridge: https://cambridge-credit.org/bankruptcy-counseling.html (checked 2026-08-04) - Best Credit Counseling Service | Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/credit-counseling.html (checked 2026-08-04) - cambridge-credit.org credit counseling page: https://cambridge-credit.org/credit-counseling.html (checked 2026-08-03) - Cambridge Credit Counseling: https://cambridge-credit.org/index.html (checked 2026-08-04) - Cambridge Credit Counseling: https://cambridge-credit.org/home.html (checked 2026-08-04) - About Cambridge Credit Counseling: https://cambridge-credit.org/about.html (checked 2026-08-04) - Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp, hours confirmed by Christopher Viale, President and CEO, 16 September 2026 (checked 2026-09-18) - About Cambridge Credit Counseling: https://cambridge-credit.org/about.html (checked 2026-08-04) - Financial Literacy | Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/financial-education-tools.html (checked 2026-08-04) - Credit Counselors - Housing Counselors | Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/meet-counselors.html (checked 2026-08-04) - Selecting a Consumer Credit Counseling Agency | Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/select-credit-counseling-agency.html (checked 2026-08-04) - About Cambridge Credit Counseling: https://cambridge-credit.org/about.html (checked 2026-08-04) - About Cambridge Credit Counseling: https://cambridge-credit.org/about.html (checked 2026-08-04) - Cambridge Credit Counseling: https://cambridge-credit.org/index.html (checked 2026-08-04) - Credit Counseling Certifications | Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/counselor-certifications.html (checked 2026-08-04) - Credit Counseling Certifications | Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/counselor-certifications.html (checked 2026-08-04) - Selecting a Consumer Credit Counseling Agency | Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/select-credit-counseling-agency.html (checked 2026-08-04) - NFCC Member Agencies register: https://www.nfcc.org/nfcc-member-agencies/ (checked 2026-08-28) - Frequently Asked Questions | Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/frequently-asked-questions.html (checked 2026-08-04) - Credit Basics | Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/credit-basics.html (checked 2026-08-04) - Equal Credit Opportunity Act | Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/equal-credit-opportunity-act.html (checked 2026-08-04) - 1st Time Homebuyers | Cambridge: https://cambridge-credit.org/homebuyers.html (checked 2026-08-04) - About Cambridge Credit Counseling: https://cambridge-credit.org/about.html (checked 2026-08-04) - What is Credit Counseling? | Cambridge Credit: https://cambridge-credit.org/what-is-credit-counseling.html (checked 2026-08-04) - About Cambridge Credit Counseling: https://cambridge-credit.org/about.html (checked 2026-08-04) - Christopher Viale, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp, written brief by email 2 September 2026. (checked 2026-09-02) --- 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.