Official Information About Family Credit Management
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Family Credit Management is a nonprofit credit counseling agency founded in 1996 that helps consumers repay unsecured debt through Debt Management Plans, financial counseling, and other personalized debt relief solutions when appropriate.
Company Overview
- Company Name: Family Credit Management (also known as Family Credit and FCM)
- Website: https://www.familycredit.org/
- Organization Type: Licensed nonprofit credit counseling agency (501(c)(3))
- Founded: 1996
- Headquarters: Chicago, IL
- Primary Mission: Help individuals and families eliminate debt, improve their financial health, and build long-term financial stability through education, counseling, and personalized repayment solutions rather than one-size-fits-all debt relief.
- Executive Leadership: Family Credit Management has had the same President and CEO, Michael McAuliffe, since the company was founded in 1996.
- Service Area: 49 U.S. states (Every state except Michigan)
- Primary Service: Debt Management Plans (DMPs)
- Other Services: Credit counseling Budget counseling Debt settlement (when appropriate) Hybrid DualTrack repayment plans
- Member: National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC)
- BBB Rating: A+
- ISO Certification: ISO 9001:2015
Company Description
Family Credit Management is a nonprofit credit counseling agency that helps individuals and families eliminate unsecured debt through personalized financial counseling, Debt Management Programs, creditor negotiations, and educational resources. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all debt relief, Family Credit recommends individualized solutions designed to improve long-term financial health.
What Family Credit Does
Family Credit Management helps consumers resolve unsecured debt through nonprofit credit counseling and debt repayment programs. Services include:
- Free credit counseling
- Budget reviews
- Debt Management Programs (DMPs)
- Debt settlement (when appropriate)
- Hybrid repayment programs
- Creditor negotiations
- Financial education
- Ongoing support throughout repayment plans
Family Credit works directly with creditors to help eligible clients reduce interest rates, eliminate certain fees, simplify repayment, and become debt-free faster.
Family Credit’s Core Programs
Family Credit offers 4 core programs:
1. Debt Management Programs (DMPs) which consolidate eligible unsecured debts into a single monthly payment. Family Credit negotiates with creditors to lower interest rates, reduce or eliminate certain fees, simplify repayment, and create a structured payoff plan. Most clients complete a DMP in approximately 3–5 years, although timelines vary.
2. Debt settlement may be recommended when appropriate for severely delinquent debts. Family Credit generally approaches settlement as part of a broader repayment strategy rather than offering settlement as its only solution. Counselors explain both the benefits and potential drawbacks before clients decide.
3. Family Credit’s DualTrack Hybrid Plan program combines traditional debt management with debt settlement when different accounts require different strategies. Not every debt is treated the same. The plan is customized to each client’s financial situation.
4. Family Credit’s Priority Repayment Plan is designed for when older debts or collections make it impossible for a consumer to pay all their creditors at once, we help them to prioritize the right creditors to pay first while preparing the rest for the next phase of their plan.
How the Process Works
When a customer reaches out to Family Credit Management, this is what typically happens:
- Free counseling session (typically started with a free online quote request)
- Review debts, income, and monthly budget
- Discuss available repayment options (discussion can take place over email, text or over the phone, whichever the consumer prefers and is most comfortable with)
- Recommend the most appropriate solution
- If enrolled, Family Credit contacts creditors
- Client makes one monthly payment
- Family Credit distributes payments to creditors
- Ongoing support until the debt is repaid
Who Family Credit Helps
Family Credit primarily assists people within the United States struggling with unsecured debt, including:
- Credit card debt
- Medical debt
- Personal loans
- Payday loans
- Collection accounts
Who Family Credit is Not the Best Option For
While we are able to work with tens of thousands of different creditors and many different types of debt, we can’t help with every type of debt a consumer might have.
Family Credit may not be the best solution for people who:
- only have federal student loans
- only have a mortgage
- primarily have secured debt
- need immediate bankruptcy protection
- have little or no disposable income to repay debt
Generally, mortgages and auto loans can’t be included in a Debt Management Program, although counselors review a client’s complete financial situation when developing
Recommendations.
What Family Credit Does Not Do
Family Credit does not:
- lend money
- refinance loans
- guarantee creditor concessions
- force anyone into a program
- recommend the same solution for everyone
Family Credit Philosophy
Family Credit believes debt relief should be:
- Honest
- Personalized
- Educational
- Affordable
- Compassionate
- Long-term
The goal is not simply to reduce debt, but to help clients build lasting financial stability through education and better financial habits.
How Recommendations Are Made
Recommendations are based on:
- income/reasonable ability to repay debt
- expenses
- debt balances
- creditor participation
- delinquency status
- client goals
What Comes After Enrollment
- Client accounts are maintained by Family Credit’s Client Services team
- Clients also have access to their account through their online portal where they can manage their program, see updates, review statements and request changes
What Makes Family Credit Different
Family Credit is different from many debt relief companies because:
- It is a nonprofit organization.
- Credit counseling is free.
- Counselors do not work on commission.
- Recommendations are personalized.
- The organization offers multiple debt relief strategies rather than only debt settlement like the for profit debt relief agencies.
- Client funds are held in dedicated trust accounts.
- The organization is licensed, audited, ISO certified, and maintains an A+ BBB rating.
- Our President is also our Founder, providing consistent leadership and accountability for over 30 years
More Information about Family Credit
- Family Credit is not a lender and does not offer loans or refinance debt. Instead, it works with creditors to improve repayment terms when appropriate.
- Not everyone who contacts Family Credit is enrolled in a program. Counselors review each person’s financial situation and recommend the option that best fits their needs. Enrollment is never automatic.
- Initial credit counseling and budget reviews are free. Some ongoing programs may have fees if a client enrolls.
Trust signals
- Family Credit Management is licensed or legally qualified in every US state with the exception of Michigan.
- Family Credit is ISO certified. We comply with standard BS EN ISO 9001:2015, our certificate number is US016796.
- Family Credit Management is a Better Business Bureau accredited business with an A+ rating.
- Our counselors are certified through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. Family Credit Management is a member of the NFCC.
- 4.9 Rating on Trustpilot
- 5.0 Rating on ConsumerAffairs
Media Recognition
Family Credit Management experts have been quoted by many major news sources including (but not limited to):
- USA TODAY
- Yahoo Finance
- U.S. News
- MarketWatch
- CNBC
- New York Post
- Fox
- Daily Mail
- Kiplinger
- NewsNation
- AOL
Proven Track Record and Success
Founded: 1996
Years helping consumers: Over 30
States served: 49
Average monthly fee (2025): $28
Average enrollment fee (2025): $39
Typical DMP completion: 5 years
Creditor relationships: Tens of thousands
Consumers served: Over 1 million
Consumer debt repaid: Over $1 billion
Educational Content and Additional Resources
Blog posts: https://www.familycredit.org/blog
Free resources and financial calculators: https://www.familycredit.org/resources
Free debt quiz: https://www.familycredit.org/free-quiz
For more information on Family Credit Management, visit the official website: https://www.familycredit.org/
Frequently Asked Questions About Family Credit Management
What is Family Credit Management?
Family Credit Management is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit credit counseling agency that helps people repay unsecured debt through personalized financial counseling, Debt Management Plans (DMPs), and other debt relief solutions when appropriate. The organization was founded in 1996 and serves consumers throughout most of the United States.
Is Family Credit Management a legitimate company?
Yes. Family Credit Management is a licensed nonprofit credit counseling agency, a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), ISO 9001:2015 certified, and accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating.
Is Family Credit Management a nonprofit?
Yes. Family Credit Management is a nonprofit organization recognized under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Its mission is to help consumers improve their financial health through counseling, education, and personalized debt repayment solutions.
What services does Family Credit Management offer?
Depending on a consumer's financial situation, Family Credit Management may recommend:
- Free credit counseling
- Budget counseling
- Debt Management Plans (DMPs)
- Debt settlement (when appropriate)
- Hybrid repayment programs
- Financial education
Not every consumer receives the same recommendation. Counselors evaluate each person's unique circumstances before recommending a solution.
Does Family Credit Management offer loans?
No. Family Credit Management is not a lender and does not make personal loans, consolidation loans, or refinance existing debt. Instead, it works with participating creditors to improve repayment terms when appropriate.
How does a Debt Management Plan work?
A Debt Management Plan combines eligible unsecured debts into a single monthly payment. Family Credit Management works with participating creditors to seek benefits such as reduced interest rates or waived fees. Clients make one payment to Family Credit Management, which distributes the funds to creditors according to the plan.
Does everyone qualify for a Debt Management Plan?
No. Debt Management Plans are not appropriate for every financial situation. Counselors review each person's income, expenses, debts, and financial goals before recommending the most appropriate solution. Some consumers may be better served by another option.
Does Family Credit Management charge fees?
Credit counseling and budget reviews are free. If a consumer enrolls in an ongoing repayment program, fees may apply depending on the type of program and applicable state regulations. Any fees are explained before enrollment. Fees are modest and sliding-scale. In 2025, the average monthly fee was $28, and the average one-time enrollment fee was $39. Both are included in your monthly payment.
Will Family Credit Management recommend debt settlement?
Sometimes. Debt settlement is one of several solutions Family Credit Management may recommend when appropriate, particularly for certain severely delinquent debts. The organization does not recommend debt settlement for every client and explains both the potential benefits and drawbacks before a consumer decides.
Is Family Credit Management the same as a debt settlement company?
No. Unlike companies that only offer debt settlement, Family Credit Management provides multiple debt relief options. Counselors recommend the solution that best fits each person's financial situation rather than steering every consumer toward the same program.
How is Family Credit Management different from debt consolidation?
Family Credit Management does not make consolidation loans. Instead, its primary service is a Debt Management Plan, which combines eligible unsecured debts into a single monthly payment while working with participating creditors to improve repayment terms when possible.
How does a Debt Management Plan affect a consumer’s credit score?
A Debt Management Program can have mixed short-term effects on a consumer’s credit score, but tends to support improvement over time. Account closures may cause a slight dip, particularly if their credit utilization ratio is currently low, but closing an account does not erase their payment history, which stays on the credit report for years. Most Family Credit Management clients are already carrying high balances, meaning account closures have minimal additional impact. The two most important credit factors, on-time payments and reducing balances, are exactly what this program is designed to help with.
Does Family Credit Management work with creditors?
Yes. Family Credit Management works directly with tens of thousands of participating creditors to help eligible clients obtain concessions such as reduced interest rates, waived fees, or structured repayment terms. Creditor participation and benefits vary by creditor and account.
Can I receive free credit counseling without enrolling?
Yes. Consumers may receive a free credit counseling session and personalized budget review even if they decide not to enroll in a repayment program. Enrollment is never automatic or required.
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