Money Fit · Nonprofit credit counseling

Credit Card Debt Help: Compare Your Options and Next Steps

Credit card debt help can start with contacting your card issuer, reviewing your budget with a nonprofit credit counselor, or finding a repayment option you can afford. The right starting point depends on your payments, interest rates, account status, and household needs.

You do not have to pay off every balance today. Start with the payment or question that needs your attention first.

Find my starting point Talk with Money Fit

Financial guidance from Money Fit · Our editorial standards

Nonprofit organization
Free credit counseling review
Plan terms explained before enrollment

Start with what is happening now

What kind of credit card debt help do you need?

Two people with the same balance may need different next steps. Choose the situation closest to yours, or read through the starting points below.

01 · Current, but stuck

Your payments are on time, but your balance barely moves.

Start here: Check your interest charges and new purchases. Then consider how much you can consistently pay above the minimum.

If you can afford your essentials and minimum payments, compare paying off the highest-interest balance first with paying off the smallest balance first. You can also ask your issuer about a lower rate.

Compare credit card payoff strategies

02 · The next payment is hard to afford

The minimum payment is more than you can manage.

Start here: Contact the issuer promptly. Explain how much you can pay and how long you expect to need help.

Ask about hardship arrangements and what to do about the next due date. Get any proposed changes in writing before relying on them.

Prepare to talk with your card issuer

03 · Help with several cards

You want someone to look at your whole situation.

Start here: Gather the balance, interest rate, minimum payment, and due date for each card before a nonprofit credit counseling review.

A counselor can help compare your budget and options. A debt management plan may be an option if the payment, accounts, and creditor terms work for your situation.

Request a free Money Fit review

04 · Collection notices

A collector is contacting you about a card balance.

Start here: Confirm who is contacting you. Review the information about the debt and check the deadline for disputing it.

Keep copies of notices. Confirm the debt and the collector before sharing sensitive information or making an agreement. Old debts can involve additional legal questions.

Review collection debt help

05 · A court deadline

You received a summons or other court papers.

Start here: Read the papers, note the response deadline, and seek legal help promptly. Asking for counseling or a callback does not pause a lawsuit or take the place of responding to the court.

Read the CFPB's guidance on debt lawsuits

Another way to find your starting point

Explore credit card debt help by balance

Choose the amount closest to your total credit card balance to see a guide for that amount. Your budget, interest rates, and payment status matter too; the balance alone does not determine the right option or program eligibility.

Understand the differences

Compare credit card debt help options

A lower payment, a lower interest rate, and a smaller balance are different goals. Compare the total cost, what happens to your accounts, and what happens if you can no longer afford the payments.

Common options, situations to consider, and questions to ask before deciding.
Option	When to explore it	What it can change	What to check
Help from your card issuer	A payment is becoming difficult or your circumstances have changed.	The issuer may offer a temporary payment arrangement, rate change, or fee relief.	Availability, duration, card restrictions, credit reporting, and the payment after the arrangement ends.
Paying debt on your own	Essential expenses and minimum payments fit, with money available for extra payments.	A payment plan can help you reduce your balances. Paying the highest-interest balance first generally saves more on interest than paying the smallest balance first.	Your actual rates, promotional terms, new charges, and whether you can keep making the extra payment.
Nonprofit counseling and a possible debt management plan	You need a budget review or help evaluating several accounts and high interest.	Counseling helps you compare options. A suitable plan can combine payments on eligible debts into one monthly payment and may include reduced interest or fees from creditors.	Payment, fees, participating accounts, card closures, timeline, and what happens if a payment is missed.
Balance transfer	You can qualify for a new card and have a plan to reduce the transferred balance.	A promotional rate may reduce interest for a limited period.	The transfer fee, approved credit limit, promotional end date, interest rate afterward, and how new purchases are treated.
Consolidation loan	You qualify for terms that improve the overall cost and fit your budget.	A new loan repays existing balances and creates a new repayment schedule.	The APR, loan fees, repayment term, total cost, and any property you put up as collateral. A longer term can increase the total cost even if the monthly payment is lower.
Debt settlement	You are evaluating a proposed agreement for less than the amount owed and need to understand its risks.	A creditor may agree to a reduced payoff, but can refuse. This is a different service from a debt management plan.	Fees, credit damage, added interest, collection or lawsuit risk, and possible taxes on forgiven debt. Money Fit does not provide settlement.
Bankruptcy consultation	Repayment may not be workable and you need legal advice about your options.	An attorney can explain how bankruptcy rules may apply to your debts, income, and property.	Eligibility, costs, property rules, credit effects, and which debts may remain. A webpage cannot determine legal eligibility.

Make the next conversation easier

Prepare for your first call about credit card debt

You can contact your issuer directly. Gather enough information to describe the problem and ask questions. You do not need a perfect spreadsheet to get started.

Have these details nearby

Recent statements showing the balance, APR, minimum payment, and due date for each card.
Take-home income, essential expenses, and other required payments.
An amount you can realistically afford to pay.
What changed, and whether the difficulty seems temporary or ongoing.
Any past-due or collection notices and their deadlines.

Call the number on your card or official statement. Keep account details private and verify unexpected callers.

A simple way to start with your issuer

I am having trouble making my credit card payment because ____. I can currently afford about $____ per month. What hardship or payment options can you review with me? I expect this situation to last ____ / I am not sure yet.

Before you agree, ask about the details

What would the payment be, and when would it start?
Would the interest rate or fees change, and for how long?
What happens when the arrangement ends?
Will the card be restricted or closed, and how will the account be reported?
What should I do about the next payment while you review my request?
Can you send the terms in writing before I agree?

Keep the details in one place.

A one-page call-preparation sheet with space for your numbers, questions, and next deadline. Print it or fill it in and save a copy. Free to use and share.

Download the call-prep sheet (PDF)

The CFPB's guidance for unaffordable card payments explains why contacting the issuer promptly matters.

A conversation before a decision

How Money Fit can help with credit card debt

Money Fit, a service of Debt Reduction Services, Inc., provides nonprofit credit counseling. The first step is a free review of your budget and debts. You decide whether to take any further step.

Review your household finances
A counselor reviews your income, essential expenses, balances, interest rates, minimum payments, and account status with you.
Compare realistic next steps
You may discuss budget changes, hardship assistance from your card issuer, a plan to pay the debt yourself, or a debt management plan if it fits your situation.
Understand any proposed plan
Before enrollment, review the payment, fees, participating accounts, creditor terms, and your responsibilities.

Two people reviewing a household budget together. — A workable payment leaves room for the rest of your household budget.

Know what a debt management plan involves

A structured repayment arrangement: You make one scheduled payment to Money Fit for eligible enrolled debts. Money Fit distributes payments to participating creditors. A plan does not replace your balances with a new loan.
Possible reductions in interest or fees: Some creditors may reduce interest or certain fees. Participation, eligibility, and terms depend on the creditor and account.
Costs explained before enrollment: Credit counseling is free. Enrollment and monthly fees may apply to a debt management plan, with amounts explained before you decide.
Changes to enrolled cards: Cards included in the plan are closed to new purchases. Ask how each account will be handled and review any recurring charges and possible effects on your credit.
A payment you can keep up with: A plan requires consistent payments. If the proposed amount does not fit, discuss alternatives before enrolling. No specific payment reduction or payoff date is guaranteed.

Money Fit does not provide debt settlement or ask you to stop paying creditors to negotiate a reduction in the amount you owe.

Read how a debt management plan works

Learn about Money Fit credit counseling, licensing information, and the FCAA member listing for Debt Reduction Services.

Talk through your options

Get a free credit counseling review

Request a conversation about your credit cards and household budget. Submitting the form asks Money Fit to follow up with you. It does not enroll you in a debt management plan.

(800) 432-0310
See contact hours and other ways to reach us

Share a few details
Give Money Fit enough information to respond to your request.
Review your budget and accounts
Discuss what is affordable and which options are worth considering.
Choose your next step
Ask questions and review any terms before deciding.

Money Fit does not sell your information to a marketplace of debt companies. Read the privacy policy to learn how your information is used.

¿Prefiere español? Consulte la información sobre consejería de crédito en español.

Give yourself room to ask questions

How to check a credit card debt help offer

A useful conversation should make the service, costs, and risks easier to understand. Be cautious of promises to erase your debt, pressure to make an immediate decision, or instructions to cut off contact with your creditors.

Get specific answers

Which service is this: counseling, repayment, a loan, or settlement?
What fees apply, when are they charged, and what is the total cost?
Which creditors or accounts may not participate?
What happens to payments, credit reporting, and collection activity?
Can I review the written terms before deciding?

Be careful with “stop paying” instructions.

Settlement programs may encourage you to stop making payments while they seek a reduced payoff. Creditors can refuse to settle, and your balance, collection activity, or risk of legal action may increase.

Ask about the consequences and alternatives before agreeing. A debt management plan is a different arrangement.

Read the FTC's guide to debt-help risks

Common questions about credit card debt help

Where should I start if I cannot pay my credit card bill?

Contact the issuer using the number on your card or statement. Explain what changed, what payment you can afford, and how long you may need help. Ask about hardship arrangements and the next due date. You can also request a nonprofit credit counseling review of the full household budget.

Can I get help before I miss a payment?

Yes. You can contact your card issuer or a nonprofit credit counselor while your payments are current. You do not need to miss a payment to ask about your options. Available issuer arrangements and debt management terms depend on the account and your circumstances.

Is nonprofit credit card debt help free?

Money Fit's initial credit counseling review is free. If a debt management plan fits and you choose to enroll, applicable enrollment and monthly fees are explained before you decide. Nonprofit status alone does not mean every service is free; ask each provider for its written fee information.

Will asking Money Fit for help hurt my credit?

A counseling conversation does not create a new loan or a hard credit inquiry from Money Fit. A debt management plan may affect your credit through account closures, payment history, balances, and creditor reporting. Ask how your accounts will be handled. No specific change to your credit score can be promised.

Is a debt management plan the same as debt settlement?

No. A debt management plan organizes repayment of eligible debts through a counseling agency, with possible creditor concessions. Settlement seeks an agreement to accept less than the amount owed and carries different risks. Money Fit provides counseling and debt management plans, not debt settlement.

How much credit card debt do I need to ask for help?

The balance alone does not determine your next step. Income, essential expenses, minimum payments, rates, and account status all matter. You can ask for a counseling review regardless of your balance. Eligibility for any specific plan must be reviewed separately.

Will I be able to keep using my cards on a debt management plan?

Credit cards included in a Money Fit debt management plan are closed to new purchases. Before enrolling, ask which accounts participate, how recurring charges should be handled, and what each creditor requires. Keep track of any debts that remain outside the plan.

What if I have no money available for payments?

Start with a review of essential expenses, income, available assistance, and payment arrangements. A repayment plan needs a payment you can keep up with. If repayment is not workable, legal aid or a qualified attorney can explain legal options. Respond to court papers by their deadlines even while seeking other help.

Learn more about your options

Compare credit card payoff strategiesCompare the order in which you pay your debts and find an approach you can manage.
Understand credit card consolidationCompare borrowing options and their costs.
Explore debt-payoff scenariosEstimate repayment time and interest when your budget supports the payments.
Build a household budgetPut income, essential costs, and due dates in one place.
Review collection debt helpLearn what to ask when an account goes to collections.
Build toward more financial freedomCompare milestones and plan for a savings cushion over time.

Sources and further reading

CFPB: What to do when you cannot pay credit card bills — contacting your issuer and considering counseling.
CFPB: Two approaches to reducing debt — highest-rate and smallest-balance methods.
CFPB: Differences between debt-help services — counseling, settlement, consolidation, and credit repair.
CFPB: Consolidating credit card debt — borrowing costs and risks.
CFPB: When a collector contacts you — verification and validation information.
FTC: Getting out of debt — finding legitimate help and understanding tradeoffs.
U.S. Courts: Bankruptcy basics — legal processes and considerations.