Support channels for people in debt in the United States

Reprograme · Published on October 10, 2026 · Updated on October 10, 2026

Channels in the United States, checked on October 10, 2026. We are not affiliated with them and are not paid to list them, and this page is not legal or financial advice. It shows Google ads, which we do not endorse; the channels listed do not pay to appear here.

This page collects public and nonprofit channels for people in debt in the United States: where to negotiate, how to see what is on your credit reports, where to look for legal help if you have a low income, and what to do when debts no longer fit your income. Each item says what the channel does and how to reach it, with a numbered source. Debt settlement companies, credit repair and credit monitoring services, and private law firms are left out on purpose: only government agencies, nonprofits and the one website federal law authorizes for free credit reports appear here.

To negotiate a debt

CFPB — debt collection — the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains in plain language what to do when a collector contacts you: find out about the debt and whether you really owe it, and treat a collector who will not or cannot give you that information as a possible scam. It notes that the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act bars collectors from unfair practices, and links to guides on how to tell a collector to stop contacting you, how to negotiate a settlement and what to do if you are sued. Phone: (855) 411-2372. [1]
CFPB — submit a complaint — the bureau accepts complaints about products such as credit cards, debt collection, bank accounts, mortgages, student loans and vehicle loans, and forwards them to the company, which usually responds within 15 days. You can review the response and give feedback within 60 days. The complaint may be published in a public database without information that directly identifies you. [2]
FTC — How To Get Out of Debt — the Federal Trade Commission suggests making a budget, calling your creditors early — before a debt collector gets involved — to work out a payment plan you can manage, and considering a credit counseling program (many charge low fees, so ask what they will charge you) or, if the trouble is your mortgage, a free HUD-approved housing counseling agency. [3]

To see what is on your credit reports

AnnualCreditReport.com — created by the three major credit reporting agencies as the central source for the credit reports you are entitled to under federal law, and the only website federal law authorizes for them. You can request your reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion online, by phone or by mail, for free every week, and checking them there does not affect your credit scores. [4]

Legal help if you have a low income

Legal Services Corporation (LSC) — an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974 to fund civil legal aid for low-income Americans. On its “I need legal help” page you enter an address or city to find an LSC-funded legal aid organization near you. [5]

When debts no longer fit your income

U.S. Trustee Program — approved credit counseling agencies — the Department of Justice lists the nonprofit credit counseling agencies approved under 11 U.S.C. § 111, which you can search by state, judicial district and language. The page says this is the counseling individuals “must take before they are eligible to file for bankruptcy protection.” [6]
NFCC — National Foundation for Credit Counseling — nonprofit credit counseling: confidential consultations on credit card debt, including debt management plans, budgeting, housing and student loans. Phone: 877-360-6322. Ask any agency what it charges before you enroll. [7]

Watch out for scams

Be wary of anyone who asks you to pay before they do anything for you. The FTC puts it plainly: “Only scammers will try to collect fees from you before they settle any of your debts or enter you into a debt management plan.” [3] The CFPB adds that a collector who will not or cannot give you the information about the debt could be a scam. [1] If a call, text or email pressures you to pay or to share account numbers, stop, and look up the agency yourself instead of using the contact details you were given.