Choose the right help for credit history repair.

The only outside credit counseling service we would recommend, if you absolutely must have one, is LSS Financial Counseling, with their website at www.cccs.org.

LSS is the Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota serving everyone regardless of color, race, creed, national origin, religion, sex, disability sexual orientation, or age.

They have offered credit counseling services for two decades, beginning in 1987, and are now among the most important and largest full-service, community-based financial counseling service providers in the state of Minnesota.

Specially trained financial counselors are capable of working with everyone, especially people facing a financial crisis. They have statewide offices and counseling centers, but also serve the rest of the country via telephone and online counseling.

The stated mission of LSS Financial Counseling Service is helping people to achieve financial peace of mind. This is achieved through full-service and trustworthy counseling, as well as education and a commitment to ongoing financial education, advocacy, credit history repair services and excellence in client service.

LSS Financial Counseling, or CCCS, is a full member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. They are also part of the Better Business Bureau, are licensed by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. They have been fully accredited by the Council for Accreditation for Children and Family Services.

They employ certified financial counselors, certified through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. Many of the counseling staff members also have certification in housing counseling, foreclosure prevention, credit history repair and reverse mortgage counseling.

The funding for LSS comes mainly from charitable and corporate grants, some client fees for particular services, and contributions from the creditors participating in the Debt Management Plans.

Creditors have a definite financial interest in getting paid and so many make contributions to help fund such services.

Locations for LSS counseling centers are spread all over Minnesota, but they also provide phone and online counseling services. In-person financial counseling is offered at ten locations, Brainerd, Duluth, Eveleth, Hopkins, Mankato, Minneapolis, St Paul, University Of Minnesota, Willmar, and at Superior, WI. For appointments, consumers may call 888-577-2227.

LSS offers free counseling and affordable debt management programs, with their costs and fees listed clearly on their website.

They clearly state not only exactly what they offer, but also what, if anything, they will charge for it. They provide an almost instant access to their services, in person, by phone or over the Internet.

They also provide a personal action plan tailor made for each client and their individual needs. But the most important plus point is that they provide tools and education material as well as credit counseling. Education on budgeting and credit history repair, as well as debt management, is also available.

For example, the LSS Budget Tools includes a Budget Planner that you can use to develop a spending plan, to guide you in the financial direction you want to follow.

In addition, they also have a section on FAQ, one on current DMP Clients, News and useful Links, like links to national resources such as the official site for free annual credit reports, information on the credit card industry, credit history repair, consumer protection, and so on.

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