Non-Profit Debt Assistance: 888-960-5303Existing Clients: 844-828-2600
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Non-Profit Debt Relief · Since 2006

A calmer way out of debt, with people who answer.

We're a 501(c)(3) non-profit credit counseling agency. For nearly two decades we've helped families escape the high-interest minimum-payment trap — with no judgment and no pressure. Start with a free review, or just give us a call.

Talk to a Counselor · 888-960-5303See how it works
Free, no-obligation reviewMichigan licensed #0014319We don't lend money
Free Debt Review

See your options in about a minute

Step 1 of 4

How much unsecured debt do you have?

A rough estimate is fine — credit cards, personal loans, medical bills.

Secure & confidential
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Debt accounts resolved
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Years serving families
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Non-profit since
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BBB-accredited standing
In short

National Debt Management is a 501(c)(3) non-profit credit counseling agency that, since 2006, has helped resolve more than one million debt accounts. Through a debt management plan, it works with your creditors so you repay what you owe in one monthly payment — usually at a lower interest rate. It is not a lender and does not loan money.

A clear path, three steps

No scripts. No pressure. A plan built around what you can actually afford.

1

Talk it through

A licensed counselor reviews your full picture — balances, rates, and budget — in a free, confidential call. No commitment to enroll.

2

See your options

We explain every path in plain language and, where it fits, negotiate lower rates and a single, predictable monthly payment.

3

Move forward

One payment goes out to your creditors on schedule. You watch balances fall — and you can call a real person any time.

A licensed credit counselor reviewing a plan with an older couple in a warm office. Licensed · since 2006

A real person, not a script

Talk to a licensed counselor who actually listens.

No pressure, no judgment. A licensed counselor reviews your full picture and explains your options in plain language — including when none of ours is right for you. That’s what non-profit means.

Ways we can help

Real solutions — explained, not sold.

Every household is different. We'll help you understand which path fits, including when none of ours is right for you.

Non-Profit Debt Program

One affordable monthly payment, reduced interest negotiated on your behalf, and a clear payoff date — typically 36–60 months.

Explore the program

Simple Steps Solution

A guided, step-by-step process that takes the guesswork out of getting started — built to feel manageable from the very first call.

See the steps

Financial Support

Education, budgeting help, and a growing network of resources for families facing hardship — even beyond the debt program itself.

Get support
Compare all options side by side

In their words

Families helped, one call at a time.

“You are all great and do a wonderful job. I feel safe and secure… and I would recommend you to my friends!”

KK.S.Program client · February 2023

“You have done an excellent and efficient job.”

SS.S.Program client · February 2023

“Your program works. I'm within a few months of completing repayment of my debt. I didn't know where to turn for help until NDM was recommended.”

AA.R.Program client · January 2023

“This program worked well for me to reduce debt after the death of my husband. It's been 4 long years but I'm thankful to NDM…”

CClientProgram client · December 2022

“You've been a wonderful help. The headaches and stress are gone. Thank you!”

EE.C.Program client · Summer 2022

“The people that work there are the most caring and your company is truly honest and respectful and trustworthy…”

JJ.L.Program client · Summer 2022

Why you can trust us

Credentials you can verify.

For money matters, who you work with matters. Here's exactly who we are — on the record.

501(c)(3) Non-Profit

A registered non-profit credit counseling agency — our mission, not shareholder profit, drives the advice you receive.

BBB Accredited

Accredited with the Better Business Bureau and held to its standards of trust, transparency, and responsiveness.

Michigan Licensed

Licensed and regulated by the Michigan Department of Insurance & Financial Services. License #0014319.

Nonprofit · 501(c)(3)

Our mission

Our organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit recognized by the IRS. This means we operate for a charitable and educational purpose. Our mission is to provide free or affordable financial literacy programs to improve money management skills that empower people to budget, save, manage credit, reduce debt, and build long-term financial stability. As a nonprofit, we reinvest all funds into our educational programs and community services.

A woman outdoors at sunset, head lifted and relaxed, feeling free.

Picture the finish line

Imagine life without the weight of high-interest debt.

One affordable payment, a lower interest rate, and a clear date when you’re done. Thousands of families have felt that relief since 2006 — and the first step is just a conversation.

Questions, answered

What do people ask before they call?

National Debt Management is a 501(c)(3) non-profit credit counseling agency that has helped families since 2006, resolving over one million debt accounts. We're BBB accredited and licensed by Michigan DIFS (#0014319). As a non-profit, our mission — not shareholder profit — drives the guidance you receive.
We offer three: the Non-Profit Debt Program (a structured debt management plan with one payment and reduced interest), the Simple Steps Solution (guided, no-pressure onboarding), and Financial Support (free budgeting help and education). A counselor helps you choose the right fit — including when none of ours is.
You make one affordable monthly payment to us, and we distribute it to your creditors while negotiating lower interest rates on your behalf. With less going to interest, more goes to principal — so you reach a clear payoff date, usually in 36–60 months. Your accounts stay current the whole time.
As a non-profit, our fees are modest and capped by Michigan law — typically a small one-time setup fee and a monthly service fee. Your counselor gives you the exact figures in writing before you enroll, with no surprises. We never promise a specific savings amount.
No. National Debt Management is not a lender and does not lend money. A debt management plan is not a new loan — it reorganizes the debt you already have into one lower-interest monthly payment, so you repay what you owe faster and more affordably.
A debt management plan is gentler on your credit than settlement because your accounts stay current. Many clients see their credit stabilize and improve over time as balances fall. It is not the same as debt settlement, which usually requires falling behind. Your counselor explains what to expect for your situation.
Debt management repays your debt in full through one lower-interest payment while your accounts stay current — protecting your credit. Debt settlement tries to erase part of what you owe by negotiating a reduced lump sum, usually after you stop paying, which damages credit and may be taxable. Management is typically the safer, lower-cost path.
Just call 888-960-5303 for a free, confidential review with a licensed counselor — no obligation to enroll. You can also start the free debt review form on this page. The counselor listens, explains your options in plain language, and helps you decide what's right.
Existing clients can reach our servicing line at 844-828-2600, 9am–5pm EST, or sign in to the client portal. For questions about a new program, call 888-960-5303.
For many people with steady income, yes — talking to a non-profit credit counselor first is a low-risk step. A debt management plan repays what you owe at reduced interest while your accounts stay current, without the long-lasting public record of a bankruptcy (a Chapter 7 can stay on your credit report up to 10 years). Bankruptcy is a powerful legal tool for severe hardship, but it's worth understanding every option first.
A debt consolidation loan is new borrowing — you take out one loan to pay off others, and your result depends on the interest rate and fees you qualify for. A debt management plan is not a loan: you make one monthly payment to a non-profit agency that distributes it to your creditors, often at reduced interest. The plan doesn't require good credit to start.
A debt management plan tends to fit people with steady income and mostly unsecured debt (credit cards, personal loans, some medical bills) who can make a consistent monthly payment and want to protect their credit while paying in full. It's usually not the right tool for secured debts like mortgages and auto loans. A counselor will tell you honestly whether it fits.
With the average credit card rate above 21% (Federal Reserve, 2026), most of a minimum payment goes to interest, not principal — so the balance barely moves and payoff can stretch for many years. A debt management plan can lower the interest rate so more of each payment reduces what you actually owe.
Less than it used to. Since 2022–2023, the three credit bureaus voluntarily removed paid medical collections and those under $500, and they wait a year before an unpaid medical collection can appear. Always ask for an itemized bill and check for errors before paying — the CFPB advises verifying medical bills first.
Often, yes. Request an itemized bill and check for billing errors, duplicate charges, or services your insurance should have covered. Many hospitals have financial-assistance or charity-care programs and will set up interest-free payment plans. A non-profit counselor can help you build a budget around what's left.
In the FICO model, payment history counts for about 35% and amounts owed (mostly your credit utilization) for about 30% — together roughly two-thirds of your score (myFICO). Length of history, new credit, and credit mix make up the rest. Paying on time and keeping balances low (under 30% of your limits) are the biggest levers.
Watch for upfront fees before any debt is settled (the FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule prohibits this), guarantees to erase or settle all your debt, pressure to stop talking to your creditors, and enrollment without a real review of your finances. Legitimate non-profit agencies offer free initial counseling and verifiable credentials like state licensing and accreditation.

No pressure. No judgment. No cost to talk.

Take the first small step today.

A licensed counselor will listen, explain your options in plain language, and help you decide what's right — even if that's not us.

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