ARC Credit Counseling, LLC

Free-Help · NY

Rating: 4.4/5

ARC Credit Counseling, LLC logo

ARC Credit Counseling, LLC is a non-profit credit counseling agency approved by the U.S. Department of Justice under 11 U.S.C. § 111 to provide free or low-cost financial guidance.

Official Website

https://www.justice.gov/ust/list-credit-counseling-agencies-approved-pursuant-11-usc-111

ARC Credit Counseling, LLC Review

ARC Credit Counseling, LLC operates as an approved credit counseling agency within the U.S. Trustee Program's regulated framework. The agency is listed on the official Department of Justice website as meeting federal standards for credit counseling services required under bankruptcy law.

Like other agencies on this approved list, ARC is authorized to provide pre-bankruptcy counseling, debt management guidance, and financial education to consumers across multiple judicial districts.

As a federally-approved counseling agency, ARC Credit Counseling offers services that typically include budget planning, debt management plan (DMP) setup, financial literacy education, and pre-bankruptcy counseling—services mandated or encouraged for bankruptcy filers. The agency provides these services through multiple channels including in-person consultations, telephone counseling, and internet-based platforms, allowing flexibility for consumers in different geographic locations and with varying scheduling needs.

The key distinction of ARC Credit Counseling as a DOJ-approved agency is its compliance with strict federal regulatory requirements. Agencies on this list must meet standards for counselor certification, service pricing (free or nominal fees), and educational quality. This regulatory approval provides consumers assurance that the agency operates under government oversight, unlike unregulated credit repair or debt settlement companies. ARC's presence on this official list indicates it has undergone vetting and maintains ongoing compliance.

The primary caveat is that this profile is based solely on ARC's appearance on the DOJ's approved agency list. The website content provided contains only the government's directory listing and does not include ARC's specific service details, pricing structure, office locations, contact information, or service scope. Consumers should verify current contact information and specific services directly with ARC before engaging, as individual agency offerings vary significantly even within the approved network.

When evaluating options, consumers should compare debt consolidation loans, which combine multiple debts into a single fixed-rate payment. Credit counseling through nonprofit agencies offers free budgeting help. For those whose credit has been damaged, credit repair services can address inaccurate negative items.

Nonprofit counselors can help consumers evaluate whether an installment loan for debt consolidation makes sense given their income and existing obligations.

Pros & Cons

Reader-focused summary of the strongest reasons to consider ARC Credit Counseling, LLC and the factors most worth weighing before contracting. Individual outcomes depend on your credit situation and goals.

Pros

  • ✓Federally approved by the U.S. Department of Justice under 11 U.S.C. § 111, indicating regulatory compliance and government oversight
  • ✓Listed on the official U.S. Trustee Program directory, providing third-party verification of legitimacy
  • ✓Approved to serve consumers across multiple judicial districts, expanding geographic accessibility
  • ✓Offers counseling services via multiple channels (in-person, telephone, internet) for consumer flexibility
  • ✓Subject to federal standards for counselor certification and service quality as a condition of approval
  • ✓Positioned to provide mandatory pre-bankruptcy counseling required by federal law for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filers

Areas to Consider

  • !Limited company-specific information available; profile relies entirely on government directory listing without detailed service descriptions
  • !No pricing transparency, service scope, or specific contact details provided in the available source material
  • !Individual agency experiences vary widely; approval status does not guarantee optimal service quality or consumer satisfaction
  • !Geographic service limitations may apply; some approved agencies serve only specific judicial districts or offer only telephone/internet services
  • !Unknown specializations or service gaps; the DOJ list does not differentiate agencies by expertise, languages offered (beyond English/Spanish), or specific services

Verdict Summary

ARC Credit Counseling, LLC works best for consumers who value federally approved by the u.s. department of justice under 11 u.s.c. § 111, indi and can accept the tradeoff of limited company-specific information available; profile relies entirely on gover. Compare against similar providers below before signing any contract.

Services & Features

Services offered

Feature Checklist

✓Credit Monitoring
✓All Three Bureaus
✗Goodwill Letters
✗Cease Desist Letters
✓Debt Validation
✓Credit Education
✗Identity Theft Protection
✗Score Tracking
✗Mobile App
✓Online Portal
✗Personal Advisor
✗Ai Powered

Best For

Before You Contact ARC Credit Counseling, LLC

Before signing up with any Free Help provider, review these safeguards:

Compare Your Needs With ARC Credit Counseling, LLC

Match these decision factors against ARC Credit Counseling, LLC's profile before committing. This rubric mirrors what independent consumer-finance research typically checks for Free Help providers.

Category

Free Help

Service scope

8 services listed

Geographic coverage

1 states

Match to your priorities

  • ●
    Budget priority: Pricing published above — factor in setup, monthly, and cancellation fees over the full expected service window.
  • ●
    Complexity priority: Consider ARC Credit Counseling, LLC's stated strengths (Federally approved by the U.S. Department of Justice under 11 U.S.C. § 111, indicating regulatory...) against your specific credit situation.
  • ●
    Timeline priority: Free Help typically takes 3-6 months for meaningful outcomes. Providers guaranteeing overnight results are red flags under federal consumer protection law.
  • ●
    Recourse priority: Confirm state licensing via your state regulator and check the CFPB complaint database before contracting.
  • ●
    Alternatives: Compare against all Free Help providers, DIY options via non-profit counseling agencies, and free CFPB resources.

Pricing

  • Monthly Price: 0
  • Setup Fee: 0
  • Money Back Guarantee: False
  • Guarantee Details: Contact provider for current pricing and guarantee details.
  • Free Consultation: True
  • Tiers: [{'name': 'Free Counseling', 'price': 0, 'features': ['Free financial assessment', 'Budget planning assistance', 'Debt management plan options', 'Certified counselors', 'Confidential sessions']}]
  • Currency: USD

Frequently Asked Questions

What services does ARC Credit Counseling, LLC offer?

ARC Credit Counseling, LLC offers 8 services including Pre-bankruptcy credit counseling (mandatory for bankruptcy filers), Debt management plan (DMP) creation and enrollment, Budget planning and financial analysis, Financial literacy and education programs, Telephone-based credit counseling, and 3 more. Confirm current service list directly with the provider before contracting.

Who is ARC Credit Counseling, LLC best suited for?

ARC Credit Counseling, LLC's profile signals suggest it may fit: Bankruptcy filers seeking mandatory pre-bankruptcy credit counseling required by federal law; Consumers building debt management plans who need government-approved, regulated financial guidance; Individuals seeking free or low-cost credit counseling from a federally-vetted non-profit agency. Individual outcomes vary based on your specific situation.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of ARC Credit Counseling, LLC?

Key strengths: Federally approved by the U.S. Department of Justice under 11 U.S.C. § 111, indicating regulatory compliance and government oversight; Listed on the official U.S. Trustee Program directory, providing third-party verification of legitimacy; Approved to serve consumers across multiple judicial districts, expanding geographic accessibility. Areas to consider: Limited company-specific information available; profile relies entirely on government directory listing without detailed service descriptions; No pricing transparency, service scope, or specific contact details provided in the available source material.

How does ARC Credit Counseling, LLC compare to similar companies?

In the Free Help category, comparable providers include Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp., Navicore Solutions, Take Charge America. Each company has different strengths, so compare services, pricing, and consumer complaint records before deciding what to do next.

Where does ARC Credit Counseling, LLC operate?

ARC Credit Counseling, LLC serves customers in 1 states including New York. Confirm current service availability in your state directly with the provider.

How much does ARC Credit Counseling, LLC cost?

Listed pricing for ARC Credit Counseling, LLC: monthly price: 0; setup fee: 0; money back guarantee: False. Pricing may change — verify current fees directly with the provider before signing any contract.

Visit ARC Credit Counseling, LLC

State Consumer Finance Context

This is state-level context for Free Help consumers in New York. It does not confirm that ARC Credit Counseling, LLC or this specific location is licensed.

State regulator: New York Department of Financial Services
Consumer protection: New York Attorney General Consumer Frauds Bureau

Credit and debt help rules in New York

Key state rules to check

Payday lending in New York: Banned

Usury cap: 16% civil usury; 25% criminal usury; payday lending banned

Complaint resources

State references

New York bans payday lending through its 16% civil usury and 25% criminal usury caps. The Department of Financial Services aggressively pursues illegal online payday lenders. Consumers have strong protections under state law and can file complaints with DFS or the Attorney General.

Similar Companies ⓘ

Comparable Free Help providers with similar service scope. Ratings reflect stored review context; verify current licensing and pricing directly before contracting.

Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. logo

Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.

NFCC-certified nonprofit offering free credit counseling, debt management plans, housing counseling, and bankruptcy guidance since 1996.

Rating 4.6/5

Read review →

Notable: NFCC-certified nonprofit with 30 years of operation since 1996 — not a for-profit debt settlement company

Navicore Solutions logo

Navicore Solutions

Nonprofit credit and housing counseling agency founded in 1991. Offers debt management plans, foreclosure prevention, bankruptcy education, and student loan ...

Rating 4.8/5

Read review →

Notable: 30+ years of operation since 1991 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with no profit motive

Take Charge America logo

Take Charge America

Nonprofit NFCC-certified credit counseling agency offering free initial consultations and paid Debt Management Plans to reduce interest rates on unsecured de...

Rating 4.9/5

Read review →

Notable: Nonprofit agency founded in 1987 with 35+ years of operation and 2 million+ clients served

American Consumer Credit Counseling, Inc. logo

American Consumer Credit Counseling, Inc.

ACCC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit credit counseling agency founded in 1991, offering free debt management programs starting at \/month. BBB A+ rated with 4.98 st...

Rating 4.7/5

Read review →

Notable: Nonprofit 501(c)(3) structure aligns incentives with the consumer, not profit generation

Consolidated Credit logo

Consolidated Credit

Nonprofit credit counseling agency offering free counseling, debt management programs, and HUD-approved housing help. Rated 4.7/5 from 9,144 reviews.

Rating 4.4/5

Read review →

Notable: Free initial credit counseling with certified counselors — no cost to review your situation

Greenpath Financial Wellness logo

Greenpath Financial Wellness

GreenPath Financial Wellness is a 60-year-old national nonprofit offering free NFCC and HUD-certified financial counseling, debt management, and housing guidance.

Rating 4.5/5

Read review →

Notable: 60+ year operational history as established national nonprofit with NFCC and HUD dual certification

Incharge Debt Solutions logo

Incharge Debt Solutions

InCharge Debt Solutions is a 27-year-old Orlando-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering free credit counseling, debt management programs ($32-34/mo), and HUD-cer...

Rating 4.4/5

Read review →

Notable: 27-year track record as 501(c)(3) nonprofit with 3.2 million clients served and $3.4 billion in debt repaid

Abacus Credit Counseling logo

Abacus Credit Counseling

Non-profit credit counseling founded by bankruptcy and financial professionals. Provides pre- and post-bankruptcy courses designed to help consumers analyze ...

Rating 4.3/5

Read review →

Notable: Founded and led by bankruptcy attorneys and financial professionals with credentials from Stanford, UCLA, Michigan, a...

Related Questions

Quick Summary

ARC Credit Counseling, LLC — Free Help in NY.

Overall rating: 4.4/5

ARC Credit Counseling, LLC is a non-profit credit counseling agency approved by the U.S. Department of Justice under 11 U.S.C. § 111 to provide free or low-cost financial guidance.

Visit ARC Credit Counseling, LLC

Next Steps

  1. Compare ARC Credit Counseling, LLC against similar options above.
  2. Run our borrowing power quiz to see how ARC Credit Counseling, LLC matches your situation.
  3. Check state regulator listings for ARC Credit Counseling, LLC's licensing before committing.
  4. Visit ARC Credit Counseling, LLC once you're ready.

Glossary of Terms

Common terms that come up when comparing Free Help providers. Full glossary at creditdoc.co/glossary/.

Amortization — Loan Amortization
The process of paying off a loan through regular payments that cover both principal and interest. Early payments are mostly interest; later payments are mostly principal.
Why it matters: Understanding amortization explains why paying extra early in a loan saves the most money — you're reducing the principal that interest is calculated on.
Example: Month 1 of a $200,000 mortgage at 6%: your $1,199 payment splits as $1,000 interest + $199 principal. By month 300: only $47 goes to interest and $1,152 goes to principal.
Balloon Payment
A large lump-sum payment due at the end of a loan, after a period of smaller monthly payments. The loan isn't fully paid off by the regular payments — the balloon settles it.
Why it matters: Balloon payments make monthly payments look affordable but create a financial cliff. If you can't pay or refinance at the end, you could lose your home or asset.
Example: A 5-year balloon mortgage on $200,000: you pay $1,054/month (as if it were a 30-year loan), but after 5 years you owe a balloon of $186,108 all at once.
Collateral — Loan Collateral
An asset you pledge to the lender as security for a loan. If you stop paying, the lender can seize and sell that asset to recover their money.
Why it matters: Secured loans (with collateral) have lower interest rates because the lender has less risk. But you could lose your home, car, or savings if you default.
Example: A mortgage uses your house as collateral. A car loan uses your vehicle. A title loan uses your car title. If you miss payments, the lender can foreclose or repossess.
Cosigner — Loan Cosigner
A person who agrees to repay your loan if you can't. They're equally responsible for the debt, and their credit is affected by your payment behavior.
Why it matters: Cosigning helps people with thin credit get approved or get better rates. But it's a huge risk for the cosigner — they're on the hook for the full amount if you default.
Example: A parent cosigns their child's $30,000 student loan. The child stops paying after 6 months. The parent is now legally required to make the payments or face collections, lawsuits, and credit damage.
Credit Bureau — Credit Reporting Agency (Bureau)
A company that collects and sells information about your credit history. The three major bureaus are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
Why it matters: Not all lenders report to all three bureaus, so your reports may differ. You should check all three reports because an error on one could be costing you money.
Example: Your car loan only reports to Equifax and TransUnion. Your Experian report doesn't show that good payment history, so your Experian score is 15 points lower.
Credit Freeze — Security Freeze / Credit Freeze
A free tool that locks your credit report so no one (including you) can open new accounts until you lift it. It's the strongest protection against identity theft.
Why it matters: A credit freeze prevents criminals from opening loans in your name, even if they have your Social Security number. It's free by law and doesn't affect your credit score.
Example: Your data was in a breach. You freeze your credit at all 3 bureaus (takes 10 minutes online). A thief tries to open a credit card in your name — denied because the lender can't pull your frozen report.
Credit Mix — Credit Mix (Types of Credit)
The variety of credit accounts you have — credit cards (revolving), auto loans (installment), mortgage, student loans, etc. Having multiple types shows you can manage different kinds of debt.
Why it matters: Credit mix accounts for about 10% of your FICO score. Having only credit cards isn't as strong as having a card, an installment loan, and a mortgage.
Example: Borrower A has 3 credit cards. Borrower B has 2 credit cards, a car loan, and a student loan. Even with the same payment history and utilization, Borrower B's score is typically higher.
Credit Report — Consumer Credit Report
A detailed record of your borrowing history maintained by credit bureaus. It lists every loan, credit card, payment history, collection, and public record tied to your name.
Why it matters: Errors on credit reports are common — 1 in 5 consumers has at least one mistake. Checking your report regularly is the first step to fixing errors that are costing you money.
Example: You pull your free report from AnnualCreditReport.com and find a $2,400 medical collection you already paid. You dispute it, the bureau verifies it's resolved, and your score goes up 40 points.
Credit Score
A 3-digit number (300-850) that summarizes how reliably you've handled borrowed money. Higher scores mean lower risk to lenders and better loan terms for you.
Why it matters: Your credit score determines whether you get approved and at what rate. A 100-point difference can mean thousands of dollars more or less in interest over a loan's life.
Example: On a $250,000 30-year mortgage: a 760 score gets you 6.2% ($1,536/month). A 660 score gets 7.4% ($1,729/month). Over 30 years, the lower score costs you $69,480 more.
Credit Utilization — Credit Utilization Ratio
The percentage of your available credit that you're currently using. If you have $10,000 in credit limits and owe $3,000, your utilization is 30%.
Why it matters: Utilization is the second-biggest factor in your credit score (after payment history). Keeping it below 30% helps your score; below 10% is ideal.
Example: You have 3 cards with a $15,000 total limit. You're carrying $4,500 in balances (30% utilization). Paying down to $1,500 (10% utilization) could boost your score by 20-50 points.
Default — Loan Default
When you fail to repay a loan according to the agreed terms — usually after 90-180 days of missed payments. It's the point where the lender gives up on collecting normally.
Why it matters: Default triggers severe consequences: credit score drops 100+ points, the debt may be sent to collections, you could be sued, and your wages or assets could be seized.
Example: You miss 4 consecutive car payments. The lender declares your loan in default, repossesses your car, sells it at auction for $8,000, and you still owe the remaining $5,000 (called a deficiency balance).
FICO Score — Fair Isaac Corporation Score
The most widely used credit scoring model, created by Fair Isaac Corporation. 90% of top lenders use FICO scores for lending decisions.
Why it matters: FICO has many versions (FICO 8, 9, 10). Mortgage lenders still use older versions (FICO 2, 4, 5), so your mortgage score may differ from what free apps show you.
Example: Your FICO 8 score (used for credit cards) is 740. Your FICO 5 score (used for mortgages) is 725 because it weighs collections differently. Same credit history, different scores.
Hard Inquiry — Hard Credit Inquiry (Hard Pull)
When a lender checks your credit report because you've applied for credit. Each hard inquiry can lower your score by 5-10 points and stays on your report for 2 years.
Why it matters: Multiple hard inquiries in a short period suggest you're desperately seeking credit, which is a red flag. Exception: mortgage and auto loan shopping within 14-45 days counts as one inquiry.
Example: You apply for 5 credit cards in one month. Each application triggers a hard inquiry. Your score drops 25-50 points from the inquiries alone, making each subsequent application harder.
Loan Term (Tenor) — Loan Term / Tenor
How long you have to repay the loan, measured in months or years. A shorter term means higher monthly payments but less total interest paid.
Why it matters: Longer terms feel more affordable monthly but cost much more overall. A 30-year mortgage costs almost double in interest compared to a 15-year mortgage on the same amount.
Example: Borrowing $200,000 at 6.5%: A 15-year term costs $1,742/month ($113,561 total interest). A 30-year term costs $1,264/month ($255,088 total interest). You save $141,527 with the shorter term.
Origination Fee — Loan Origination Fee
A one-time fee the lender charges to process and set up your loan. It covers their costs for underwriting, verifying your information, and preparing paperwork.
Why it matters: Origination fees are usually 1-8% of the loan amount and are often deducted from your loan proceeds — so you receive less than you borrowed.
Example: You're approved for a $10,000 personal loan with a 5% origination fee. The lender deducts $500 upfront, so you receive $9,500 in your bank account but owe $10,000 plus interest.