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You would only choose an accredited hospital for an ailing loved one. You only would choose an accredited college for your son or daughter. So why, when you are experiencing financial difficulties, would you choose anything other than an accredited credit counseling agency? In doing so, you can be confident that the agency employs the best possible business practices, ensuring that your funds are safe and the agency’s mission is focused on you, the consumer.
Every NFCC member agency must obtain and maintain accreditation by the Council on Accreditation, Inc. (COA). COA is an independent third-party not-for-profit accrediting organization that has reviewed more than 1,500 social service programs to ensure compliance with rigorous best-practice standards. All NFCC member agencies must be re-accredited by COA every four years.
All agencies seeking COA accreditation are reviewed in eight specific areas:
Determines whether consumer needs and preferences guide the organization in its design and delivery of services.
Evaluates the effectiveness and efficiency of services provided and corrects any observed deficiencies.
Determines whether the organization is governed and administered according to legal requirements and sound principles of effective management and ethical practice. This is evaluated by neutral oversight through a diversified board.
Evaluates the organization’s ability to deploy personnel and foster efficient, effective service delivery for clients.
Ensures safe, accessible, and appropriate delivery for the needs of clients, employees, and other stakeholders.
Ensures that an organization manages its fiscal affairs according to sound financial practices, and applicable statutory and professional requirements.
Determines whether services are conducted with due regard to ethical and professional requirements and protects confidential information regarding clients.
Ensures that an organization focuses its services on identifying the needs and problems of clients.
In addition to obtaining and maintaining accreditation, all NFCC member agencies must adhere to a rigid set of COA standards specific to the credit counseling and debt management industry.
The accreditation process also analyzes organizational strengths and weaknesses, and helps agencies to establish a framework to measure continuous quality improvement.
In addition to receiving COA accreditation, all member agencies must adhere to NFCC’s Member Quality Standards guidelines to guarantee their ability to provide quality education and assistance to consumers.