Consumer credit counseling
Consumer credit counseling in Dallas, one person at a time
Honest, one-on-one guidance on budgeting, debt and credit, from a team that has been doing this since 1983 and will still know your name next month.
What counseling covers
The money side of good credit
Our consumer credit counseling services offer one-on-one guidance tailored to your situation. Where credit repair corrects what is on your report, counseling works on what feeds it: how much you owe, what you pay in interest, and the everyday decisions that move your score up or down.
It is part of our full range of credit and debt management services, so the advice you get here lines up with everything else in your plan.
What we work on together
Practical help you can use this month
A budget that holds
Spending priorities built around your real income and bills, so there is room for savings and for paying debt down.
Credit card counseling
Structured repayment for high-interest balances, aimed at lower monthly payments and lower rates where creditors allow.
Your score, explained
How payment history, balances, account age and new credit each affect your score, applied to your own report.
Talking to creditors
How to negotiate with collectors and creditors to your advantage, and when to let us do it for you.
Big purchase timing
When you should be able to rent, lease, buy a car or get a mortgage approved, and what to do first.
Ongoing coaching
Periodic reviews of your report and one-on-one consultation on most financial questions as they come up.
Credit literacy
We would rather teach you than keep you
You will not find many companies whose mission includes improving your credit literacy, but it is central to ours. We want you to understand credit well enough to protect your family’s finances and to use credit as a tool, not a trap.
Beyond one-on-one sessions, Stacy C. Notley teaches the Comedy Credit Clinic, a three-hour seminar that is genuinely funny, and wrote Credit Solutions, a roadmap to establishing, re-establishing and keeping good credit.
Is counseling right for you?
Counseling is a good fit if…
- Your report is mostly accurate, but balances and interest keep your score down
- You pay every bill but never seem to get ahead
- You are carrying several high-interest credit cards
- You want to buy a home or car in the next year or two
- A recent life event (job change, divorce, illness) upended your budget
- You want to understand credit before you start using it heavily
If the debt itself has become unmanageable, counseling usually leads to a debt management plan. If your report has errors, we handle those in the same plan.
Reviews
What our clients say
★★★★★
“We are trying to buy a house and needed help understanding what is on our credit report and how to fix it before we start to purchase a house. They have been very helpful explaining what is needed to improve our score. We have now been working with them for six months and they are still very responsive. This company truly cares and helps you understand how to manage your credit for life!”
Rachel S.
★★★★★
“We highly recommend the Manning Group to people who are in need of repairing their credit. They have helped us so much! With this business we have also made great friendships and built very good relationships. Would definitely recommend to others!”
Rodwin P.
★★★★★
“The Manning Group is truly amazing. They explained everything I needed to do. They made it easy to understand and were with me through the whole process. If you’re looking for someone to help you, this is the place to go!”
Daniel M.
Questions
About credit counseling
What is the difference between credit counseling and credit repair?
Credit repair focuses on your credit reports: finding and disputing inaccurate items. Credit counseling focuses on the money side: budgeting, a plan for your debt, lower interest where possible, and the habits that keep your score up. Most of our clients need some of both, and we handle both under one plan.
How is my FICO score calculated?
Payment history counts for about 35 percent, how much of your available credit you use about 30 percent, the length of your credit history about 15 percent, and your credit mix and new credit about 10 percent each. That is why one late payment is rarely the whole story.
Will closing a credit card raise my score?
Usually not. Closing a card lowers your available credit, which raises the share you are using, and it can shorten the average age of your accounts. Older accounts show stability.
Does my income affect my credit score?
No. Income and occupation are not part of a credit score. Lenders still look at income when they decide how much to lend.
The Manning Group, Inc. · Since 1983
Don’t leave good credit to chance. Leave it to us.
Start with a free 15-minute credit analysis. No pressure, and no false promises: just a clear look at where you stand and what it will take.
Or call (972) 458-9100 · toll free (888) 458-9100