Leadership, Integrity, Trust - The AFS Advantage
At AFS, our mission is twofold! As a trusted non-profit, we are dedicated to helping people change their financial lives for the better, and as part of the North Seattle Community College Foundation, we work to support a local community college with scholarships for needy students and with special educational programs. AFS is a respected leader in the credit counseling and financial education field. We are often called on to provide expert opinions for legislative topics and news articles related to personal finances.
AFS is a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC). AFS is accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA) and is a long term member of the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating.
A Record of Success
Over the last 21 years, our certified professional counselors have helped over 500,000 people pay off over $10 billion in debt. Our client testimonials show why we have been so successful.
Satisfied Customers
AFS credit counselors pride themselves in providing confidential, personal, empathetic counseling tailored to meet individual’s needs. We know that getting out of debt is a difficult process and we can make it easier. Our counselors are there to provide support every step of the way. Just like Somalia did for Launa, one of our satisfied clients.
Thank you so much, Somalia. You were incredibly helpful. I've been struggling for a very long time with my finances trying to stay above water. I was really nervous reaching out for help would make me feel terrible or like a failure. Instead you were very kind, patient and treated me like a human being. It meant the world to me. You were awesome to work with.
Thank you! - Launa
And Shannon, who received the help she needed from Brian…
Brian,
Thank for your integrity and non-judgmental demeanor. I have dreamed of having good credit and being able to show that I am responsible by possessing a proper credit score.
Thank you, Shannon
We are grateful to all of our clients who are helping us to help others! They are so happy with our services that they send us their friends and family who need our help.
Certified Professional Counselors
Our counselors, like Somalia and Brian mentioned above, receive rigorous training through external organizations in order to become Certified Credit Counselors. They also receive in house training upon hire and are required to obtain 20 hours of continuing education every 24 months in order to maintain their certification. Counselors are certified through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) and the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE).
Tools, Technology and Expertise
AFS uses the latest client management tools, IT equipment and technology to ensure that our client’s information is safe and secure and that their account is managed in the most efficient manner. AFS conducts internal and external IT Audits to ensure all necessary controls are in place and functioning correctly.
Creditor Relationships to leverage the best DMP benefits for you
AFS has established working relationships with thousands of creditors. When clients enroll on our Debt Management Plan, we negotiate with their creditors in order to achieve benefits like, lower interest rates, lower payments and waived fees. All of our clients express relief in knowing that a trusted professional is working on their behalf. As our client, Deidra, says – “I thank you for your time, patience, and effort in this matter. It makes a huge difference. I cannot thank your company enough for all the help I received while I was in the program.
This heartfelt message was received on June 19, 2015! Mike will never forget the desperate feeling of being in debt and the assistance he received from AFS that truly turned his life around!
Hello,
This note is many years in coming. I think of you folks often and am so very grateful for your support and advocacy when I found myself in such desperate need. I became a client back in 2002. I was about $15,000 in credit card debt and plagued with endless collection letters and phone calls. I was a slave to minimum monthly payments that I knew would never get me anywhere.
I was always employed and had worked very hard. One year I was forced to take a huge cut in pay which threw my entire life into turmoil.
After years of trying to make ends meet, credit cards helped cushion me each month. There were no vacations, no new clothes, no extravagances - simply the basics. Even after having seen ads for your organization on TV, I felt like calling to ask for your assistance would have validated what I began to feel about myself - that I was a loser.
The rep I spoke with understood where I was coming from and assured me I was on the right path. We worked out an appropriate monthly payment, got creditors to end the calls and nasty letters, and even had my accounts re-aged. I monitored my statements each month and was quite surprised to see just exactly how quickly my debt went down. After 4 years of hard work, I finally did it - the final payment. It was, of course, difficult but my only regret is not having called you folks sooner.
A decade later, I am a homeowner and have a FICO score that is higher than 90% of the population. I can get any loan or account I ask for. I learned valuable lessons and guard my credit diligently. Despite the peace I currently experience, I remember very well the anguish of once being in debt. I owe so much to you there - thank you.
If you ever need a testimonial or my help in any way, please do not hesitate to ask.
Thank You!
Mike S
Worcester, MA
A Record of Success
Over the last 21 years, our certified professional counselors have helped over 500,000 people pay off over $10 billion in debt. Our client testimonials show why we have been so successful.
Satisfied Customers
AFS credit counselors pride themselves in providing confidential, personal, empathetic counseling tailored to meet individual’s needs. We know that getting out of debt is a difficult process and we can make it easier. Our counselors are there to provide support every step of the way. Just like Somalia did for Launa, one of our satisfied clients.
Thank you so much, Somalia. You were incredibly helpful. I've been struggling for a very long time with my finances trying to stay above water. I was really nervous reaching out for help would make me feel terrible or like a failure. Instead you were very kind, patient and treated me like a human being. It meant the world to me. You were awesome to work with.
Thank you! - Launa
And Shannon, who received the help she needed from Brian…
Brian,
Thank for your integrity and non-judgmental demeanor. I have dreamed of having good credit and being able to show that I am responsible by possessing a proper credit score.
Thank you, Shannon
We are grateful to all of our clients who are helping us to help others! They are so happy with our services that they send us their friends and family who need our help.
Certified Professional Counselors
Our counselors, like Somalia and Brian mentioned above, receive rigorous training through external organizations in order to become Certified Credit Counselors. They also receive in house training upon hire and are required to obtain 20 hours of continuing education every 24 months in order to maintain their certification. Counselors are certified through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) and the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE).
Tools, Technology and Expertise
AFS uses the latest client management tools, IT equipment and technology to ensure that our client’s information is safe and secure and that their account is managed in the most efficient manner. AFS conducts internal and external IT Audits to ensure all necessary controls are in place and functioning correctly.
Creditor Relationships to leverage the best DMP benefits for you
AFS has established working relationships with thousands of creditors. When clients enroll on our Debt Management Plan, we negotiate with their creditors in order to achieve benefits like, lower interest rates, lower payments and waived fees. All of our clients express relief in knowing that a trusted professional is working on their behalf. As our client, Deidra, says – “I thank you for your time, patience, and effort in this matter. It makes a huge difference. I cannot thank your company enough for all the help I received while I was in the program.
This heartfelt message was received on June 19, 2015! Mike will never forget the desperate feeling of being in debt and the assistance he received from AFS that truly turned his life around!
Hello,
This note is many years in coming. I think of you folks often and am so very grateful for your support and advocacy when I found myself in such desperate need. I became a client back in 2002. I was about $15,000 in credit card debt and plagued with endless collection letters and phone calls. I was a slave to minimum monthly payments that I knew would never get me anywhere.
I was always employed and had worked very hard. One year I was forced to take a huge cut in pay which threw my entire life into turmoil.
After years of trying to make ends meet, credit cards helped cushion me each month. There were no vacations, no new clothes, no extravagances - simply the basics. Even after having seen ads for your organization on TV, I felt like calling to ask for your assistance would have validated what I began to feel about myself - that I was a loser.
The rep I spoke with understood where I was coming from and assured me I was on the right path. We worked out an appropriate monthly payment, got creditors to end the calls and nasty letters, and even had my accounts re-aged. I monitored my statements each month and was quite surprised to see just exactly how quickly my debt went down. After 4 years of hard work, I finally did it - the final payment. It was, of course, difficult but my only regret is not having called you folks sooner.
A decade later, I am a homeowner and have a FICO score that is higher than 90% of the population. I can get any loan or account I ask for. I learned valuable lessons and guard my credit diligently. Despite the peace I currently experience, I remember very well the anguish of once being in debt. I owe so much to you there - thank you.
If you ever need a testimonial or my help in any way, please do not hesitate to ask.
Thank You!
Mike S
Worcester, MA