Credit Counseling Services

In Montana, two types of credit counseling services must be licensed:

• pre-bankruptcy credit counseling
• debt management plan services

Pre-Bankruptcy Credit Counseling

To file for bankruptcy, an applicant is usually required to go through pre-bankruptcy credit counseling. Pre-bankruptcy credit counseling services are licensed by the United States Department of Justice. A list of licensed credit counseling agencies is available from the U.S. Trustee Program.

Debt Management Plan Services

A debt management plan is a written agreement under which a consumer makes regular payments to a credit counseling service. The credit counseling service then distributes that money to one or more of the consumer's creditors as full or partial payment of what the consumer owes.

Any credit counseling or debt settlement company that wants to provide debt management plans in Montana must be licensed by the Montana Department of Justice. This license is not an endorsement by the Department of Justice; it simply means that a company has met the minimum legal requirements to provide debt management services in Montana.

If you are currently in a debt management plan with a company that is not on this list and you entered into the plan while living in Montana, please call the Office of Consumer Protection at (406) 444-4500 or (800) 481-6896.

Complaints

If a company claims to be a licensed provider but is not on the list, or to register a complaint against a provider of debt management services, see the Consumer Complaints page or call the Office of Consumer Protection at (406) 444-4500 or (800) 481-6896.