FAQs

We measure the outcomes of all counseling and educational clients and use this data to improve our programs and services and drive overarching agency initiatives to correspond to our clients’ needs. Our in-house Program Evaluation & Technology team is dedicated to creating, administering, and analyzing outcomes measurement instruments in order to optimize our program offerings to our clients.

Clarifi employs over 55 employees in 11 counties, including the 5-county Greater Philadelphia area, 5 counties in southern New Jersey, and New Castle County, Delaware.

Since 1988, Patricia Hasson has been President and Executive Director for Clarifi.  Read more about Patty in her bio.

Since 1966, we have worked with over 650,000 local residents and continue to innovate by adding programs and services based on community need.

We create hope by helping people identify and secure the most important assets in their lives.

English and Spanish

Clarifi serves the greater Philadelphia Metropolitan area with over 20 locations in northeast PA, South Jersey and Delaware. Visit clarifi.org/location for our office locations by county.

Visit www.clarifi.org/locations for our current locations.

Yes, Clarifi is member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) and accredited by the Council on Accreditation.

In person, phone, and immediate.

Yes, Clarifi is registered as a 501 c (3).

Personal coaching is a part of our intensive six-month Boot Camp program combined with education workshops and counseling. Learn more here and see when the next Boot Camp starts.

We offer programmatic packages with a wide variety of businesses, and community organizations large and small. Visit clarif.org/collaborate for more information.

Make sure to respond to any contact from your counselor or lender. It is still your home, so be proactive in following up with your lender on the status of any application.

Don’t delay, call Clarifi to understand your options early.

Read the documents carefully, know that they are often time sensitive and call Clarifi if you are unsure of what to do.

When you meet with a housing counselor they will take a holistic look at your circumstance to determine what options might be available to meet your housing needs.

You can make a donation by check payable to Clarifi, online at www.clarifi.org or through the United Way. Clarifi’s United Way Donor Choice Number is 4800. Clarifi also accepts donations of stock, bequeaths and other planned giving mechanisms.

Clarifi has a unique place in our community; it’s dedicated to not only meeting people when they’re in crisis, but also preventing future problems. For many people, we’re their first line of defense against foreclosure, homelessness, and poverty. In addition, through financial literacy, we’re empowering individuals all around the Delaware Valley to build stronger, more stable communities.

Clarifi has a diverse funding base which consists of a mix of grants from private and corporation foundations, government contracts for much of its foreclosure prevention and home buyer education work, funding through partnerships and modest fees from clients.

Clarifi delivers education workshops and programs as a part of their services.

Yes, we will customize any workshop to meet the needs of your audience; an additional fee would be incurred for this service.

Depending on content, they run anywhere from 60 minutes to 2 hours in length for one session.

Clarifi offers a number of educational topics that we can bring to your site. Check out our workshops and events page. 

Certified means that the counselor has passed a rigorous battery of tests measuring their financial knowledge.

Yes, our certified Chartered Retirement Planning Counselors can help you create a path to retirement with both short-term needs and long-term goals in mind.  

You may be eligible to enroll in health coverage during the Special Enrollment Period if you or someone in your household experienced one of the following:

• Got married
• Had a change in household size due to separation, divorce or death, and lost health insurance as a result
• Had a change in residence
• Lost health insurance
• Turned 26 and we no longer eligible to be on your parents' healthcare plan
• Became a U.S. citizen

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Send your letter by certified mail, “return receipt requested,” so you can document what the credit reporting company received. Keep copies of your dispute letter and enclosures. Credit reporting companies must investigate the items in question — usually within 30 days

Account-related and derogatory mark errors could affect your credit score, which could then affect whether you'll qualify for a financial product such as a credit card or loan and what terms you can get. Personal information errors typically don't affect your credit score, but they could alert you to a reporting issue -- or even fraud.

Your credit history and score is one of your most important parts of your financial life. Your credit score follows you forever and it will play a huge role in many major financial situations throughout your life.

A credit score is a numerical expression based on a level analysis of your  credit files, to represent your creditworthiness .  A credit score is used by a lender to help determine whether a person qualifies for a particular credit card, loan, or service.

While different lenders have their own standards for rating credit scores, 700 and higher (on a scale of 300 to 850) is generally considered good.

Get credit for the rent you pay. If you're building your credit score from scratch, you'll likely need to start with a secured credit card.

A secured card is backed by a cash deposit you make upfront; the deposit amount is usually the same as your credit limit.

Your credit score changes as your credit report changes. Therefore, it can change often since new information is added to your credit report all the time

Credit scores use information from three key areas of your credit report: account information (such as credit cards, auto loans, student loans, mortgages and rent), public records (such as tax liens or bankruptcies) and inquiries (requests by lenders to view your credit). Information such as race, gender, where you live and marital status are not used in credit scores

For a full explanation of the differences, please view our Comparing Debt Solutions page.

Usually a debt management program allows you to pay off your debt in five years.

Not necessarily. You may owe just a few thousand dollars, or you may owe a great deal more. Our credit counselors will work with you to determine if you are eligible for a debt management plan.

First, we establish a workable budget and monthly payment amount. Then, we negotiate with your creditors on your behalf to lower payments, stop collection action, and reduce or eliminate late fees. Finally, we disburse your monthly payment in a timely manner to your creditors.

A Debt Management Plan or Program, also known as debt repayment or debt reduction, enables you to engage in systematic, manageable debt repayment. In a debt management program, your overall debt is not lowered—you will pay the full amount owed to your creditors. However, you will be able to make that full debt repayment in a shortened timeframe (usually within 5 years).

Our debt reduction services include monthly progress reports that show how you have reduced your credit card debt. We encourage you to provide us with regular statements from your creditors so we can keep your personal debt management plan on track and reduce your credit card debt in the shortest possible amount of time.

Yes, we have various types of opportunities throughout our service area. If you are interested in volunteering your time, please email volunteer@clarifi.org.