Trusted Bad Credit Resources to Help You Recover
If you’re rebuilding credit, dealing with collection accounts, or trying to get back into the banking system after a ChexSystems or EWS issue, the right tools and information can make a huge difference. Below is a curated list of trustworthy, mostly non-profit or government bad credit resources you can use alongside the guides here on Bad Credit Nerd.
Credit Reports & Scores
AnnualCreditReport.com
Website: https://www.annualcreditreport.com
This is the only official site where you can request free credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, as endorsed by the FTC and U.S. government sites.
FTC – Free Credit Reports
Website: https://consumer.ftc.gov/free-credit-reports
Explains how free credit reports work, how to avoid “fake free” report offers, and how to request your report safely through AnnualCreditReport.com.
USA.gov – Credit Reports
Website: https://www.usa.gov/credit-reports
Official U.S. government overview of credit reports: how to order them, what they contain, and what to do if you find mistakes.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) – Credit Reports & Scores
Website: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/credit-reports-and-scores/
Plain-language guides on how credit scores work, how to fix errors, and how credit reporting rules protect you.
Credit Cards, Loans & Debt Help
CFPB – Credit Card Resources
Website: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/credit-cards/
Educational articles on choosing a card, understanding fees and interest, and what to do if you can’t make payments.
CFPB – General Consumer Tools
Website: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/
Central hub for CFPB tools and explainers covering auto loans, bank accounts, credit cards, credit reports, debt collection, mortgages, and more.
National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC)
Website: https://www.nfcc.org
Nationwide network of nonprofit credit counseling agencies that offer budgeting help, debt management plans, and housing counseling.
U.S. Department of Justice – Approved Credit Counseling Agencies
Website: https://www.justice.gov/ust/list-credit-counseling-agencies-approved-pursuant-11-usc-111
Official list of credit counseling agencies that meet federal standards. Useful for checking if an agency is legitimate, especially if you’re considering bankruptcy.
Money Management International (MMI)
Website: https://www.moneymanagement.org
Large nonprofit credit counseling organization offering help with debt management plans, housing counseling, and financial education.
Banking, Second Chance Checking & Account Screening
Use these resources alongside the Bad Credit Nerd Second Chance Checking Directory to understand how bank account screening works and how to dispute errors.
ChexSystems – Consumer Assistance
Website: https://www.chexsystems.com
Request your ChexSystems report, place security freezes, and dispute inaccurate information that may be keeping you from opening a bank account.
Free ChexSystems Guide – Understand ChexSystems, who they are, and how they impact your finances.
Early Warning Services (EWS)
Website: https://www.earlywarning.com/consumer-information
Information on how to request your EWS report and dispute errors that may affect your ability to open checking or savings accounts.
Free EWS Guide – Understand Early Warning Services and how they impact your personal finances.
TeleCheck Services
Website: https://www.firstdata.com/en_us/contact/telecheck-support.html
Details on how to contact TeleCheck to request a file, dispute inaccurate negative check entries, or ask why a check or transaction was declined.
Free TeleCheck Services Guide – Understand how they impact your finances
Certegy Check Services
Website: https://www.certegy.com/consumers
Consumer portal for requesting your Certegy report, understanding why checks are declined, and submitting disputes.
Free Certegy Guide – Understand Certegy and how they impact your checking account.
Government & Nonprofit Financial Education
MyMoney.gov – U.S. Financial Literacy Portal
Website: https://www.mymoney.gov
The federal government’s one-stop shop for financial education, including tools and resources organized around the “MyMoney Five” principles: Earn, Save & Invest, Protect, Spend, and Borrow.
FDIC Money Smart Program
Website: https://fdic.gov/resources/consumers/money-smart
Free financial education curriculum from the FDIC designed to help adults and young people manage bank accounts, use credit wisely, and avoid common money traps.
CFPB – Adult Financial Education Tools
Website: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/educator-tools/adult-financial-education/tools-and-resources/
Handouts, worksheets, and lesson plans that cover credit cards, debt, budgeting, and more. Great for self-study or teaching others.
Fraud, Identity Theft & Data Breaches
IdentityTheft.gov (FTC)
Website: https://www.identitytheft.gov
Step-by-step recovery plans if your identity is stolen, including letters and forms to send to credit bureaus, collectors, and creditors.
FTC – Scam & Fraud Alerts
Website: https://consumer.ftc.gov/scams
Updates on common scams (including credit repair and debt relief scams) and how to protect yourself.
Complaints & Legal Rights
CFPB – Submit a Complaint
Website: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
File a complaint against banks, lenders, credit card companies, and debt collectors. The company usually must respond and you can track the status online.
FTC – Consumer Advice
Website: https://consumer.ftc.gov
Broad consumer protection guidance, including credit, loans, debt collection, and how to spot abusive or deceptive practices.
Legal Aid & Local Help
You can often find free or low-cost legal help for credit reporting, debt collection, and housing issues through your state or local legal aid office. Search for “legal aid + your state” or visit the Legal Services Corporation finder.
How to Use These Resources
- Use AnnualCreditReport.com and the CFPB credit report tools to pull and review your reports before applying for new credit or bank accounts.
- Use ChexSystems, EWS, TeleCheck, and Certegy links to clean up your banking reports while you browse local banks and credit unions offering second chance checking on Bad Credit Nerd.
- Use NFCC, MMI, and DOJ-listed counseling agencies if your debt feels unmanageable and you need a trusted human to walk through options.
- Use IdentityTheft.gov and FTC resources if you suspect fraud or identity theft is behind negative items on your reports.
Bookmark this page and use it as your “toolbox” as you work through the guides and step-by-step plans and other bad credit resources here on Bad Credit Nerd.