How does credit counseling affect my FICO® Score?

Using a credit counseling service and having this situation reported in your credit report should not have any negative impact on your FICO Score. However, the actions you take based on the recommendations of a credit counselor may sometimes affect your score. For example, choosing to make partial payments or agreeing to settle for less than the full amount on accounts may be regarded negatively by the FICO scoring model. Additionally, any late payments occurring either before or after you began the plan may also be regarded negatively.