Privacy Policy
Last Updated: September 3, 2026
Who We Are
DebtWave Credit Counseling, Inc. (“DebtWave,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit consumer credit counseling agency headquartered in Escondido, California. Our website address is https://debtwave.org/.
This Privacy Policy applies to information collected through DebtWave’s websites, online forms, counseling services, communications, and other services made available by DebtWave.
This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use that information, when information may be disclosed, how we protect information, and the choices available to consumers regarding their personal information.
DebtWave’s collection, use, protection, and disclosure of nonpublic personal information is also subject to applicable federal and state laws and regulations, including requirements applicable to nonprofit consumer credit counseling organizations.
Information We Collect
Depending on how you interact with DebtWave, we may collect information that you voluntarily provide to us as well as limited information collected automatically when you use our website.
Information You Provide to Us
When you contact DebtWave, request information, schedule an appointment, complete a counseling form, enroll in services, or otherwise communicate with us, we may collect information such as:
- Name
- Mailing address
- Email address
- Telephone or mobile phone number
- State of residence
- Debt and creditor information
- Account balances and payment information
- Income, expenses, and other financial information
- Employment information
- Information necessary to verify your identity
- Information contained in messages or documents you provide to us
If you choose to participate in a credit counseling session or Debt Management Program, additional information may be requested when reasonably necessary to provide the requested service. Certain secure counseling or enrollment processes may request confidential financial or identifying information.
DebtWave’s general website contact forms are not intended for submitting payment card information, passwords, or other information that has not specifically been requested.
How We Use Personal Information
DebtWave may use the information we collect to:
- Respond to questions and requests for information
- Schedule and conduct credit counseling appointments
- Provide consumer credit counseling and financial education
- Administer Debt Management Programs and other services requested by consumers
- Identify accounts and communicate with creditors when authorized by the consumer
- Verify a consumer’s identity
- Provide customer service and account support
- Send requested account, appointment, document, or service-related communications
- Maintain records required for legal, regulatory, accounting, auditing, and compliance purposes
- Detect and prevent fraud, misuse, security incidents, and technical problems
- Improve our website, services, and consumer experience
- Conduct statistical or analytical studies using aggregated or de-identified information
SMS and Text Messaging Privacy
DebtWave may offer consumers the option to receive SMS or text messages. Participation in DebtWave’s SMS messaging program is voluntary and requires separate consent where applicable.
If you choose to opt in to SMS communications, DebtWave may collect and use your mobile telephone number and your SMS opt-in information for communications such as appointment reminders, account notifications, document follow-ups, security notifications, and customer service communications associated with your interaction with DebtWave.
Your consent to receive SMS or text messages is not a condition of purchasing, enrolling in, or receiving services from DebtWave.
Mobile Information and SMS Consent Will Not Be Shared for Marketing
DebtWave does not sell, rent, share, transfer, or disclose mobile phone numbers, SMS opt-in data, or text messaging consent to third parties, affiliates, partners, or lead generators for their own marketing or promotional purposes.
Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent are excluded from any provisions of this Privacy Policy that may otherwise permit information sharing with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.
DebtWave may use service providers that perform functions on our behalf that are necessary to deliver or support our communications and services. Such service providers may process information only as reasonably necessary to perform services for DebtWave and are not authorized by DebtWave to use SMS opt-in information or mobile telephone numbers for their own marketing or promotional purposes.
SMS consent is specific to DebtWave and the messaging program for which the consumer provided consent. SMS consent is not sold or transferred to another business for that business to send marketing messages.
SMS Message Frequency and Charges
Message frequency varies depending on your interaction with DebtWave and the communications you have requested. Message and data rates may apply according to your wireless carrier and mobile service plan.
Opting Out of SMS Messages
You may opt out of DebtWave SMS messages at any time by replying STOP to a DebtWave text message. After processing your opt-out request, DebtWave will discontinue SMS messages associated with that messaging program except where an additional message is permitted or required to confirm your opt-out.
For assistance with SMS messages, reply HELP or contact DebtWave at 888-686-4040 or info@debtwave.org.
Opting out of SMS communications does not prevent you from receiving services from DebtWave and does not necessarily prevent DebtWave from contacting you through other methods you have authorized, such as telephone, email, or postal mail.
Email Communications
DebtWave may use your email address to respond to requests, provide service-related information, send account or appointment communications, and, where permitted, provide educational or promotional information.
If you no longer wish to receive promotional emails from DebtWave, you may use the unsubscribe link included in applicable emails. Certain administrative, transactional, security, or service-related emails may still be sent when necessary to provide services you requested or maintain your account.
Cookies and Automatically Collected Information
When you visit DebtWave.org or use certain DebtWave online services, we or service providers acting on our behalf may automatically receive information from your browser, computer, or mobile device. This information may include:
- Internet Protocol (IP) address
- Browser and device type
- Operating system and device information
- Approximate geographic information derived from an IP address
- Pages viewed on our website
- Referring and exit pages
- Dates and times of website visits
- Interactions with website features
DebtWave may use cookies and similar technologies to operate our website, remember preferences, understand how visitors use the website, measure website performance, improve the consumer experience, prevent fraud, and support advertising or analytics functions.
You may be able to limit or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect the operation of certain website features.
Analytics and Advertising Technologies
DebtWave may use analytics and advertising services provided by third parties, including services that help us understand how visitors interact with our website or evaluate the effectiveness of advertising.
These technologies may collect information such as IP addresses, device identifiers, browser information, pages viewed, referral sources, and interactions with our website.
DebtWave does not authorize these technologies to use SMS opt-in information or text messaging consent for third-party marketing or promotional purposes.
Embedded Content and Third-Party Websites
DebtWave’s website may contain links to or embedded content from third-party websites, such as videos, scheduling tools, maps, or other online services.
When you interact with third-party content, the third party may collect information according to its own privacy practices. DebtWave is not responsible for the privacy practices of independently operated third-party websites or services.
We encourage consumers to review the privacy policies of third-party websites before providing personal information.
How We Share Personal Information
DebtWave does not sell or rent personal information collected from consumers.
DebtWave may disclose personal information in limited circumstances when reasonably necessary to provide services requested by a consumer or operate our organization. Examples may include:
- Employees and authorized personnel who need information to perform their job responsibilities
- Creditors when necessary to provide credit counseling or administer a Debt Management Program and when authorized by the consumer
- Service providers that perform functions on DebtWave’s behalf, such as technology, communications, security, data processing, hosting, or administrative services
- Government agencies, regulators, courts, or other parties when disclosure is required or permitted by law
- Parties involved in preventing, detecting, or investigating fraud, abuse, security incidents, or violations of applicable agreements
When DebtWave uses service providers, we expect those providers to handle information in accordance with applicable contractual, confidentiality, security, and legal requirements.
Regardless of the information-sharing provisions above, mobile phone numbers, SMS opt-in data, and text messaging consent will not be shared with third parties or affiliates for their marketing or promotional purposes.
Legal and Regulatory Disclosures
DebtWave may disclose information if we have a good-faith belief that disclosure is necessary or appropriate to:
- Comply with applicable laws, regulations, subpoenas, court orders, or enforceable governmental requests
- Protect the rights, property, safety, or operations of DebtWave, our clients, employees, or others
- Detect, investigate, prevent, or address fraud, security, or technical issues
- Enforce applicable agreements or policies
- Comply with licensing, auditing, accreditation, or regulatory obligations
Business or Organizational Changes
If DebtWave undergoes a merger, reorganization, restructuring, or similar organizational transaction, certain business records and personal information may be transferred as permitted by applicable law.
SMS opt-in consent is not automatically transferable for marketing or promotional messaging. Text messaging consent remains subject to applicable consent requirements and restrictions.
Aggregated and De-Identified Information
DebtWave may use or disclose aggregated, statistical, or de-identified information that does not reasonably identify an individual. For example, we may use aggregate information to evaluate the number of consumers receiving counseling, understand website usage, or measure the effectiveness of financial education programs.
How We Protect Personal Information
DebtWave uses reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.
These safeguards may include access controls, employee confidentiality requirements, secure systems, encryption, and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology where appropriate.
Access to personally identifiable information is limited to employees and authorized service providers who reasonably need access to perform their responsibilities.
No method of transmitting information over the Internet or storing information electronically can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Although DebtWave uses reasonable safeguards, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
How Long We Retain Information
DebtWave generally retains personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, provide services requested by consumers, comply with applicable record-retention requirements, meet legal or regulatory obligations, resolve disputes, prevent fraud, and enforce our agreements.
Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and the applicable legal, regulatory, contractual, or operational requirements.
Your Privacy Choices
You may contact DebtWave to ask questions about personal information we maintain about you or, where applicable, request that we:
- Provide information concerning personal information we maintain about you
- Correct inaccurate information
- Delete information when we are legally permitted to do so
- Stop certain future communications
- Address concerns regarding our use of your personal information
Certain information may need to be retained to comply with legal, regulatory, contractual, security, accounting, or recordkeeping obligations.
Children’s Privacy
DebtWave’s services are not directed to children under 13, and DebtWave does not knowingly collect personal information online from children under 13. If we learn that personal information from a child under 13 has been collected through our website, we will take reasonable steps to delete the information as appropriate.
State Licensing Information
DebtWave provides consumer credit counseling and Debt Management Program services subject to applicable state requirements.
For information regarding DebtWave’s licenses, registrations, and state-specific disclosures, please visit our State Licenses page.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
DebtWave may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our services, technology, business practices, legal requirements, or privacy practices.
When material changes are made, we will post the updated Privacy Policy on this page and update the “Last Updated” date above. Your continued use of DebtWave’s website or services after an updated Privacy Policy becomes effective is subject to the updated policy as permitted by applicable law.
Contact Us
If you have questions, comments, requests, or complaints concerning DebtWave’s privacy practices, please contact us:
DebtWave Credit Counseling, Inc.
Re: DebtWave Privacy Notice
1835A S. Centre City Parkway, #508
Escondido, CA 92025
Email: info@debtwave.org
Toll-Free: 888-686-4040
Principal Address
500 La Terraza Blvd, Suite 150
Escondido, CA 92025
Mailing Address
1835A S. Centre City Parkway, #508
Escondido, CA 92025
DebtWave is short for the full legal name DebtWave Credit Counseling, Inc. DebtWave Credit Counseling, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.