Sources & References

DebtCalculatorLab is an educational tool. Our calculator models, assumptions, and educational content reference publicly available information from the categories of organisations listed below. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with any of these organisations.

US Federal Consumer Protection

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) — Federal agency providing consumer education on credit cards, debt collection, and financial products. Our minimum-payment and credit-card payoff models reference CFPB-published consumer guidance.
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) — Federal agency enforcing consumer protection rules including the Telemarketing Sales Rule applicable to debt settlement. Our debt relief calculator references FTC guidance on typical settlement ranges and consumer rights.
• US Trustee Program (USTP) — Division of the Department of Justice overseeing bankruptcy administration. General bankruptcy process descriptions reference publicly available USTP educational materials.

Canadian Federal Resources

• Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada (OSB) — Federal office administering the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and licensing Licensed Insolvency Trustees. Our Canadian debt relief content references the Consumer Proposal process described in OSB educational materials.
• Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) — Federal agency providing consumer education on financial products and debt management. General debt-education content references FCAC published guidance.

Nonprofit Credit Counseling Standards

• National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) — Largest US nonprofit financial counseling network. Our recommendations to seek credit counseling reference NFCC accreditation as a quality indicator.
• Financial Counseling Association of America (FCAA) — US nonprofit accrediting body for credit counseling agencies. Referenced alongside NFCC as a standard for reputable nonprofit counseling services.

Calculation Methodology

• Standard amortisation formulas — All payoff calculators use standard compound-interest amortisation: monthly interest = (balance × APR ÷ 12). These formulas are publicly documented in financial mathematics textbooks and are the same methods used by lenders.
• CPA review — All calculator logic has been reviewed by a Certified Public Accountant for mathematical accuracy. This review covers formula correctness, not personalised financial advice.