Review: Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc.
With their tagline “When debt is the problem, we are the solution.”, Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc. 
provides credit counseling services as well as debt management programs throughout the United States for people who are overwhelmed or unable to manage their financial problems without assistance.
Founded in the early 1990′s. Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc. is considered an industry leader as is one of the biggest credit counseling agencies in the country. They are a member in good standing with the Better Business Bureau, a member of the United States Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce. Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc. also belongs to the Association of the Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies, and the American Collection Association. Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc’s team has been specially trained and is recognized as being registers an ISO 9001:2000 Registered Organization whose accreditation is acknowledged worldwide. The mission of Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc. is to provide assistance to families who are experiencing financial crisis and help them learn how to manage their money through innovative counseling techniques and educational programs. Each consumer will be able to establish a customized program that directly addresses the needs of each individual financial situation. They share their ultimate goal of helping consumers find freedom from debt.
The process for working with Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc. involves being paired with a highly trained counselor who will review your current financial situation. Since many people do not pursue third-party assistance for financial problems due to embarrassment, Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc. ensures that all clients will be treated with both respect and the highest quality of care while a financial plan for debt freedom is created. The financial plan is intended to help you manage your money and pay down your debts. Consumers will get assistance with developing a budget and be provided further debt counseling and education designed specifically to meet individual needs and address consumer concerns.
Consolidated Credit Counseling Services website features current articles and valuable information about debt and other financial matters and is free to view. The site also features a members area that is for the exclusive use for clients. The member area also includes information and education materials not available to the public.
Consumers can sign up for a free debt consultation on the website at any time. For those who are not comfortable completing personal information about themselves online, there is a convenient toll free number for consumers to call and speak directly to a trained counselor. For more information, visit the Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc. website or call the toll free line at 800-320-9929.
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If you are having some serious problem with your health condition then you must seek for wise counsels from the health experts on how to combat such problems.
Is there a source where folks can get reviews on these various credit counseling services? … rather than end up with one that is no considered satisfactory and charges high fees..
Thanks for any info..
These companies are very suspicious. Be careful. Check with consumer advocate groups. Do in-depth Internet search. They are not as easy as they look.
I am currently on this program. Don't be fooled by their sales pitches. Your credit WILL be affected. They do reduce the interest, which is great. The difference between this program and bankruptcy is that bankruptcy requires 7 years after completion before you can building credit again. This program allows you to start building credit immediately after completion. That being said, it will probably take me 4 years to pay off my debt so I am gaining about 3 years. Not sure how much better this is. All things considered, I wish I would have filed for bankruptcy after graduation of college. Would have been building credit by now.
It's not free either, it costs you 4.97% of your monthly payment. Example, if your minimum monthly payment is 1,000$, then you are paying 49.70$/month for this service.
That being said, 4.97% is likely much lower than what you are paying now. What you have to keep in mind is whether this reduction in interest is worth the bad credit throughout the term of your repayment.
People, you must be smart when doing something like this. My husband and I have been on this program for 4 years and will be done in 8 months. While it will show on your credit report it does NOT affect your credit negatively. How could it? You are paying your debt off! It has only helped our credit. The monthly fee you pay is the admin fees to process all of the payments for you and for all of the counseling services they make available to you. We have never had a problem with the program. We are proud that we are able to pay off our debt on our own. You can NOT compare this at all to bankruptcy. Ugh people – be educated!
I'm a part of the program and loved it (not a one complaint) up until today. Upon enrollment, they signed me up for this $12 bogus insurance program and never alerted me. It just rubbed me the wrong way because the rep and supervisors both told me that I wouldn't get a refund, and the way that the company went about it was very deceptive.
I'm a part of the program and loved it (not a one complaint) up until today. Upon enrollment, they signed me up for this $12 bogus insurance program and never alerted me. It just rubbed me the wrong way because the rep and supervisors both told me that I wouldn't get a refund, and the way that the company went about it was very deceptive.
My wife and I have been on this program for over three years now, and are scheduled to finish in a matter of months. The amount of debt this program helped us overcome is mind-boggling, and when we entered the program we were on the verge of bankruptcy. But we reviewed the options carefully, and decided a debt management program would be worth a try – we literally had nothing to lose, since our credit rating was already shot with late and missed payments. And I am thankful every DAY that we decided to use the program, because within 6 months, our credit rating began to go back up due to the regular payments back to the creditors. And since this program does not negotiate lower balances, there were no negative entries on our credit ratings. Yes, they do report that you are in a debt management program, but most creditors view that as a positive, or at least a neutral.
After a little less than 3 years our credit rating was high enough for us to qualify for a new house, and with the tax credit we will be able to pay off our entire debt almost a year early. So there is definitely merit in programs like this one, and I highly recommend this company to anyone who can bite the bullet and put credit behind them.
i worked on it
I've been on the program for about a year and 1/2…but shortly after my tax return….there will be only one credit card on their listing….just paying to card won't be financial burden at all…in that case, should I remove myself from the program shortly after those payments…Can I exit the program…or is it a binding contract?
If not the $35 dollar fee seems to be redundant then
I have to say that this company the Consolidated Credit Counseling was the best choice I ever made. I had gotten myself in deep and although I was keeping up with my payments at a little over the minimum the interest was killing me. So I called them and they worked their magic. I have paid off 3 cards in a year and a half and took out a loan to pay off the remainder. They always worked well with me and were always very pleasant on the phone up until the last day when I called to cancel the program. The lady I spoke with tried to threaten me saying that if I pay the credit companys without going through them the credit card companies could charge me back interest. If any of them say that to you it is a lie. All mine were paid off and they didn't charge me any extra.
Hi Duh,
I have just completed the program and I do not believe that it hurt me at all. I am so over the moon!!! It took me 5 years but I am so happy that it is finally over!!! I can breath a lot better now!!! More money to save for a rainy day and no more credit cards!!!! I would recommend this company to anyone. They were very nice and sounded like they really cared whenever I spoke to them.
Eldon Hinkle
Informative information and excellent posts you have!
Thank you for a great post
Our computer guy recommends wiping the hard drive clean once a year to keep it running fast. It’s a pain but really does keep our computers at top speed!
Not true about claiming bankruptcy – In my experience, once you claim bankruptcy, credit card companies actually send credit applications immediately (lower credit lines and higher interest rates). They want you to establish your credit right away. See a bankruptcy lawyer for questions – most offer a free consult to answer questions and only after you make a decision to file do they charge you – anywhere from $1500 to $3000 to file bankruptcy in court. Once you file, the harassing phone calls stop. Nothing is sweeter the sound of silence from no credit card companies calling my home/work. The seven year myth is put out by credit card companies who don’t want you to file bankruptcy.