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Do you need help?  Take this Quick Debt Quiz:

1. Are you arguing over your bills and always playing catch-up?
2. Are you living from paycheck to paycheck?
3. Can you only make the minimum payments on your charge accounts?
4. Do you charge more than you repay each month?
5. Are you unable to build a savings emergency fund?
6. Do you borrow to pay regular expenses, such as food and utilities?
7. Would you be in immediate financial difficulty if you lost your job?
8. Are your creditors calling because your payments are late?
9. Are you afraid to add up your total debt?
10. Is more than 20% of your take-home income going to pay bills?
11. Are your credit lines all used up?
12. Do you find yourself paying late charges and over-limit fees?
13. Do you juggle other bills to keep up the minimum monthly payments on credit cards?
14. Do you borrow for items you once bought with cash?
15. Are you paying late fees?
16. Is your current job barely making ends meet?
17. Have you taken money from your savings account to pay your credit cards?
18. Is life without credit cards unthinkable?
19. Do you check to see if you have your credit cards before going shopping?

If you answered yes to three or more of these questions, you may have a serious debt problem and should contact a professional credit counselor.

How about the more positive side?

1. Do you want to explore the potential to buy your first home?
2. Do you consider credit or budgeting a mystery you would like to solve?

Seeking help is not a sign of failure, rather an effort to use the resources in the local community to relieve stress, rid burdens or avoid problems.

Financial problems can happen to anyone, regardless of income. Those problems can range from minor budgeting difficulties to major concerns that threaten bankruptcy. They may stem from a sudden loss of income , unexpected expenses or uncontrolled spending. Unfortunately, financial difficulties frequently aggravate existing problems and create new ones. People experiencing money troubles are sometimes surprised by how rapidly the situation affects their job performance and personal relationships.
 
 CCCS helps people prevent further financial problems by providing instruction in the wise use of credit, budgeting and in family money management.  The preferred way to receive your confidential counseling, by a Certified Consumer Credit Counselor, is in person.  However, if you have special circumstances that prohibit you from coming to the office for an in-person appointment a phone appointment can be arranged.
 
 A Certified Consumer Credit Counselor can help by showing you how to set up a budget and how it should be managed.

THE DEBT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

Endorsed by creditors nationwide, the CCCS Debt Management Program (DMP) enables thousands of consumers to become debt free every year.

If you are having trouble keeping up with your bills, one of your options might be consolidation of your bill payments. Our DMP allows you to make one payment to all your creditors through us. We will also negotiate with your creditors to stop collection action, lower payments, reduce interest and fees.  Should you choose to participate in the Program, there is a one-time $25 set-up fee and a small monthly administration fee that helps to offset our costs as a non-profit service.  However, no one is ever denied services due to an inability to pay fees.

Our Debt Management Programs serve the dual role of helping you repay your debts and helping creditors collect the money owed them.

Many creditors will work with CCCS to establish a DMP. Many of the creditors are not able to sit down and make individual arrangements with each consumer. That is why they are supportive of CCCS. Our trained counseling staff will evaluate your situation and assist you in coming up with a WIN-WIN solution to your financial problems. Very seldom does a creditor completely refuse a payment through CCCS. We always try to work out an agreement that will satisfy both the creditor and the client.

Most of our funding comes from voluntary contributions from creditors who participate in the Debt Management Program (DMP). Since creditors have a financial interest in getting paid, most are willing to make a contribution to help fund our agency. These contributions are usually calculated as a percentage of payments you make through the DMP up to fifteen percent (15%) of each payment received. However, your accounts with creditors will always be credited with one hundred percent (100%) of the amount you pay through us. We will work with all your creditors regardless of whether they contribute to our agency.

Whether you are facing financial stress or just looking for a "fiscal check-up", let us help.

To make an appointment or for further information, call us at (541) 267-7040 or toll free (800) 248-7040.

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