Do you have to pay to use the CCCS debt settlement services?
I need some help organizing my debt. I want to learn how to deal with my debt better and eliminate it faster. CCCS seems like a well known company but Im still leery. Also, I can’t afford my bills so obviously, I wont be able to afford counseling services. Any info/opinions especially from those who have been in my situation would be helpful. Thanks!
Posted February 6th, 2010 in Debt Settlement. Tagged: counseling services.
CCCS is the largest and oldest credit counseling service in the Country and they are non-profit so no you do not have to pay them anything.
You can reach them at 1-800-388-2227.
I used them seveal years ago and they worked with my creditors to lower both my monthly payment and interest rate. I was debt free in 36-months.
February 6th, 2010 at 7:03 pmCheck this website: http://www.nfcc.org/ You can find a local company to contact. They are legit non-profit credit counseling with no fee. They are known as Consumer Credit Counseling Services (CCCS).
There are lot of companies doing debt relief/counseling/consolidation that charge fees up front and trash your credit.
February 6th, 2010 at 7:03 pmI went through cccs myself. No you dont have to pay.
February 6th, 2010 at 7:03 pmI owed 5000 on my credit cards. They consolodated the payment down to just one payment per month.
It kept me out of bankruptcy.
Just make sure you send in your bill statements to CCCS so they can update the remaining balance each month.
Good Luck.
A credit counseling service typically charges $25 a month. This is the fee for negotiating the debt down, processing your payments through them (they then route them to the creditors) and providing you with budgeting information and help.
I have credit counseling services on my website here if you want to compare them:
http://www.1-800badcredit.com
They will set you up on a direct withdrawal once a month and then disburse the money to your creditors.
Plus side – your debt is being paid on time and has an actual end-date (usually 3 years). PLUS they provide you with budgeting help and advice.
Down side – Your credit cards are canceled.
Good luck to you! I’ve used credit counseling services before and they are a real life saver.
February 6th, 2010 at 7:03 pmHave to tried negotiating with your creditors directly? Having CCCS on your credit report will adversely affect your ability to get credit in the future, and is actually viewed my some lenders as WORSE than a bankruptcy.
Go to http://www.creditboards.com/forums for information on how to negotiate with your creditors.
February 6th, 2010 at 7:03 pmyou need to take care of it yourself. You need to be the one talking to your creditors. If you leave it up to some company and they dont pay YOU, and only you are responsible. They will sue you not the company you hired.
February 6th, 2010 at 7:03 pmYou’ll have no idea of whats going on because you are not the one directly involved.