I was severely in debt last year and decided to go through Consolidated Credit Counseling Service, which is a so-called "not for profit" agency that flaunts its association with the Better Business Bureau.
Well, after four months of sending my payments in, I was getting my credit card statements back with late fees up the wazoo and then I realized that the company was taking 10 dollars or so of my monthly payment and using it toward a piddly "benefit" program with coupons I could use at restaurants or something to that effect. They said to write a letter to the address on the form to be removed from that program. I sent the letter in to the company with a return receipt, requesting a signature. This was in April and I still have not received the return receipt (and it's October now).
I decided to cease sending my payments in to this company and started to send some in to the actual credit card agencies. I then wrote letters to all the places I owed requesting a statement of all payments made since I had started with CCCS. I also called CCCS and wrote them letters, faxed them, mailed them, you name it. Not a single response back. Then they messed things up for themselves when they decided to mail me my statement of payments made.
When I started receiving my statements back from the credit card companies, the amounts were inconsistent. For example, a medical bill I had was receiving payments of $13.50 while CCCS divvied up my monthly payment to include a $20.00 payment to that doctor. Other bills just never received a payment. I sent them a total of almost $1000 and maybe 1/4 of that was actually disbursed to my creditors.
If you're in debt, do not go through this company. They don't send you monthly statements or even try to work with you. I found a new debt consolidator that is absolutely great. (Garden State Consumer Credit Counseling). They actually send statements and their minimum payments are made so you can pay off your bills fast. No matter what though, these companies charge monthly fees, but wouldn't you rather pay them to a company that is actually going to pay off your bills?
Linda
Bridgewater, New Jersey
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