Frequently Asked Questions

01 How do I make a payment?



02 What is your disbursement calendar?



03 What services does the Agency provide?

We provide confidential credit counseling, personalized debt management plans, comprehensive credit reports and scores, pre-filing bankruptcy counseling and pre-discharge bankruptcy education, individualized housing counseling, community financial education programs and Representative Payee services for Seniors and Disabled individuals with the Oregon Money Management Program.

04 How long has CCCS been in business?

The Agency has been providing professional credit counseling and financial education in Southern Oregon and Northern California since 1971. Since that time we have counseled over 30,000 families, returned more than $35 million dollars to local and national creditors through debt management programs, and presented thousands of educational classes to help people learn more about managing their money.

05 Are you licensed?

We are licensed by the State of Oregon and State of California and are in compliance with all State and Federal regulations. Our Oregon license number is DM-80115. We are also authorized by HUD to provide housing counseling, by the Executive Office of the US Trustees to provide pre-filing bankruptcy counseling and pre-discharge education, and by the Oregon Department of Human services to be the local coordinator for the Money Management Program.

06 Is the Agency accredited?

We are accredited by the Council on Accreditation. This national accreditation guarantees that the Agency provides professional counseling and education and meets all of their quality standards. In the most recent review they stated that “the education and outreach efforts of this organization are impressive. The services are comprehensive and focus on the needs of the client and the community.”

07 Are your counselors certified?

All of our counselors are certified by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. In addition, our housing counselors are certified by HUD to provide reverse mortgage counseling. They have over 50 years of combined experience providing help in our community.

08 Why people choose CCCS of Southern Oregon?

There are many companies that claim to provide help to people who need help with their finances. Unfortunately, some of those companies make promises that they are unable to keep. People can feel secure receiving help from CCCS of Southern Oregon. It has over 40 years of experience and thousands of satisfied customers.

09 What sets Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Southern Oregon apart from other credit counseling agencies?

We were started in 1971 and in that time we have built a long track record of assisting consumers in improving their personal finances through counseling and education programs.  We are a community based non-profit and all of our counselors are fully certified by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC). We are also fully accredited by the Counseling on Accreditation (COA).

10 How Will Bankruptcy Affect My Credit Score?

If you choose to file for bankruptcy, you should know that your bankruptcy will affect your credit report. A bankruptcy does not delete accurate information from your credit report regarding your past delinquencies, bankruptcy is a matter of public record and will be reported in the public section of your credit report. A bankruptcy will have a negative effect on your credit report and credit score. A potential creditor, landlord, or employer in the future may view this negatively. Depending on the type of bankruptcy you file, it many remain on your credit report for 7 to 10 years. If you choose a Debt Repayment plan as an alternative to bankruptcy, be advised that your accounts will be closed upon submission of proposals with could have a negative impact on your credit score.

11 I have some serious problems with my credit. Will your counselors be understanding?

All of our counselors are understanding that we all make mistakes and occasionally have problems.  We are there to help you resolve the problems and move on with your life.  There’s no lecturing from our counselors, only understanding.

12 I have big financial problems. How can you help me?

Our credit counselors, housing counselors, student loan counselors and educators meet with clients individually to offer personalized advice on steps you can take to improve your situation—it’ step by step.  It might be to create a budget, prioritize bill payment, strategize to paying down debt, learn a debt payment plan.

Many of our clients are so overwhelmed by their financial situation that they don’t know their options or next steps.  It’s helpful to have an experienced and understanding financial expert to help you take stock of the situation, and offer suggestions on how to proceed.

In cases of very high credit card debt, our counselors may suggest a debt management program, also known as DMP’s.

13 What are the prices for your services?

Many of our services are offered free-others at low costs.  When you contact us we can talk about the costs.

14 How are you funded?

We receive funding through multiple sources—mostly community grants, donations from past clients who appreciated our services and voluntary contribution from creditors who participate in our debt management program and client fees.

15 I live out of the area. Do I have to physically come in for counseling?

No, we are happy to provide counseling by phone. Many clients live out of the area and seek our help. We have a toll free phone line.

16 Who owns your agency?

We are a community based non-profit and we are governed by a volunteer board of directors made up of community members.

17 How long will it take to pay off my debts?

On your own, it may take ten or more years to pay off an average debt amounts when making only minimum payments.  We can devise a debt management plan to significantly reduce or eliminate most unsecure debt within three to five years.

18 I have heard of a Debt Management Plan. What is it?

A debt management program is a payment plan between you, us, and your unsecured creditors.  In this plan, creditors agree to offer special concessions to help you get out of debt.  These concessions may include reducing your interest rate and stopping late and over limit fees.  This plan can reduce the months or even years of payment. We have counselors that are familiar with these services and will be happy to review them with you.

Partners

Our Community Partners