Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why CCCS?
A. CCCS of MD & DE, Inc. is a non-profit community service organization established in 1966 offering money management and debt counseling, debt management repayment programs, and educational seminars on money management. We are managed by a volunteer Board of Directors from various businesses and professions. Annually, CCCS helps thousands of individuals through counseling sessions, and reaches more than 150,000 individuals through education programs.

Q. What does the NFCC seal signify?
A. CCCS of MD & DE, Inc. is a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. The NFCC seal ensures that this agency meets the highest standards for quality which include agency accreditation, counselor certification, and annual fiscal audits.

Q. How is CCCS funded?
A. Funding is provided through tax deductible voluntary contributions by creditors, businesses, community, individuals, and civic organizations. CCCS is a neutral third party in the negotiation between consumers and their creditors to resolve problems with debt.

Q. How do I know if I need the services of CCCS?
A. You may have a debt problem if your monthly bills exceed your monthly income, if you have to borrow to make minimum monthly payments on credit cards, or if you are late in paying any of your creditors. Click here to find out more on how to evaluate your individual financial fitness.

Q. What happens when I participate in a counseling session?
A. The counselor will work with you to develop a tough but realistic monthly budget based on your monthly net income, your living expenses and your debts. The counselor will give you options to resolve your financial situation. Sometimes a counseling session is all you'll need to get your finances in order.

Q. What is a Debt Management Plan (DMP)?
A. One of the options your counselor may suggest is a Debt Management Plan (DMP). In a Debt Management Plan you make one payment to our agency which we then disburse to your creditors. In many cases, your total monthly payment and interest to creditors is reduced in a DMP.

Q. What kind of qualifications do counselors have?
A. To ensure the professional quality, CCCS requires that all counselors must complete a certification program developed through the NFCC.

Q. Is the information I give my counselor confidential?
A. All information you give CCCS is strictly confidential.

Q. If I enroll in a Debt Management Plan, how will it affect my credit rating?
A. Your participation in a CCCS DMP may affect your credit rating either favorably or unfavorably depending on the individual credit reporting policy of the creditors in your Debt Management Plan.

Q. Which creditors can be included in a Debt Management Plan?
A. Credit cards, unsecured loans, some secured loans, and medical bills can be included in your DMP. All of your living expenses and debt that can not be included in the DMP are computed into your monthly budget so that you can continue to make these payments on your own.

Q. Will my creditors still call me after I join the DMP?
A. In most cases, creditors will stop calling you once they receive regular payments from you through our program.

Q. Do all creditors have to accept CCCS's scheduled payment?
A. Our payment plans are generally accepted because most major credit grantors support CCCS.

Q. If I enroll in a Debt Management Plan, will my creditors stop interest on my accounts?
A. Many creditors will reduce or waive interest for clients enrolled in our DMP, however, not all will. Finance charges may remain, be waived or lowered depending on the creditor, and your payment habits.

Q. What kind of support does CCCS give me during the Debt Management Plan?
A. CCCS of MD & DE, Inc. offers periodic free money management seminars for our clients, and we send clients a quarterly newsletter that contains money management information. Also, our Operations Department is here to support you in any way we can to ensure that you successfully manage the program.