Press Releases

Looking to Earn Extra Money?

Homeowners Need to Consider Possible Legal Issues Before Deciding to Walk Away from Mortgage Payment

The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009

Tax Time Is Great Time to Get Finances Organized

Putting Your Tax Refund to Work

Do I Need A Debt Management Plan?

CCCS of Greater Atlanta to Offer Free Reverse Mortgage Counseling

Don't Make These Common Credit Card Mistakes

Eliminate Credit Card Debt in 2010

Debt Weary Consumers Face January Blues

Wrapping Up Your Holiday Shopping--Without Stress or Debt

Enter the CCCS Credit Score Challenge For Chance to Win $850 Gift Card

New National Guide for Donors Recognizes CCCS of Greater Atlanta as Foreclosure Prevention Leader

Don't Take a Payment Holiday from Your Mortgage

Don't Let Your Financial Future Go Up in Smoke

The impact of smoking on your health is well documented. But counselors at Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Greater Atlanta know that it can also wreak havoc on a person's financial health. Whether it's helping people struggling with credit card debt or trying to avoid foreclosure, counselors find that tobacco use adds a significant amount to monthly household expenditures and they advise consumers to consider reducing or quitting smoking to save money.

Debt Repayment Plan Interest Rates Drop

With millions of Americans struggling to repay their credit card debt, it may be a good time to consider a debt management plan (DMP) offered by many nonprofit credit counseling agencies. That's because people with large balances and high interest rates who enroll in a DMP are receiving favorable repayment terms from a variety of creditors, according to Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Greater Atlanta.

Foreclosure: I Didn't Think It Could Happen to Me

AARPBulletintoday

By: Carole Fleck

Kathleen Day, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit Center for Responsible Lending, says Congress should have made it mandatory, not voluntary, for lenders to help troubled borrowers with foreclosure prevention programs early in the crisis.

What's This Charge?

The Boston Globe

By Erin Conroy

WHAT'S THIS CHARGE?: It might just be an unexplained charge on your credit card statement that you don't recall making or have a receipt for. But it's important to look into these small transactions as they may be part of a larger problem: stolen credit.

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta Receives $3.5 Million Grant to Support Foreclosure Prevention Counseling Efforts

Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Greater Atlanta today announced that it has received a $3.5 million grant to support its national foreclosure prevention counseling efforts in several metropolitan areas. The much-needed boost will enable CCCS of Greater Atlanta to provide more foreclosure counseling than ever before to homeowners in danger of foreclosure. 

Overcoming Fear of Foreclosure Critical for Many People to Keep Their Homes

ATLANTA, GA,  Foreclosure numbers continue to rise and many homeowners are at an increased risk of losing their home. While foreclosure can be prevented, many homeowners remain confused or afraid to confront their mortgage problems and take action to help save their home.

Mortgage Demand Drops as Fixed Rates Rise

Reuters 

Demand for U.S. home loans fell as fixed mortgage rates rose last week in a banking period shortened by the Labor Day holiday, the Mortgage Bankers Association said on Wednesday.

Money Management Tips for the Newly Unemployed

Maintaining Good Credit May Help Chances of Finding New Job

Getting the Most from Your Credit Cards

Snowballing, Increasing Credit Limits among tips from Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta

Companies promise foreclosure help, don't deliver

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Don and Evelyn Perry turned to People's First Financial when they worried their Lawrenceville home may fall into foreclosure. They paid $3,000, but never got their loan refinanced.

Choosing Bankruptcy to Avoid Foreclosure

Washington Post

Even though you cannot get rid of your mortgage payments through bankruptcy, about one in five people who went through mandatory pre-bankruptcy credit counseling said they were doing so to avoid losing their homes to foreclosure, according to Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Greater Atlanta. That organization provides counseling throughout the United States.

One in Five People Filed for Bankruptcy to Avoid Foreclosure in June

In each of past three months, more than 20% of bankruptcy counseling clients cited bankruptcy as only way to keep home

Loan Modifications Creating Need for More Counseling

Mortgage Servicing News

The frenzy to participate in the Obama administration affordable home loan modification program is on. However, some market insiders say more borrower counseling is needed because the complexities of the loan modification process can create roadblocks that prevent consumers from getting a modification.

Know These Facts about Reverse Mortgages

As reverse mortgages become more popular, seniors need to understand how these loans work. Counselors for Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Greater Atlanta, one of the nation's largest nonprofit reverse mortgage counseling agencies, say homeowners often have misconceptions about major features of these loans.

Meltdown Changes Key Agency

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Almost anyone can get into financial trouble. No one knows that more than Suzanne Boas, who for nearly two decades has guided a non-profit agency that tries to help thousands of distressed consumers each year. In this economic meltdown, however, the clients are different -- and so is Boas and her agency.

Foreclosure Prevention Counseling Sessions More than Doubled in 2009's First Half

In a clear sign that more people are seeking help to avoid foreclosure, Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Greater Atlanta today reported that its foreclosure prevention counseling sessions more than doubled in the first half of 2009 compared to the same period last year.

Atlanta Bargain Hunter Fighting foreclosure? Keep these 5 things in mind

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Foreclosure filings nationally rose 33 percent in June compared with the same month last year, according to data collected by RealtyTrac, Inc.

Getting Kids Ready to Go Back to School Doesn't Have To Break the Bank

Atlanta, Georgia

Back to school shopping is underway, and getting all the back-to-school necessities, from shoes and clothes to supplies and electronic equipment isn't cheap. According to the National Retail Federation, families will spend $548.72 on back to school purchases, a decline of 7.7 percent over the $597.74 last year.

Declare Independence from Credit Card Debt

As our nation prepares to celebrate its freedom and independence, consumers are struggling more than ever to declare their own independence--from credit card debt.

Transparency From Lenders Will Help for Now

When Congress begins debating whether to create the Consumer Financial Protection Agency that the Obama administration is recommending, I expect we will hear some familiar arguments. Attempts to protect borrowers from confusing lending products - and from themselves - have been ongoing since well before the current credit-fueled economic crisis.

Credit counselors offer practical, proven tips

Credit.Com

When credit card debt, home loan payments and college expenses become overwhelming, some Americans are finding themselves on a path to losing their home or filing for bankruptcy.

Expenses You Can Reduce to Help Afford a Loan Modification

With the help of certified housing counselors, many homeowners are reducing their living expenses and applying those savings to their monthly mortgage payments. Others are seeking a mortgage loan modification, which can be a lifeline for any homeowner faced with foreclosure.

Avoiding Firms That Prey On Troubled Homeowners

The New York Times

The economic crisis has spawned several unscrupulous companies that prey on homeowners who are having trouble paying their mortgages.

Yard Sales Can Help Bridge the Financial Gap

Challenging economic times and record unemployment rates have most families working to reduce expenses and stretch their income. For many, yard sales offer an opportunity to save money or to earn extra money to help bridge the gap.

Paying off debt without going broke

CNN.com/US

Last summer, Maria Calderon was so overwhelmed by credit card debt, she couldn't sleep. She owed $21,000 on nine cards with interest rates as high as 29.99 percent.

Weighing the Options With Credit Card Debt

The New York Times

"A debt management plan doesn't reduce the balance" owed, says Rick Phillips of Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta, "but one of the big advantages is that the interest rates go down, usually significantly."

CCCS Expands Spanish Language Counseling to Meet Growing Demand

Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Greater Atlanta announced today it is significantly bolstering its ability to help Spanish-speaking people in financial trouble by adding 24 new bilingual counselors and four new bilingual managers.

What Every Graduating Senior Needs to Know About Money

"Young adults and college students are among the fastest growing segment of consumers who file for bankruptcy in the United States," said Mechel Glass, director of education for Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Greater Atlanta. "It isn't typically a single event that leads to financial crisis, but a lack of basic money management skills--skills they won't likely learn in school." Parents need to take the lead in providing them with the information and hands-on practice that will lead to sound financial management down the road.

Remarks by Suzanne Boas at Leadership Atlanta

Good morning, everyone. I would like to address three issues this morning: First, our service to residents of metro Atlanta; second some emerging trends that we are seeing among our clients; and third, where we see the economy going.

Grant will help CCCS better serve Hispanics

Atlanta Business Chronicle

A $908,000 grant from the Goizueta Foundation to the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta will expand financial services to metro Atlanta's Spanish-speaking population.

American Banker Op-Ed by Suzanne Boas

The Internet has made it so easy to communicate that many people are willing to exchange their financial information online and then "chat" with a certified counselor to help solve their financial crisis.

Know the Score: CCCS of Greater Atlanta Offers Tips for Understanding, Improving Credit Scores

"A credit score is a vital component of overall credit health," said Suzanne Boas, president of Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Atlanta (CCCS). "Lenders use credit scores to assess the care that consumers take with their credit and to determine the likelihood that they will repay money borrowed."

To Shred or Not to Shred

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta Approved as National Reverse Mortgage Counseling Intermediary by HUD

Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Greater Atlanta has been approved as a national reverse mortgage counseling intermediary by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). As a result, each reverse mortgage lender in the U.S. will be required to provide their new clients a list of counseling agencies that includes CCCS of Greater Atlanta.

New Federal Loan Plans Unveiled to Help Homeowners

On March 4, President Obama's administration announced details of a comprehensive plan to help responsible homeowners avoid foreclosure by encouraging affordable and sustainable mortgage loans. Under the Making Home Affordable plan, eligible borrowers may seek either a loan modification or refinancing.

Remarks by Michelle Jones at Decatur Rotary Club, Decatur, GA

I've been with Consumer Credit Counseling Service for 12 years, and over the course of those twelve years, I have had the same introductory conversation hundreds of times.  I'll be at my daughter's school, or in the grocery store, or at a networking event and someone will ask what I do. "Why I work for consumer credit counseling service" I'll reply and they will inevitably respond, "oh, that's great . . . now what exactly is it that you do?"  

Hard times feed surge in clients at financial counseling service

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

More than a half-million Americans sought credit counseling last year from an Atlanta-based service, a 26 percent increase over 2007.

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta Helps Record Number of People in 2008

More than one-half million Americans turned to Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta (CCCS of Greater Atlanta) last year to avoid foreclosure, pay down credit card debt and determine if they should file for bankruptcy.

Two Major Nonprofit Credit Counseling Agencies Announce Merger

Do I Need A Debt Management Plan?

Do I Need A Debt Management Plan?

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta helps consumers with serious debt problems

Mortgage Troubles Rise to Record Level

Washington Post

Recession, Job Losses Driving Distress

Get Back to Basics this Holiday Season

Get Back to Basics this Holiday Season

Tips from Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta help Consumers Avoid Holiday Debt

The Unemployment Survival Guide

The Street.com

Keeping your financial house in order is important. It’s even more crucial if you recently lost your job.

Money Management Tips for the Newly Unemployed

Money Management Tips for the Newly Unemployed

Failure to Maintain Good Credit Can Hurt Chances of Finding New Job

Many Georgia mortgage holders still struggling to pay

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Federal bailout of Wall Street ignores root of the problem, critics say

Despite mounting foreclosures and loan delinquencies in Georgia, lenders and consumer advocates have been slow to rework troubled borrowers’ mortgage obligations.

Foreclosure crisis busies counselors, revises mortgages

Palm Beach Post

The numbers don't lie. The Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast held 1,035 pre-foreclosure counseling sessions in September—a record.

Homeowners have new option

Seattlepi.com

The prospect of mortgage debt forgiveness will entice hundreds of thousands of homeowners into picking up the phone to play the home-preservation game of "Let’s Make a Deal," beginning this fall.

CCCS of Greater Atlanta Expanding to Aid Struggling Homeowners

New Cobb County office doubles number of counselors focused on mortgage crisis.

Surviving the Economic Storm

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta offers tips to help consumers weather the financial storm and survive the turbulent economic times ahead.

Consumer Credit plans mortgage advice center

Atlanta Business Chronicle
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta (CCCS) is planning its largest expansion in the nonprofit’s 44-year history, opening a Cobb County call center this December that will exclusively serve customers struggling with their mortgage payments.

Homeowners make tradeoffs as costs soar

Boston.com

What percentage of your family budget is your mortgage or rent check? According to recently released 2007 Census figures, 7.5 million Americans spend at least half their income on their housing expenses

Two-Thirds of Struggling Homeowners Meet Key Criteria for Housing Bill Relief, According to Survey by CCCS of Greater Atlanta

Almost two-thirds of homeowners who called Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Greater Atlanta for foreclosure prevention counseling in recent months appear to meet the threshold requirements for relief under the new federal housing bill that took effect Oct. 1.

Counselors find pressure rises on middle class

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

More middle-class Americans are suffering financial pain and reaching out for help, according to new numbers from the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta.

Need a financial makeover? Let us help

The Palm Beach Post

CCCS counselors provide advice and information to people in south Florida looking for help on a variety of financial issues.

Reverse Mortgages: Understanding the basics

“Reverse mortgages can provide needed additional funds for senior citizens on fixed incomes,” said Sue Hunt, housing counseling manager for Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta (CCCS). “But they aren’t for everyone.

Holiday Shopping in August?

"The joy of the season fades when the bills roll in," said Mechel Glass, director of education for Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Greater Atlanta. “Advance planning can help consumers enjoy the holidays without dreading the debt that can come with it.”

As Inflation Hits, Pare These Expenses

TheStreet.com

As Inflation Hits, Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta provides recommendations on how to cut expenses.

Falls Church Firm Rolls Out Tool to Keep Up With Loan Modifications

The Washington Post

As homeowners have battled to keep up with their mortgages, lenders and their call centers have struggled to handle the number of people hoping to bargain for lower interest rates, principal reductions and longer payment plans.

A tough teachable moment

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Suzanne Boas discusses the current credit crisis as part of an editorial.

Looking to Earn Extra Money?

Katie Kozub of Cleveland, Ohio, earns extra income by bartending two nights a week. The flexibility allows her to spend time with family and she is able to pick the nights she works. Working parties and special events earn Katie more money. “The time goes by fast, you meet nice people, and it is a great way to earn extra money,” said Kozub.

Budgeting for Your Children

A child starting kindergarten who saves just $5 a week in an account earning 3 percent will have more than $3,700 in his savings account when he graduates from high school. As you prepare your children to head back to school this year, take charge of their financial education by teaching them basic lessons about money.

How to Tell if It's Good Debt or Bad

TheStreet.com

The economy is struggling, and consumer debt is at an all-time high. Total consumer credit reached nearly $2.6 trillion in May, according to preliminary numbers released earlier this month by the Federal Reserve Board --and that sum excludes loans secured by real estate (e.g. mortgages and home equity loans).

2008 Housing Counseling Demand Soars 184 Percent at Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta

More than 30,000 Americans turned to Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Greater Atlanta for housing counseling in the first half of 2008, nearly equaling the agency’s total number of housing clients for all of 2007

Survey Finds 29% of Americans Receiving Nonprofit Financial Counseling Use Federal Tax Stimulus to Pay for Food, Gasoline

The survey was conducted in late June by Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Greater Atlanta, a national nonprofit agency that provides credit counseling, as well as counseling to prevent foreclosure and avoid bankruptcy, to people in all 50 states.

Figuring out, raising your credit score should be first step of home buying

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

When you’re applying for a mortgage, the lender has to decide how big a risk is it to lend money to you. They want to know how likely you are to pay back the loan on time, and they look to your credit score for that information.

Saying I Do

The wedding season is upon us and while all engaged couples dream of marital bliss, money is often the number one topic of conflict in marriage and a leading cause for divorce. Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Greater Atlanta, Inc. suggests that as couples mull over which fine china to select, where to honeymoon or even where to live, they also talk about their current financial situation, future financial goals, and attitudes toward spending and saving.

Foreclosure Fears Keep Consumers from Seeking Help

Foreclosures are at record numbers, and many people lose their homes because they seek help too late or, in some cases, don’t seek help at all.

$2 million donation to fund credit counseling

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

By KEVIN DUFFY

A pilot program to help struggling homeowners prompted the Ford Foundation to give $2 million to the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta.

Ford Foundation grant

The grant will support the Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Greater Atlanta, which has piloted a new software platform that lets credit counselors eliminate lengthy delays faced by homeowners in urgent need of modified mortgages.

Despite Interest Rate Cuts, Foreclosures Hit Record High

The Washington Post

By Renae Merle

Even though lower interest rates have made many adjustable-rate mortgages more affordable, foreclosures continue to reach new heights as more than 1 million homeowners face losing their home, according to industry figures released yesterday.

Remarks at United Way Financial Stability Leadership Summit, Chicago, IL

Before I discuss our view of the current mortgage crisis, I’d like to introduce you to the work of the organization I oversee through the voice of one of our clients facing foreclosure. While we read almost daily about the rising number of foreclosures in every corner of our country, not many of us get much closer to the problem than that.

Make financial preparation part of hurricane plan

Hurricane Season starts June 1, and while Florida was spared from a major storm the last two years, many Floridians have already begun preparing for what could be a very active 2008 season. You may have already stocked up on batteries and bottled water, tested the generator, and planned an evacuation route, but have you thought about how you will manage financially should a storm come our way?

Summer Vacation Savings

Another school year is coming to an end and families are busy making plans for summer camps and for the annual family vacation. According to the American Automobile Association, a family of four spent an average of $269 per day on food and lodging in 2007. That cost doesn’t factor in the cost of travel, visits to theme parks and other attractions, or boarding the family dog.

Barely surviving on credit cards

Op-Ed in Mortgage Origination News: Avoiding Past Subprime Woes When Going in Reverse

Before I discuss our view of the current mortgage crisis, I’d like to introduce you to the work of the organization I oversee through the voice of one of our clients facing foreclosure. While we read almost daily about the rising number of foreclosures in every corner of our country, not many of us get much closer to the problem than that.

Remarks at Foreclosure Prevention Panel hosted by Cong. John Lewis, Atlanta, GA

If a homeowner is looking at keeping their home and avoiding foreclosure, there are two common plans that CCCS counselors typically explore with their lenders.

Housing Slowdown Creates Job Opportunities for Credit Counselors

PalmBeachPost.com

The housing crisis has strained Florida’s once-booming job market, but there’s opportunity in one niche: credit counseling.

Loving Loan Workouts

Forbes.com

Software developed and owned by Computer Sciences is likely to play a big role in how mortgage servicers process and approve loan modifications for troubled borrowers.

Spending on Gas, Food Up 9% in Past Year

Consumers seeking basic budget counseling from Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Greater Atlanta spent an average of $531 on gas and food in January 2008,  9 percent more than the average of $486 in January 2007.

Op-Ed in American Banker: Software to Ease Foreclosures Showing Promise

Since last month’s announcement by President Bush to help homeowners with subprime, adjustable-rate mortgages stave off foreclosure, many mortgage servicers have been working overtime to keep people in their homes.

Counseling Agency to Hire New Managers, Counselors to Help Americans Seeking Solutions to Foreclosure, Bankruptcy

Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Greater Atlanta is seeking to hire approximately 130 new managers, counselors and customer service representatives, in part to increase its counseling services to tens of thousands of Americans nationwide seeking to save their homes and avoid foreclosure.

Remarks at Georgia Consortium for Personal Financial Literacy, Atlanta GA

It has been 10 months, almost to the day, since our Atlanta HOPE foreclosure prevention campaign was launched, so I was very pleased when Nancy asked me to provide you an update on our results, as well as to comment on the challenges that lie ahead.

Remarks to the Ga. Consortium for Personal Financial Literacy on the HOPE campaign

Avoiding Loan Modification Scams

"For homeowners struggling to make monthly mortgage payments, the opportunity to renegotiate the terms of their current loan may help them keep their homes," said Michelle Jones, senior vice president of counseling for Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Greater Atlanta. "Unfortunately, there are businesses that will take advantage of consumers' fears. Homeowners need to know that help is available from many HUD-approved nonprofit counseling agencies and they need to investigate any company that requires a payment for these services."