Consumer Credit Counseling of America VS Consumer Credit Cou

I received a call that was routed thru this website from Consumer credit counseling of America.

I started to talking to them because I thought they were the same as consumer credit counseling Services.

Confusing already, right?

Well the former,CCCoA, told me to give them my bank account numbers BEFORE they would show me anything in writing, saying it was thru their lawyers and they couldn't show me anything before I gave them my account number. Once I gave them my bank account, they would send me the paperwork.

I asked to meet someone in person, they said "no".

I said you can't show me "ANYTHING" to prove this is legitamate? they said no. (Other than some laywer's office-which is on the scheme with them as far as I can tell)

I said "Do you have a website? They said it was "Under Construction"

I don't know about you guys but there is NO WAY I am giving out my bank info without something in writing first.

I then called Consumer credit counseling services (CCCS). They are the ones, that will meet you in person and go everything with you and are the true non profit set up to help people like us.

The thing is it is not ONE agency, CCCS are all individual all over the country, so anyone can call themselves CCCS or something really close to it.

Be sure to do your homework on these companies before doing business or giving them your info.

For the record, the one that called me was from Florida (even though I live in CA)

Their number was 1 800-215-9921.

I actually asked a police officer friend if this was a crime, he said if I had given them my bank info and they took from it, then its a crime, but anyone can try to solicit business, and it takes a whole federal investigation to bring them down. They can't arrest them just for trying to get my bank info.

We receive referrals from debtconsolidationcare.com The reason this consumer received a call from us is because they applied online and wanted a call back regarding their bills from any agency associated with debtconsolidationcare.com


CCCS is not the only company that consolidates and helps consumers in this country. We in know way represent ourselves as CCCS! By filling out an application at debtconsolidationcare.com you could of got a call back from one of many credit counseling agencies other then CCCS. I believe the consumer that is writing this complaint works for CCCS and is trying to give us a bad name when we did not harm the consumer.

In response to asking for checking is that if you wanted to consolidate your bills to pay your creditors on a monthly basis we need checking info.

To say that we were trying to commit a crime is obsurd and you should feel ashamed in saying that without anything behind this except asking for information to help you get lower interest with your debts.

It is also untrue that we ask before hand for the info. We go through all of the consumer debts FIRST. Then if they want to join the program we get additional info. I am sure that if you called CCCS over the telephone and wanted to sign up for the same program we offer they would ask you for your banking info also! They also could do your application over the phone.

Before you make us to look like we have done something wrong please look at the harm done to the consumer. NONE! The client applied online to get a call about their bills. We returned their call and they did not want our services. We did not take any money from this client nor has any damage been done to the client.

If the client would have given us checking info they would have given us the info so we could pay their bills on a monthly basis. That is why they contacted us in the first place. I am having trouble figuring out why this client is mad? If they wanted to use CCCS then why did they fill out a application at debtconsolidationcare.com and not CCCS.org?

There whole story seems like it lacks

You have to admit your names are misleadingly similar to CCCS. AS a consumer, I would probably also think you are one in the same with CCCS. CCCS is far more established in the community having been around for at least 10 - 15 years I can think of.

I am not saying you are doing anything illegal or shady, however maybe as the attorney for this organization you should listen in to what clients are being told. Its all in the presentation.

The original posted said she was told by the CCCA rep that on orders from their attorney they could not give her any information regarding the program without her first giving them her bank account number.Thats would set off alarm bells in my head too. That information would not affect what they can do for the consumer. As a consumer I would want to know the specifics of the program(s) I was considering before even entertaining the idea of giving anyone access to my bank accounts.

And why dodge the following questions?

• Why not provide anything in witting?
  Why refuse to give an office address? Even if the office is "under Construction" You have to be in an office now, what is that address?
  No website? While not a requirement to do business, in todays market it's a bad idea not to have one; especially when dealing with debt. Why has DCC grown so fast over the last year? Because when people start having trouble, the first thing they do is turn to the Internet for information and advice.

By the way, do you know the difference between KNOW and NO?

Why would an attorney write so poorly? Are you sure you went to school?

Oh, and i have gone through CCCS, and they don't ask for your account information until they present their proposal to you and you decide if you are going with the program or not.

I answered this at 4am. Sorry for the mistakes but it was very late.

For the record we do not ask for checking to give out information. We give a free consultation. If the consumer feels they would like to join the program then we get additional info like socail and banking.

This is obviously advertising for CCCS. The term Consumer credit counseling is used by 1000's of companies in the United States. Do a search for consumer credit counseling and you will see.

This is the same as going to every company that uses the word insurance in their business name and finding the first insurance company to say they are the only ones that should be using the term "insurance" in the name. What would you say to that? We along with 1000's of others are in the "Consumer Credit Counseling" business.

If the client was looking for CCCS then why did they just not go to CCCS.org or call CCCS directly. By filling out an application on debtconsolidationcare.com they could of been contacted by many copanies besides CCCS. This is obviously an attempt by someone who is affiliated with CCCS to try to advertise themselves here. For the record we do not just ask for checking info when the call starts! We only ask for info if the consumer decides they want to go through the program and agree to the payment and terms. Some consumer actually want to consolidate their bills and we like to help them as soon as possible rather then make them wait any longer paying these high interest rates. Some consumers are far behind and need help that day!

We will talk to our reps first thing Monday morning to make sure this consumers complaint is not happening. I can tell you that we do not just ask someone for checking when they call us before we go over the program with them. Call for yourself.

Thank you for taking the time to respond to the posts in regard to this. And also for checking further into the situation on Monday as you have stated. If you could, would you please post back your findings? We are all here to try and help each other get out of debt and re-gain control of finances. Unfortunately the actions of a few like AmeriDebt have made many in the public wary of the consolidation and settlement community, and it will take honest consolidators and settlement organizations to repair the damage and to help consumers feel this is a viable option for resolving their debt issues.

For clarification is this your site? cccamerica.org/html/indexa.htm

We in know way are here to harm the consumer!

I also have already called management after my last reply. The only information we get from the client up front is their name and phone number in case we get disconnected from the call.

Also we do not solicit the consumer. The consumer fills out an application at debtconsolidationcare.com a partner of ours. Debtconsolidationcare.com does not work with companies that are out to harm the consumer. We have been workikng with this site for a long time and do not have any complaints. Please think about if the first person's story has merit or is someone that may be affiliated with CCCS.

CCCS is not the debtconsolidationcare.com partern. We are the partner. We also do everything we can to help the consumer and it upsets me to see a post like that. Some of us work 15 hours a day to make sure the clients paperwork is complete etc.

Please understand that it is sometimes urgent to enroll a client that is paying 29.99 percent on all their bills up immediately. Sometimes they are behind 3 months and assuming late and over limit fees as we speak. We go through the program with the consumer then if they would like to sign up with us we get information to do so.

I do not believe that this consumer was looking for CCCS because they would have just called their local CCCS office. The consumer could have received a call back from any of debtconsolidationcares.com partners all over the country.

Many companies besides CCCS are here also to help consumers get out of debt. Just because we were not the first company doing conusmer credit counseling does not mean that we are a scam in any way! We give a free consulatation and are happy to advise on the best possible situation for the consumer.

Yes, you are correct in saying that they don't ask for bank info until they have gone over my debt information. They don't do it when the call starts.

That is true.

That doesn't change the fact that you would not meet with me in person, or send me ANY PAPERWORK OF ANY KIND until I gave you my bank information.

We call that BULLSHIT where I come from.

Hi, you don't know me at all, can I have your bank account numbers?

PS I do not work for CCCS, I just want to help other people to avoid dealing with a shady business.

I have other posts on this site, so you can see I do not work for CCCS.

Also, I have never met at an attorney that wanted to be anonymous. What is your name and office you work out of?

BMT Promo..you might want to register here as you are still showing up as a guest, then maybe this fella' can pm you some information

OK, if This CCCA is the same as the website I referred to in an earlier post on this thread, O took this attorney fella up on his offer (challenge?) and called them,. They called me back this morning , if these are the same people that I was talking to this morning, they do not ask for any account information (for direct debit) until after they have presented their budget, payment proposal, etc and the client has decided to proceed and agrees to the plans. Now, as the Attorney fella said, there are MANY agencies using some form of CCC in their names, so I could have been talking to and entirely different organization. In the interest of fairness, The attorney said he would look into this today , lets give him some time to follow up.

It is important to remember that the Consolidation Agencies help make it possible for this community to to exist, and to make many of the features and services available to the members. We should be patient in this matter and allow them the opportunity to figure out what happened and explain their policy.

Again, for the record, I am not doubting that they "go over a plan" before they ask for account info.

I am saying that once they ask for account info, and the consumer wants something in writing to prove he is not giving his bank info to a stranger, they won't give it.

You MUST give your bank info before they will fax you anything.

If they are legal and legit, great good for them.

Why would I want to give my bank information to anybody that can't give me something in writing or at least have a website to prove they are somewhat legit.

Let me put it to you this way....

I could call you, ask for all of your debt info and tell you I can fix it for you for a certain amount of fees. Are you going to give me your bank information now?

Hi.

We are officially registering and I will have reply about our policy asap.

BMT. I completely agree with you and if a counselor is doing that then we need to train them again. If you were just looking for information then I would be happy to help you out. Do you remember who you spoke with so I could personally sit with them and make sure this does not ever happen again? I am sorry for this and we had a meeting first thing this morning with management to make sure this does not happen again.

BMT PROMO, are you sure you registered with this site? Please log in before you post.

I have never heard anything bad about CCCOA. I think they are professional and helpful.

Consumer Credit Counselors of America are the ones that contacted me and they wanted more than what T&C wanted and I didn't want to give checking account info for monthly payments to be withdrawn so I chose not to go with them. They were very professional and when I explained to them why I chose not to go with them they stated that was fine and if I needed their help in the future to give them a call and they would be happy to help me.