|
|
|
SPOTLIGHT ON 
Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc. |
|
||
|
|
||||
 Established in 1993, in response to a growing need for credit counseling, Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc., is dedicated to helping families throughout the United States end financial crisis. From the start, this consumer-oriented nonprofit organization, based in Ft. Lauderdale, has looked to MasterCard RPPS for expert assistance in achieving that objective. Nationwide assistance "As an industry leader, we provide credit counseling and debt management services throughout the United States," says Ron Librea, director, Trust Services. "We're dedicated to motivating and empowering consumers through educational programs that help them use credit responsibly and refrain from overspending. Our programs also promote saving and investing." The counseling department receives hundreds of calls a day from consumers across the country who have "simply become overwhelmed with debt," says Librea. "Many are considering bankruptcy as an option. Others are making payment toward their debt every month but getting nowhere." With the recent legislative changes that make bankruptcy less viable for many consumers, Consolidated will likely be hearing from more consumers in the future. (See related Industry Insights Q&A.) "Now with the provision for individuals to seek credit counseling before filing for bankruptcy, we think that it will give people an opportunity to really assess their financial situation," says Howard Dvorkin, founder of Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc., and author of Credit Hell: How to Dig Out of Debt. "Perhaps an individual will be more likely to enter a debt management plan [DMP] to resolve his or her financial hardship rather than seeking out bankruptcy first." Consolidated's counselors — all certified by the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCCA)—stand ready to provide assistance in person, online, and via telephone. Successful operations When consumers do enter into a debt management plan, Consolidated depends on MasterCard RPPS to speed both the DMP process and the monthly payments. "Simply put, a company's technology directly affects its overall performance," says Librea, "and this is where MasterCard RPPS has a tremendous impact on our daily operations." According to Librea, MasterCard RPPS promotes efficiency, saves time, and improves communications between Consolidated and creditors. "Plus, it eases everyday tasks so we can concentrate on our number one priority, educating consumers and helping them get out of debt," he adds. "Of course, meeting our business budgetary requirements is a primary concern, as well. By allowing us to abandon paper and turn to electronic payments, MasterCard RPPS helps us do this. "In addition, for us to continue to grow and provide value to our clients and the community, we need MasterCard RPPS as a business partner," says Librea. "Quite simply, it provides an essential efficiency and cuts the cost of our operation by approximately 75%." The need for education Consolidated sees education as an imperative component in its objective to help individuals achieve freedom from debt. "Many people are just not financially literate," says Dvorkin, "and it's sometimes difficult to get consumers interested in financial education until they're in trouble." In addition to its educational efforts for clients in counseling, Consolidated dedicates significant resources to educating the community in a variety of ways, from school programs in collaboration with such organizations as the JumpStart Coalition and Junior Achievement to seminars at businesses committed to their employees' financial well-being. Dvorkin and his entire organization take part in these efforts. As a respected authority, Dvorkin reaches a mass audience via his appearances on television and in print as an industry spokesperson. "Spreading the message of financial wellness is a primary objective for Consolidated," he says. "We're ready, willing, and able to counsel consumers in financial trouble, but we're proud to provide the financial literacy that prevents them from needing that assistance." 
|
||||
|
|
||||