Statement of Counseling Services

Please read the following statements carefully so that you will understand the procedures of the counseling session.

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I/We understand that CCCS (Consumer Credit Counseling Service of South Texas) will provide a confidential comprehensive personal money management interview.
I/We understand that the interview will be conducted by a highly trained and well qualified consumer credit counselor, and that all money action plans will be reviewed by a consumer credit counselor professionally certified by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. All such financial counseling services are free of charge.
I/We understand that in the event we are dissatisfied with the services or treatment we receive at CCCS, we may contact the counselor’s superior. If the matter is not resolved at that level, we may request to meet with the agency President, and thereafter, with the agency’s Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. I/We further understand that it is my/our right to have any statement of my/our choosing placed in and made part of my/our permanent record.
Pre-Bankruptcy Counseling & Certificates. The fee charged for this special counseling and the issuance of a certificate(s) to meet the requirements of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 is $25, or $35 for a couple. This fee may be paid by money order or check. Waiver of Fee: The fee(s) may be waived if 1) our assessment is that the fee would in fact cause a hardship, or 2) you feel you are unable to pay the fee.
Reverse Mortgage (HECM) Counseling & Certification. The fee charged for this special counseling and the issuance of certificates to meet HUD requirements is $100. This fee may be paid by money order or check. Waiver of Fee: The fee may be waived if 1) our assessment is that the fee would in fact cause a hardship, or 2) you feel you are unable to pay the fee.
I/We understand that CCCS is a non-profit, United Way affiliate agency. In the most recent year, 35% of our funding came from creditors, 30% from clients, 26% from grants, and 9% from the United Way, HUD, and misc. Part of the agency’s funding does come from voluntary contributions from creditors who participate in Debt Solver Plans (“DSP”). Since creditors have a financial interest in getting paid, most are willing to make a contribution to help fund our agency. These contributions are usually calculated as a percentage off payments you make through your DSP – up to fifteen percent (15%) of each payment received. However, your accounts with your creditors will always be credited with one hundred percent (100%) of the amount you pay through CCCS, and we will work with all your creditors regardless of whether they contribute to our agency. Our DSPs serve the dual role of helping you repay your debts and helping creditors collect the money owed them. Your participation in a DSP will not change anything that is already on your credit report. If your credit report reflects that you have paid creditors as agreed in the past, a DSP could have a negative impact on a creditworthiness decision by a potential creditor, landlord, or employer in the future. In addition, creditors may report that you are enrolled in a DSP and are not paying as originally agreed, although they may have accepted the reduced payments.
1. The DSP carries a monthly client fee of $25.00, plus a one-time set-up fee of $25.00 to cover our costs for setting up your file and reviewing your active credit record to ensure accuracy.
I/We hold the agency, its employees, agents and volunteers harmless from any claim, suit, action or demand of my creditors, myself or any other person resulting from advice or counseling. Nothing herein shall apply to actions or claims under the provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.
I/We will be given a written assessment outlining the counselor’s suggested Money Action Plan that will be based on the following options and considerations:
1. I/We may handle any financial concerns on my/our own.
2. I/We may enroll on the agency’s Debt Solver Plan. Under the Debt Solver Plan the agency serves as a neutral third party in negotiating with creditors to liquidate financial obligations. In the event that the counselor suggests a Debt Solver Plan, I/we will receive complete details of the operation, requirements, and responsibilities of such program.
3. A counselor may answer general questions about bankruptcy, but may not give legal advice. If I/we want legal advice, the counselor will provide information on legal referral. I/we understand that bankruptcy provides a comprehensive form of debt relief and is available as an option for my/our debt problems, but must be a personal choice based on our individual circumstances.
4. I/We may discuss other alternatives including the services of another agency as appropriate that may be able to assist with specific problems that are identified.
At sometime in the future, a neutral third party may request my/our evaluation of agency services.