Financial Education for Debt Repayment | CCCS of Northeastern Iowa
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Financial Education is at the core of everything we do at CCCS of Northeastern Iowa. From workshops on Budgeting to our 1st Time Home Buyer program. We are particularly proud of our local, community-based educational programs. Learn more about the financial education programs that have helped thousands reclaim their financial health.

Do you feel like, if you knew more,
you would do things differently?

  • Everyone seems more disciplined than you with their finances.
  • Your ready for a fresh start but need to information to do better.
  • ​A small commitment in time, will make a big difference in you.

       Financial Education is key, it's empowering & life-changing!

Our Program Director Discusses the Various Types of Financial Education Workshops.​

He explains the value of financial education and how it will impact the way you live your life moving forward. Our Financial Education department is keenly aware that most people were never taught this basic knowledge their entire life. He will encourage you to sign up today for a workshop because it is never too late to start and this information will be the catalyst for change. You can :

  • Learn how to create a budget you can live with.
  • You will learn about credit and how to handle it better.
  • You can learn important information when buying a home, and get paid!​
  • You will learn about valuable resources that are available to you

Can A Financial Education Class Really Help Me?​

We will take all of your debts and combine them into one affordable monthly payment. After evaluation of your personal financial  situation, we provide you with practical budget counseling services and work with you and your creditors to build a budget you can  live with. Our debt management plans do not include a debt consolidation loan and unlike debt settlement services, we do not  require an up-front fee.​

Non profit organization, helping thousands restore their financial health​

No large upfront fees, like debt settlement companies ask for, to help you.

You meet with ​certified counselors ​in-person, online, or by phone​

We provide the education and resources you need to succeed!

Success Stories

       Our #1 source of referrals.

Frequently Asked Questions

A settlement is when you arrange to pay less than the full balance of your debt that is due. When this occurs, the creditor will report that you settled on the debt and this will be reflected on your credit report for seven to ten years. Also, when you settle debt, there may be possible tax ramifications. With a Debt Management Program, the overall balance is not reduced (just the minimum payment due and interest rate), there are no tax implications and the creditors will not report that the debt was settled.

We assist our clients with reducing the interest rates to help make their payments more affordable and to pay off the debt in a more timely manner. However, we do not reduce the overall balance as this would be a considered a debt settlement.

When you are initially enrolled into the program, the creditors can close the accounts. This can cause a slight decline. However, as you make consistent on time Debt Management Plan payments, each creditor on the plan will update the credit report each month. This can cause a positive effect over the course of the program as you pay down the debt.

This is a great question! The debt management program is a structured plan designed to help pay off your debt in an efficient and timely manner. Many of our clients are struggling to make minimum monthly payments which can cause them to fall behind and to receive late fees which add to balances and can negate the payments you are making. Once your Debt Management Plan has been established, you begin making consistent on time payments to your creditors therefore helping to improve your credit score. Experian says: “The impact on your scores may be minimal, depending on how the payments are managed and if you have other positive accounts. The most important thing is that you must make sure that the company will immediately take over the payments so that you never miss a payment in the transition to their service. As long as all your payments are made on time, it won’t matter who paid them and there is no scoring issue from that aspect.” Typically, our clients notice improvement in their score within the first year they are on the program and by the time they make that last payment, they experience relief and pride in seeing what they’ve accomplished to help improve their credit and ultimately their future.

You should/will continue receiving monthly statements from your creditors. If you are not receiving statements from your creditors, you should contact them to ensure they have your most recent contact information. These statements provide you with valuable information regarding your account with them. Key information located on your statement that should be monitored monthly:

 

  • Balance

  • Interest Rate

  • Payment activity

  • Interest charges

  • Additional activity such as credits or other balance adjustments

 

It’s important to monitor your monthly statements to ensure that you’re being charged the correct interest rate, your balance is decreasing with payment activity and that there is no unusual activity or additional fees being applied to your account. If you have any questions about your statement or notice incorrect information, please contact our Client Support Department for additional assistance. The statement will provide us with important information so please have it available at the time of your call. If necessary, we will contact your creditor to resolve the issue. CCCS of Northeastern Iowa will also send you a statement on a monthly basis. Our statements provide estimated account balances, anticipated interest rates of each account as well as payment activity for your Debt Management Plan. In addition to reviewing your creditor statements for accuracy, we request that you compare our statement to that of your creditor and notify us of any discrepancies. Our staff members work in partnership with you to ensure your account information is accurate and that your Debt Management Plan is successful.

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