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Home : Debt Consolidation Program : Program FAQ's Program FAQ's Do I have to qualify? The debt management program is not for everyone. A certified credit counselor will review your particular situation and make a recommendation whether or not you are a good candidate for enrollment. Can I keep using my accounts? No. Remember why you came to us for help: your objective is to reduce and eliminate your existing debts, not add to them. As long as you receive benefits from your creditors (lower payments and lower interest rates), most creditors will ask that you stop using your accounts while on our program. Tip: Ask your bank about debit cards. Debit cards offer the shopping convenience of a credit card, but the funds are withdrawn from your checking account. Can I choose my due date? Yes. This is one of the most convenient features of our program. Your creditors may not be aware of your pay dates, or when your rent or mortgage payments are due. We want you to be comfortable with your payment date, so you can choose a date that doesn't conflict with your other obligations. Will I get monthly statements? Yes. If you currently receive monthly statements from your creditors, you will continue to get them. This will give you the opportunity to monitor the progress of your accounts while on the debt management program. Can I pay electronically? Yes. If at anytime during your program, you would like to have your monthly payment automatically deducted from your account, please ask for an application for electronic debits. Can you stop creditor harassment? Yes. Once you're on our payment plan, you can simply refer any calls from your creditors to us. We pledge to end creditor harassment. Can I add more accounts? Yes. Simply contact our customer service department and give them the account information for the additional account(s). Or send your information by e-mail, and a representative will call to confirm the receipt of your information. What if I can send more money some months?We encourage you to send additional funds whenever they are available. Even a small reduction in principal now can save you hundreds in finance charges later. If you have a preference as to which creditor(s) should receive the additional funds, simply accompany your payment with a letter instructing us how to disburse the extra funds. Otherwise, we will apply any additional funds where they will do the most good based on account balance and interest rate. Any additional payments should be made through our office to assure you continue to receive program benefits. Do you offer education? Yes, we offer educational materials which cover a variety of money management and budget planning topics. We also offer two different financial literacy courses (Credit when Credit is Due & Money in Motion). Both are designed to enhance your financial knowledge by providing the fundamentals of money management. Can I withdraw from the program later? Yes. Participation is completely voluntary, and you can withdraw from our program at any time. However, keep in mind that if you decide to handle your debts on your own, all the program benefits offered by the creditors will stop.
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