Consumer Credit Counseling Service

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Central New York is a non-profit community service organization that has provided free, confidential counseling to thousands of people since 1972.

CCCS is committed to your absolute privacy. All information shared verbally and in writing with CCCS will be kept in strictest confidence and managed within all legal and ethical considerations.

Financial Counseling
A financial counseling session includes a review of income, expenses and debt to create a plan for achieving financial goals; tips on money management; and alternatives for handling a financial crisis. Counseling is available by phone, mail, online or in person. One-on-one counseling services are provided free of charge.

Certified Housing Counseling
As a HUD-certified counseling agency, CCCS offers pre-purchase counseling, home buyer seminars, mortgage and rental default counseling, and Reverse Equity Mortgage Certification. One-on-one housing counseling services are provided free of charge.

Debt Repayment
Licensed by the New York State Banking Department, the debt repayment plan is structured to help you repay creditors over time, without additional loans or personal bankruptcy. In addition to financial counseling, the plan includes negotiated repayments to creditors. Debt repayment services are available by phone, mail, online or in person. The fee for this program is on a sliding scale (hardship waivers available).

Bankruptcy Counseling
CCCS provides bankruptcy pre-filing budget and credit counseling, and pre-discharge financial education. Pre-filing counseling takes 60-90 minutes face-to-face, over the phone or online. Upon completion of this counseling, you will be issued a certificate required for filing. The pre-discharge bankruptcy course can be taken online or in group classroom settings. A certificate of course completion is required for bankruptcy discharge. Fees are charged for bankruptcy counseling and education. Hardship waivers may be available.

Education
CCCS offers the nationally respected adult education course in personal financial management, Credit When Credit is Due. You'll learn practical information to help you become a more efficient consumer in the credit and purchasing world. Graduates receive materials to place a positive statement on their credit reports. The course is available as a self-study workbook. The only cost for this course is the workbook fee.

Other resources and financial tools can be found on the CCCS Web site; use the link at the bottom of this page.

Credit Report Review
CCCS will help you interpret your credit report, give you a detailed explanation of your credit rights, advise you on disputing credit report errors, and develop a plan to help improve your credit history. CCCS can obtain a copy of your report with credit score on request, or you can bring a recent copy of your own. Just call CCCS to make an appointment for an individual or joint (married couples only) credit report review. The fee for credit report review services is dependent upon how many reports you wish to have reviewed, and they vary by location.

Note:  Credit report review services are available in many NYS locations, but not all, and they may not be available in all states.

For more information about CCCS and its services, call its main office at (800) 479-6026, or use the link below.

To access the CCCS Web site, please visit Consumer Credit Counseling Service of CNY.