Success Stories From CCCS Clients

We’re thrilled to be free of credit card debt and already, just one year after completing our repayment program, our credit rating is once again exceptional.

Mark and Kelly’s debt problem started when Mark lost his job and they began to use credit cards to cover household expenses like buying groceries and paying the mortgage. Worried that their unpaid bills would dishearten Mark as he searched for a new job, Kelly began to hide unopened credit card statements in her car’s glove compartment, always hoping they’d have more money next month. But even when Mark found a new job, another lay-off made it difficult to pay even the minimum amounts their creditors demanded.

“The biggest factor leading to our debt problem was our unwillingness to admit we were in over our heads until the situation was beyond our control.”

By the time Mark and Kelly learned about Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Orange County (CCCS-OC) they had over $47,000 in credit card debt. “I remember walking into CCCS-OC feeling as low and emotionally defeated as a person can be,” says Kelly, “but we had decided bankruptcy was not an option and we were determined to take financial responsibility.”

Kelly and Mark faced many hardships during the five years it took to repay their debt. They struggled through job losses and a severe injury to Kelly’s leg that landed her in the isolation unit at a hospital. “There were so many obstacles to overcome and so many times we thought we wouldn’t be able to make it,” remembers Kelly. But learning to save on daily expenses, taking a second job, and creating and sticking to a budget helped them finally reach their goal. On the day they made the last payment, Mark and Kelly brought both of their children with them to the Santa Ana office to celebrate their moment of financial freedom.

The days of hiding from their bills are behind them now. “I love going to the mailbox,” says Kelly, “because there are no more statements with huge balances to scare me. We’re thrilled to be free of credit card debt and already, just one year after completing our repayment program, our credit rating is once again exceptional. Things that once seemed impossible have become possible through our faith in God and with the help we received from the CCCS-OC staff.”

Mark and Kelly’s story is an outstanding example of the kind of successful partnerships CCCS-OC builds with debt-troubled families every day. And we’re not the only ones who think our clients are exceptional. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) recently chose Mark and Kelly as the 2003 Graduate Clients of the Year in recognition of their accomplishment of repaying $47,000 in credit card debt to 13 creditors.

Filled with despair and believing there was no solution to her problem, Sandra began to feel life wasn’t worth living–and then she found CCCS-OC.

Sandra found herself on her own at age 18. But the financial reality of struggling to make ends meet soon clouded the joy of that initial freedom. So when she started college and a credit card company offered her the opportunity to open an account, she happily accepted. After only one year at Saddleback College she had accumulated $10,000 in credit card debt, forcing her to leave school for a full-time job. She was only 19. Five more years of financial struggle would leave Sandra with ten credit accounts and over $40,000 in debt.

“I got my first credit card in college, starting a downward spiral that pulled me into $40,000 of debt by the time I was 24.”

“My debt was monstrous. I was so poor, I couldn’t even afford to buy food,” says Sandra. Unable to make even the minimum payments, her credit report began to reflect her unstable situation. Soon, her bad credit began to have repercussions in other areas as well. “My life-long dream was to work in law enforcement,” says Sandra, “but my credit report was so bad they rejected my application.” Even low-cost community college was financially out of reach. Filled with despair and feeling there was no solution to her problem, Sandra began to feel life wasn’t worth living.

Fortunately, before Sandra lost all hope, one of her creditors told her about Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Orange County (CCCS-OC). She met with a counselor who recommended she take a second job to help pay off her debt. Encouraged by the idea that she could actually be debt-free, Sandra started working evenings as a waitress and detailed cars on the weekend.

“It took four years and four months to pay back my credit card debt,” says Sandra. “It was a lot of hard work, but it was all worth it.” Now Sandra has not only repaid her credit card debt, she has also paid off her car and purchased a home in Laguna Hills. She has now graduated from California State University, Fullerton, and will soon start her second year at Western State University College of Law.

Sandra’s story is an example of the remarkable partnerships CCCS-OC builds with debt-troubled people every day. And we’re not the only ones who think our clients are exceptional. Sandra’s story has been an inspiration to others struggling with debt and has been featured in the Orange County Register and nationally on ABC News.

Widowed, unemployed, and deep in debt, CCCS-OC Client Meghan W. overcame her pride and embarrassment to free herself and her son from financial prison.

I first realized I was in deep financial trouble two years ago, about the time my son graduated from high school. I had family in town for the ceremony and wanted everything to be perfect, including our home. We’d been struggling since my husband died and I was ashamed of how shabby our furniture looked. I went to purchase a new living room set from a rent-to-own company and ended up getting furniture for the entire house — on credit. While the monthly payments didn’t seem like much at first, they pushed our budget enough that I started to use credit cards for emergencies. When my employer suddenly laid me off I quickly charged five credit cards to the max. At first I could make the minimum payments on them all, but soon even that stretched my finances too thin. I kept falling behind and the creditors started calling.

They hounded me every day. I couldn’t sleep at night. Owing money affects you in every way — physically, emotionally, and mentally. I was too embarrassed to tell anyone about my troubles. Pride kept me from reaching out for help, even though I had no education, training, or experience in dealing with financial matters. My father took care of all the finances when we were growing up, and my husband did the same while he was alive. Now it was up to me, and I didn’t have a clue. All I knew was that I could never live with myself if I went bankrupt.

“I hit bottom and it was rock hard.”

Desperate for help, I discovered CCCS-OC and immediately made an appointment with a counselor. Everyone at CCCS-OC treated me with courtesy, compassion, and respect. My counselor was very encouraging and created a debt repayment program I could live with. She gave me the tools and resources I needed to get on the road to financial security and I felt she really wanted me to succeed. The seminars are so helpful — I’m learning every day how to take responsibility for my finances.

I’d worried my son would think me a failure so I only recently told him how much trouble we’d been in. Instead of being ashamed, he said he was proud that I’d found a way to fix my problem. He’s learned from my struggles, and even though he’s still in college, he’s already paid off his credit cards and has a savings account.

My advice to anyone struggling to pay their bills? Take action right away. Even if you feel ashamed or embarrassed, don’t let your pride stop you from finding the people who can help you take control.

CCCS-OC’s Graduate of the Year, Cecilia Garcia, tells how she overcame divorce and business failure to repay over $36,000 in debt.

Initially, I had really good credit and diligently paid my bills on time. Then I married an older man when I was 22 and, being kind of old-fashioned, turned all my finances over to him. When the marriage fell apart two years later, I found that he had charged over $10,000 to my credit cards. Going through the divorce was painful enough – the $10,000 debt he left me with only made it worse. That’s where my money problems started.

Then, one day, without even applying for it I got a $10,000 business loan from a large bank. I used it to help set up a skin care business, but the money was gone in just two months. So I started signing up for other credit card offers that came in the mail. Before I knew it, I owed over $36,000 to eleven different creditors.

Although my salon was making good money, the more I made, the faster it went out the door. I felt like I was drowning. I had to keep getting more and more credit just to stay afloat. I realized I was in big trouble the day I had to use my credit cards to pay my employees. That was the breaking point: I knew I had to do something.

I didn’t want to go bankrupt, so I went to CCCS for help. The counselor looked at my situation and gave me hope that I could actually pay my bills. He warned me that it wasn’t going to be easy, and that it would take time, but he promised to do his best to get the creditors to knock off interest and fees. Also, I wouldn’t have to juggle the creditors myself, CCCS would send them the payments for me. I just had to make one payment a month to CCCS. Best of all, I felt that paying my bills would give me back my credibility and integrity. I went to CCCS filled with shame and embarrassment. I came out with hope and a plan to pay my bills.

“I truly believe that every adversity has a positive side. If you’ve overextended yourself and spent more than you should, don’t give up hope. Hang in there and stay true to yourself. You can trust the people at CCCS to guide you in the right direction. For the small cost, their help is priceless.”

It took me over four years to pay it all back, but paying off my debt taught me a lot. I have more self-respect because I paid my bills and did what I believed was the good and right thing. And I learned to make choices that are good for me, not just for others. Most importantly, I learned that I shouldn’t spend money I don’t have, and that trying to keep up appearances just doesn’t work.

CCCS Debt Management Plan helps Michele R. and her husband repay $21,000 in debt in just two years!

I remember December 1997 as if it were yesterday. I was doing my Christmas shopping at a local mall and had just tried to purchase a $12 bath brush. The clerk told me my credit card had been declined and I left the store with my cheeks burning.

Until that moment I and my husband had been so completely in debt denial that we’d somehow managed to ignore the $21,000 balance on our credit cards. We knew we needed help and turned to CCCS for guidance.

Our CCCS counselor developed a Debt Management Plan that promised to get us out of debt in only two years. In addition, she counseled us on how to scrimp, save, and budget so that we could get back in the black and stay there once our debts were paid.

These days, we put everything we’ve learned to use, scouring ads and comparison shopping to get the best prices. For example, I don’t shop for clothes at the mall now because I know I can get the same quality for less at discount clothing stores.

Christmas of 1999 was our real test, though. By saving up for the holidays, we were able to pay cash for everything and keep to our budget of $500. Doing so involved some sacrifices, though. Rob wanted to buy our daughter Amanda three Pokemon gifts, for instance, but limited himself to a single $9 box of cards. We also ask our relatives to keep the children’s gifts small and simple so that the kids won’t think Christmas is all about flashy gifts.

CCCS helped Doug L. repay $60,000 in debt!

In just two short years, I shopped my way to $60,000 in credit card debt. I’ll admit that the shopping was fun. I love beautiful things and when I saw something I wanted, I would charge it. I felt challenged to keep my 22 credit cards charged to the limit. I would make a payment and call from the mall to see if it had been applied, so I could immediately charge it right back to the max.

I knew I needed help, but I refused when my credit union suggested bankruptcy. I wanted to take responsibility and pay back the money I owed. I just needed help in establishing a sensible budget and repayment program. That’s where CCCS came in.

My CCCS counselor helped me devise a plan that would have my bills repaid in 40 months. I took a part-time job to help cover the payments and kept it until my bills were paid off. Working 65 hours a week, 6 days a week really taught me to respect the time it takes to make money. I also started attending the seminars and applied the money management skills I learned there to my own situation.

I made my last payment in September and my life is so different now. Although I still love shopping, I’ve learned that looking can be just as satisfying. I’ve also learned to shop at discount stores and feel good when I buy the same merchandise I would have before, but for less than half the regular price.

I was worried that I would never be able to get credit again. However, I just purchased a beautiful new home so I feel like the years of sacrifice and hard work have finally paid off.

Doug’s Advice

My sister had great advice for those times when I was depressed and thought that I’d never finish the program. She said, “Don’t look at what you’ve gotten yourself into, look ahead to see what you’ll have gotten yourself out of.” That helped me to stop feeling sorry for myself, and to feel proud of what I knew I was going to accomplish.