To schedule a credit counseling appointment:

Please read the following statements carefully so that you will understand the procedures for the counseling session. Your continuation and/or submissions in this process indicate your understandings of these provisions.

Counseling Services Statement

I/We understand Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Central Pennsylvania will provide a confidential personal money management interview.

I/We understand that the interview will be conducted by a certified consumer credit counselor or a qualified professional counselor. All action plans not conducted by a certified credit counselor will be reviewed by a consumer credit counselor.

I/We understand that in the event we are dissatisfied, we may contact the counselor's superior.

I/We understand that most of CCCS funding comes from voluntary contributions from creditors who participate in Debt Management Plans ("DMP"). 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 of payments you make through your DMP - 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 us and we will work with all your creditors regardless of whether they contribute to our agency.

I/we understand that, in the event of a debt management plan, there will be $35 start-up fee, which must be submitted before contact with creditors may begin. A monthly fee will also be made in conjunction with my/our monthly deposits. The fee ranges from $10 to $30 per month based on income. Our DMP's are voluntary programs that serve the dual role of helping you repay your debts and helping creditors to receive the money owed them.

I/We hold Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Central Pennsylvania, its employees, agents and volunteers harmless from any claim, suit, action or demand of my/our creditors, my/ourselves or any other person resulting from advice or counseling.

I/We will be given a written assessment outlining a suggested client action plan, which will be based on the following options:

a) I/We will handle any financial concerns on our own

b) I/We may choose to enroll in CCCS of Central Pennsylvania's debt management plan. Under the debt management plan CCCS serves as a neutral third party in negotiating with creditors to liquidate financial obligations. Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Central Pennsylvania has no responsibility or obligation for any past, present or future credit rating I/we receive. In certain circumstances, a debt management plan may affect my/our credit rating negatively. In the event that the counselor suggests a debt management plan, I/we will receive complete details of the operations, requirements and responsibilities.

c) A counselor may answer questions about bankruptcy but not give legal advice. If I/we want legal advice, I/we will be referred for appropriate assistance. While an attorney can make a recommendation to file bankruptcy, it is a personal choice based on individual circumstances.

d) I/We will be referred to the other services of our organization or another agency or agencies as appropriate that may be able to assist with particular problems that have been identified.

At some time in the future CCCS of Central Pennsylvania or a neutral third party may contact me/ us to request an evaluation of the agency's services.

Privacy Policy

Our agency is committed to assuring the privacy of individuals and/or families who have contacted us for assistance. We assure you that all information shared both orally and in writing will be managed within legal and ethical considerations. Your "personal financial information", such as your total debt information, income, living expenses and personal information concerning your financial circumstances, will be provided to creditors, and possibly others with your specific authorization. We may also use aggregated case file information for the purpose of evaluating our services, gathering valuable research information and designing future programs. Your anonymity will be maintained through the use of your client number or by using aggregate data in all circumstances.

In all other situations, your information may be released to appropriate individuals or agencies ONLY UPON YOUR WRITTEN REQUEST OR when our staff has been served by a valid subpoena.

The following PRIVACY PRACTICES detail circumstances under which we will release your information to a third party:

1. We do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about our customers or former customers to anyone, except as permitted by law.


2. We may compile data and aggregate information that you give to us, but this information may not be disclosed in a manner that would personally identify you in any way.
3. We may disclose some or all of the information that we collect, as described below, to creditors, or third parties that you have authorized who need this information in order for us to assist you after a counseling session.
4. We may disclose all of the information that we collect, as described below, to creditors and related financial institutions who need this information in order to put you on a debt management program (DMP).
5. We restrict access to nonpublic personal information about you to those employees who need to know that information to provide services to you. We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with federal regulations to guard your nonpublic personal information.
6. We collect nonpublic personal information about you from the following sources:
   
   • Information we received from you on our applications or other forms you provide;
   • Information about your transactions with us, your creditors, or others; and
   • Information we receive from a credit reporting agency.
7. We may disclose the following kinds of nonpublic personal information about you:
   
   • Information we receive from you on applications or other forms, such as your name, address, social security number, assets, and income;
   • Information about your transactions with us, your creditors, or others, such as your account balance, payment history, parties to transactions and credit card usage; and
   • Information we receive from a credit reporting agency, such as your credit history.