1. Will I be OK without your program as long as I keep making minimum payments on my credit cards?
2. Is Debt Management the same thing as Debt Consolidation?
3. What's the difference between unsecured debt and secured debt?
3. How can I tell if your debt management program is right for me?
5. Why isn't your agency a non-profit corporation?

1. Will I be OK without your program as long as I keep making minimum payments on my credit cards?
Be careful of "the minimum payment trap." Even though many creditors have increased the minimum amount due each month, it is not enough to avoid falling further behind when you figure in compounded interest, late fees, etc. Thus with no new charges to an account, by only making the minimum payment, the total amount owed can actually increase. Under our program, your payments are not only ones that you can afford to make, but nearly your entire payment to creditors goes toward reducing your principal balance, so that you pay off the debt much more quickly (e.g., in three to five years versus twenty to twenty-five years when making minimum payments).

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2. Is Debt Management the same thing as Debt Consolidation?
A Debt Management Plan (DMP) is often loosely referred to as Debt Consolidation, but there is a difference between the two. Our DMP program consolidates your monthly payments to your unsecured creditors into one, simple payment; it is NOT a Debt Consolidation LOAN.

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3. What's the difference between unsecured debt and secured debt?
In cases of secured debt, the creditor receives a security interest in the item purchased with the proceeds of the loan, and is legally permitted to enforce that interest by repossessing the item (e.g., a car) or foreclosing on it (e.g., a home). Unsecured creditors have no direct recourse against anything purchased with, say, a credit card; they must obtain a judgment in court in order to be able to levy against your wages or other assets. Only unsecured debt (e.g., credit cards, store charge cards, medical bills, etc.) are eligible for our debt management program.

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4. How can I tell if your debt management program is right for me?
You can explore our site, especially our pages "About Us" and "The Program." But the easiest way is to speak with one of our highly-trained counselors for a free, one-on-one consultation. You can call us, or fill out our contact form, and one of our counselors will call when it's convenient for you.

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5. Why isn't your agency a non-profit corporation?
Many non-profit agencies use their "not-for-profit" status as a sales tool, but this glosses over some key facts. Most important, the overhead costs of a non-profit, including the salaries of management and staff, are covered before calculating net income, or profit. Many employees of "non-profit" agencies draw very nice salaries! Indeed, non-profit agencies are now under heightened scrutiny by the Internal Revenue Service and other regulators for improper practices designed to get around the legal requirements imposed on non-profits, like "affiliating" with or "outsourcing" to for-profit firms, whose boards of directors or owners are nearly identical to the non-profit's. As a for-profit firm, we are dedicated to meeting or exceeding the highest standards and best practices in the Credit Counseling / DMP industry, and our corporate by-laws and standard client agreement reflect our total commitment to full disclosure, total transparency, and rigorous client trust account management. We will NEVER use client trust monies for ANY purpose other than prompt distribution to the client's creditors; unfortunately, not every agency (non-profit or otherwise) can say the same thing.

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