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Credit Counselling Success Stories

Consolidated Credit Counseling Services of Canada, Inc. has helped thousands of people to get out of debt through credit counselling, financial education and debt management. Get inspired here, you too can overcome credit card debt and regain control of your life again. Our trained and professional credit counsellors are here to help you to achieve freedom from debt!

At the end of 2011 we hosted our 1st annual story contest. We asked clients to submit their stories of finding relief from debt and describe how Consolidated Credit helped them get their finances back on track. Like so many Canadians these people were living with the stress and constant burden of heavy credit card debt but they found the relief they needed with the help of Consolidated Credit.

1st Place Contest Winner, Tina H. from Manilla ON

Tina H. from Manilla, ON won first place in our 1st annual story contest.
Her story, “Peace of Mind – Living within a Budget” describes how with one phone call to Consolidated Credit to speak with a trained credit counsellor she was able to enroll in our Debt Management Program and start paying down $32,000 in credit card debt. Now with a solid budget in place Tina found relief and has gained peace of mind.

Peace of Mind – Living within a Budget
In September 2010 my world was turned upside down. My husband and I decided to separate. I discovered we were $32,000 in credit card debt plus we had a $200,000 mortgage. I was in shock and knew there was no possible way I was going to be able to keep my house, pay the bills and take care of a huge credit card debt. That’s when
I went online and found Consolidated Credit Counseling Services of Canada. With one phone call I felt immediate relief in my world of chaos. The credit counsellor took the time to carefully explain what it is they do, how they do it and exactly what they needed from me. That same day I was emailed a budget outline to fill out as well as one for my ex-husband. The credit counsellor was very understanding of my situation and said they would be able to help.

Well the employees of this great service worked their magic and within a couple of days gave me great news.
I would be able to keep my house, pay all my bills and start to pay off my portion of the credit card debt with my current salary. What a relief that was. I would be able to keep my house and give our children the security and stability they need.

It has now been over a year I have been on Consolidated Credit’s Debt Management Program and continue to follow the budget that was established for me. I am no longer afraid to answer the phone and don’t worry if it’s a creditor looking for money. I have started my own savings account, as well as one for each child.

This coming Christmas I do not have to financially depend on my parents and friends to make it wonderful for the kids. And over the last couple of months I have been able to give my home some much needed car with paint and repair work, and was able to enroll the kids in hockey and swimming.

Living within a budget has given me freedom, independence, confidence, security and above all else hope for the future for my family. Without help from this amazing company this would never have been possible.

Thank you so much Consolidated Credit Counseling Services of Canada.

2nd Place Contest Winner, Ewan M. from Bedford NS

Second place winner Ewan M. from Bedford NS wrote “Every Who in Whoville liked Christmas a lot, but the debtors living pay cheque to pay cheque DID NOT! The debtors feared Christmas the whole Christmas season! If asked why t’was money the reason!” In the past Ewan did “hectic credit card juggling acts and lots of financial wrangling” to buy gifts for his family. Now in the last year of Consolidated Credit’s Debt Management Program Ewan has learned to set goals and live within his means using a budget.

Every Who in Whoville Liked Christmas a lot…
But the Debtors, living paycheck to paycheck, Did NOT!
The debtors feared Christmas! The whole Christmas season!
If asked why, t’was always money the reason!

It wasn’t so long ago that the thought of the Christmas holidays brought with it a sense of dread and an overwhelming feeling of obligation. Years of living pay cheque to pay cheque, quite unsuccessfully, brought with it a mountain of debt and daily telephone calls from very aggressive collectors. Paying one credit card with another, paying bills with a credit card, and using loans to cover minimum payments over time becomes very stressful and adds a particularly bad taste to the holiday season.

The joy in the holidays is being able to give gifts to family members and loved ones, and share in a joyous social atmosphere as spirited by the season. The dark sense of impending debt, phone calls and inability to be able to afford gifts casts a gloom over the season. Though never intentional certainly adds a cold negative aspect to my own personal demeanor. Over the last few years the holidays were a dreaded thing, the music, the television specials, the decorations, all cutting reminders of my inability to celebrate the season in the merry fashion that it should be, those ghosts of credit past.

The holiday season would bring with it the chaos and hectic credit card juggling acts and lots of financial wrangling to get those gifts. Which credit card still worked, which could miss a payment, which store would allow a quick application for credit? It was emotionally exhausting. The stress never truly abates as all the bad credit decisions made in December would continue to haunt you relentlessly into the New Year.

Working with Consolidated Credit Counseling Services of Canada, and taking the accumulated debt and making a plan, the first thing to stop was the pestering phone calls. It’s difficult to express the sense of relief that brought. It took months before I stopped flinching every time the telephone rang. The agreement to cut up the cards, and cancel the line of credit took away the temptation. The minimum payment for accrued debt was laid out over a period of time that was affordable and reasonable, so living arrangements would not be at risk. Then learning to budget through the provided tools and creating goals all helped to alleviate some of the stress going into the holidays.

I am going into my last year of the Debt Management Program which ends September of 2012. It has been a long journey for me with some very heavy baggage. I am going into this holiday season without the Scrooge attitude or shrunken Grinch heart. I had goals set, plans in place, and fully intend to immerse myself in the joyous spirit of the season versus drowning in the financial stress so habitually present over the last few years. Going into 2012 I look forward to finally looking ahead above the horizon to a bright future, and no longer stare down at my feet with exhausted humiliation and dread.

Thank you. And I can now say honestly, a heartfelt Happy Holidays!

3rd Place Contest Winner, Sandy C. from Tusket NS

Sandra C., our third place winner, from Tusket NS says “I can actually see the light at the end of the tunnel. I’m almost three years through the four year program. Thanks to Consolidated Credit budgeting and not spending beyond my means has become a way of life.”

My name is Sandra C. from Tusket NS. My payments on Consolidated Credit’s Debt Management Program are just over $700 per month. This is a large portion of my income but I feel it is important to pay in full all I owe so I can start with a clean slate. Once I complete the program I will only use cash to pay for my purchases.

My financial catastrophe started when I began to pay the mortgage, property taxes, car loan and regular monthly bills on my own. I was out of work and living off my Employment Insurance income. I was only able to pay a small percentage of the monthly bills. Anything that was not covered by EI was paid using credit. It didn't take long to realize I was in over my head. I had a home that I was trying to keep; and bankruptcy wasn’t an option. Especially since the cost of renting an apartment would have been more than my mortgage payments.

Then begs the question: How do I get out of this financial mess? Then I saw an advertisement on television for Consolidated Credit Counselling Services of Canada. It was the answer to my prayers. I called right away and the person on the other end of the phone didn't sound judgmental; just asked what can we do to help?

I quickly pulled my credit statements together, faxed them to my counsellor and within a few days was accepted on their Debt Management Program.

This has been a wonderful learning tool for me. For the first time in my life I feel positive about my financial well-being. I have a budget which I carefully review before each payday. The money is deposited into my bank account and I am only spending what I can afford. At the end of the month I'm still on track and this gives me a wonderful feeling of being in control of my finances - which is priceless. At one point I began stressing over my monthly payment. I called customer service to ask for advice. To make my budgeting easier the counsellor suggested I split the payment in half and make two payments. This sounds so simple; however, it was brilliant. The stress is gone and the payments are much more manageable.

I can actually see the light at the end of the tunnel. I’m almost three years through the four year program.
Thanks to Consolidated Credit budgeting and not spending beyond my means has become a way of life.

It isn't always easy. I love to give gifts to people. I also have a daughter with a new baby. A few years ago I would have been tempted to spend more than I could afford. Christmas is upon us shortly. My daughter is on maternity leave and I know she could use some financial assistance. I'm so blessed to have my father who was never rich but always taught us to take responsibility for our actions. His life lessons helped in making the decision to check out Consolidated Credit.

My mom makes "crazy" quilts out of hand me down clothing. She then rewards each one of her loved ones with the finished product. This quilt has a two-fold purpose we are always wrapped in her warmth and it helps to reduce our heating costs.

This year instead of spending money I don’t have on something expensive the gift to my parents will be a photo taken at Thanksgiving of my two brothers and myself. I had it printed for pennies and will put it in a lovely, inexpensive frame. This will please them because they believe Christmas has become too commercialized and I have not lost the true meaning of the holiday. A smaller version of the same picture will go to my brothers for them to display in their house to keep us closer all year long.

For all the hard work you do on my behalf and on behalf of all your clients, thank you.

If you would like to share your success story, please submit it to Jeffrey Schwartz at: jschwartz@consolidatedcredit.ca