CCCS - not just another employer.

Up until now, my posts have been very much linked to the title of my blog but today I would like to deviate slightly and talk about something else. As much as I would love to spend the next half hour watching Peppa Pig, I feel that there might be a slightly better use of my time available.

As those of you who know me will be aware, until recently I worked for the debt and money advice charity Consumer Credit Counselling Service (www.cccs.co.uk). I worked for them for 5 and a half years and I can honestly say that it was the best job I have had. One of the reasons for this is that I was genuinely proud of the work that they do and the real effect that this company has on the lives of many people.

For those of you who are not familiar with the work of CCCS, they are not a Debt Management Company (DMC) but are a charity and as such do not charge for the services they provide. They counsel people from all walks of life who, for whatever reason, have found themselves in financial difficulty and are unable to pay their liabilities. For some people, a chat with a counsellor and the creation of a realistic, sustainable budget is all that they need to bring things under control and get back in the black without any further assistance.

For others, a little more support is needed and Debt Management Plans (DMPs) are available, free of charge, to offer fair payments to creditors and help clients become debt free, however long it takes. Highly trained support staff are at the end of the phone or can be contacted by email to help reassure people who are in a worrying position, most for the first time in their lives.

Other services are on offer too - help with benefit advice, help with mortgage issues and detailed insolvency care to name just a few. For people who are not in trouble with debt, they have an online service that can help people put the money they have to better use, such as making sure they are adequately insured or are able to set aside money for a rainy day.

Today is the third CCCS #debtday on Twitter and it is worth searching for @moneyaware and following the activities throughout the day. The charity do not advertise at present and rely very much on word of mouth to get out to the people who need their help. If I had a pound for every client who had said to me "I wish I'd known about CCCS before things got this bad" I probably wouldn't be able to live in luxury but I would certainly have a better car!

As with all jobs, there were trials and tribulations during my employment but at the end of it all, I have a box of thank you cards and emails from clients and I think that shows that what CCCS do is vital, especially in the current climate. 

Ironically, I went for the job initially as it was one of the few that did not want a credit check doing which was very important to me in my post-university years! My experiences have led to a much better understanding of budgeting and money management and I know that the lessons I have learnt will be passed down to DD and DS.

So if you think you might need a helping hand with your finances, give them a call (0800 138 1111) or check out the website. If you are on top of your money, still check out http://www.facebook.com/moneyaware and read the blogs - there is no such thing as too much information when it comes to keeping in the black.

Thank you CCCS. Bigging up - done!