With their counselor, the [Seals] worked out a budget. They also arranged to pay all their non-mortgage, non-automotive debt through CCCS in one combined payment per month. CCCS disperses the money to the creditors, who agreed to suspend interest and late fees for the duration and also lowered the minimum they would accept each month.

She soon found out the answer: When a debt consolidation repayment is completed, CCCS asks for between 7 and 15 percent of the sum back from the creditors. In effect, some creditors are willing to accept their funds at a slight discount rather than risk getting nothing at all. (Other income is derived from local employers, who CCCS says are taking a more active role in assisting employees experiencing financial difficulty.)

"Two ways," Mike said. "Gradually and then suddenly." -"The Sun Also Rises" CCCS clients generally fall into three groups, says Jay Muzychenko, vice president of the umbrella group for the 550 CCCS offices, the National Foundation for Consumer Credit.