Our History - The CCCS® Story

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Central New York^® has evolved from a Syracuse-based, volunteer-run agency in 1972 serving 650 clients, to the 11th largest member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, with a professional staff of more than 50 people serving over 56,000 clients throughout upstate New York and beyond.

When Family Debt Counseling of Syracuse opened its doors in rented office space with a mere five (volunteer) counselors, it would only take a few years before its reputation grew and it more than doubled the number of clients it served. On its 10th anniversary, having merged with Family Debt Counseling of Utica and changed its name to Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Central New York (CCCS), the agency became fully licensed as a debt counseling, not-for-profit agency by the New York State Banking Department.

The 1980s and 1990s continued gains in recognition and credibility marked by US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Certification and the start of a housing counseling program, and accreditation from the Council on Accreditation (COA). The agency also grew significantly during these years with the addition of three new locations to its network: Ft. Drum, which later moved to Watertown, Binghamton and Albany. Technology also added to growth with the addition of phone counseling, a new call center and eventually Internet counseling as well. By its 20th anniversary in 1992, CCCS brought over 3,300 clients into debt management plans (DMPs) and by 1999 serviced 7,300 DMPs and reached over 20,000 in New York State with community education programs.

As the new century arrived, a flurry of activity from non-accredited, for-profit debt counseling services lured unsuspecting clients away, but when federal regulatory bodies investigated, they determined that NFCC quality standards, which CCCS holds, is the “gold standard” for debt counseling services. CCCS began to advertise more, added an informative website (in English and Spanish), and despite the continual emergence of unscrupulous debt counseling services, CCCS won two consecutive NFCC awards for having the outstanding graduate client and counselor. CCCS was also approved by the Executive Office for United States Trustees (EOUST) to provide bankruptcy counseling and education throughout all of New York State.

Today CCCS of Central New York serves more than 37 New York State counties from five offices in Central New York, the Mohawk Valley, the North Country, the Central Southern Tier, and the Capital District and Hudson Valley, as well as several satellite locations throughout our service region. The economic downturn of recent years has increased the need for CCCS services and the agency is set to embrace the future with an aggressive strategic plan, a solid financial base, and continued passion for its Mission, Vision and Values.