News & Press Releases

December 10, 2013 – By Brian O'Connell When times are tight, often the quickest path to some much-needed cash is through a loan from a friend or a family member. According to Boston-based American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC), 82% of all Americans would help a family member financially. Younger family members are especially generous, with 92% of individuals aged 18-34 saying they would loan cash to a family member in financial distress.

December 3, 2013 No other topic is most likely to prompt a spat in a relationship than money, according to a recent online survey by national nonprofit American Consumer Credit Counseling, with an overwhelming 54 percent of survey respondents stating that financial issues are the leading cause of stress in a relationship, while only 5 percent of respondents indicated fidelity and trust were an issue and only 9 percent cited in-laws as the biggest stress trigger.

November 27, 2013 – By MyFoxBoston.com Fox 25 Boston interviews Community Educator Matthew Paradise on ACCC's Cash-Only Holiday Challenge and other budgeting tips to not incur new credit card debt this holiday season.

November 22, 2013 – By April Dykman Readers, you’re about to witness me use dated vocabulary, talk about gas prices, and reveal my love of the elbow patch. You might wonder if it’s actually me, a gal who wasn’t alive for the Carter administration, and not a curmudgeonly old man. I have no explanation for how or why this theme emerged, other than that I’ve been middle-aged since I was 17.

November 21, 2013 – By Juliette Fairley A Thanksgiving meal has traditionally been the time to celebrate what life has to offer with family members. Yet with rising food prices, the American holiday can put a stress on finances. Fret not, though: there are many ways to express gratitude without breaking the bank.

Boston, MA – November 19, 2013 American Consumer Credit Counseling announced today that the national nonprofit organization has been awarded a $24,000 grant from the Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation. The $24,000 grant will supplement the costs of ACCC’s monthly distribution of their “The Dollar Stretcher newsletter to over 24,000 clients in Massachusetts, a publication that offers helpful tips to consumers on how to live better for less. In addition, The Dollar Stretcher newsletter will feature articles written by Rockland Trust’s financial experts.

Boston, MA – November 14, 2013 Ninety-three percent of young Americans would loan money to a family member in financial need, according to a recent online poll conducted by American Consumer Credit Counseling. The survey also found that 82 percent of respondents of all ages would lend money to a family member that has fallen on hard times with 66 percent willing to give money to a needy friend.

Boston, MA – November 5, 2013 As Black Friday and Cyber Monday near, national nonprofit American Consumer Credit Counseling is challenging consumers to stay in the black this holiday season. With the negative impact of the government shutdown on consumer confidence, retailers are expected to pull out all the stops to increase consumer spending. To avoid falling victim to a holiday debt hangover, ACCC is urging consumers to commit to a cash-only holiday, by utilizing its Holiday Budget Worksheet to help maintain budgeting and spending habits. You can follow staff member Kathleen Barrett’s journey on this cash only challenge at www.TalkingCentsBlog.com.

November 5, 2013 A new study from the American Consumer Credit Counseling finds that money is the leading cause of stress in all relationships. Matt Paradise, community outreach leader with the ACCC, joined us to talk about the results. Paradise said, “Communication is critical.

October 22, 2013 – By Nick Diulio When it comes to security breaches and identity theft, no industry appears to be immune—not even self-storage. In early September, self-storage company Public Storage Inc. experienced a technical glitch that allowed one of its tenants to view the leasing information of 745 Public Storage tenants while accessing his lease documents online. That information included names, addresses and driver’s license numbers.

October 16, 2013 More American consumers are consistently choosing ‘plastic’ over ‘paper’ to shop for everyday purchases such as gas, meals and groceries according to a recent online survey conducted by American Consumer Credit Counseling. The national nonprofit found that 80 percent of all respondents reported using their debit card for daily shopping expenses, while only 14 percent of respondents prefer to use cash. Of the 324 respondents, 100 percent aged 18 to 24 pay with their debit card over cash when purchasing daily necessities.

October 16, 2013 More American consumers are consistently choosing ‘plastic’ over ‘paper’ to shop for everyday purchases such as gas, meals and groceries according to a recent online survey conducted by American Consumer Credit Counseling. The national nonprofit found that 80 percent of all respondents reported using their debit card for daily shopping expenses, while only 14 percent of respondents prefer to use cash. Of the 324 respondents, 100 percent aged 18 to 24 pay with their debit card over cash when purchasing daily necessities.

October 14, 2013 – By Melissa Preddy Spring may be the traditional season of brides, but fall is when a lot of wedding planning takes place. Party planning trends also can make for interesting local economic indicators, and with holiday season coming up you can double-dip in interviews, getting a read on corporate and private Christmas bookings as well as nuptial trends.

October 4, 2013 – By Kristie Aranow Reward programs have covertly taken over America's key rings, eaten up prime real estate in consumers' wallets and spammed inboxes. They offer countless "deals," but at some point, your loyalty may cost you too much time and headache to be worthwhile.

Boston, MA – September 16, 2013 American Consumer Credit Counseling announced today that the national nonprofit organization has received a Housing Counseling grant of over $20,000 to provide Reverse Mortgage Counseling and Mortgage Delinquency/Default Counseling. The award comes from the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), a national Housing and Urban Development (HUD) intermediary with more than 600 community-based affiliates.

Boston, MA – September 11, 2013 As student loan debt quickly surpasses both auto and credit card debts nationwide, 71 percent of young Americans aged 18 to 24 are choosing to return home to live with their parents, according to a recent web survey by national nonprofit American Consumer Credit Counseling. Of those respondents aged 25 to 34, 53 percent stated that they were forced to move home after graduation due to looming student loan payments.

September 6, 2013 For seven weeks this summer, the South Middlesex Opportunity Council's (SMOC) 2013 Summer Jobs for Youth placed 16 teenagers in 10 different internships, both at SMOC and the United Way's Pearl Street Cupboard and Café in Framingham.

Boston, MA – August 21, 2013 Eighty-three percent of Americans admit that they would rather pay down their debts instead of save for their future, according to a recent online poll conducted by American Consumer Credit Counseling. The survey also found that 58 percent of consumers do not regularly deposit money in a savings account – a risky financial move that could land consumers further into debt.

Boston, MA – August 14, 2013 American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) announced today that the non-profit will expand its presence to Plymouth County to address the needs of consumers who are greatly impacted with financial issues and difficulties. ACCC’s new office will have certified credit counselors available Monday through Saturday to meet with consumers and provide them with assistance to secure a healthy financial future.

August 7, 2013 – By Geoff Williams A $5 late penalty from your phone company here, $2.50 for overdue library books there. It’s easy to forget that late fees really do add up, and avoiding them is more than just a way to save a few bucks. ... Read More »

August 5, 2013 – By Quentin Fottrell Throwing a wedding costs a fortune. Going to one isn't a bargain either. As guests struggle to afford to attend, the bride and groom both could end up left at the alter, a new survey suggests.

Boston, MA – July 24, 2013 Today, national nonprofit American Consumer Credit Counseling announced the launch of its online Student Debt Financial Education Center and the release of its College Financial Management Workbook.

Boston, MA – July 23, 2013 Forty-three percent of Americans confess they have declined a wedding invitation for financial reasons, according to a recent online poll conducted by American Consumer Credit Counseling. The ACCC poll also found that more than 92 percent of respondents would turn down an invitation to other events as well due to financial constraints (infographic).

Boston, MA – July 17, 2013 Today, on National Military Consumer Protection Day, national nonprofit American Consumer Credit Counseling announced the launch of its Veterans and Military Personnel Online Financial Education Center. The online center will provide former and current service members with information and tools to evaluate their current financial situations, assist in planning for their financial future, and create action plans to manage and overcome their financial challenges.

Boston, MA – July 16, 2013 Today, national nonprofit American Consumer Credit Counseling announced the launch of its new, in-depth bankruptcy platform called CounselorConnect that helps consumers going through bankruptcy filings obtain the required bankruptcy certificate. The new platform also provides consumers with access to a personalized assessment action plan that includes information and resources to help consumers with their household budgets, financial guidelines, net worth calculations, and also includes a bankruptcy counselor’s recommendations for the filer.

July 16, 2013 – By Selena Maranjian If you're not investing for retirement, you've got some explaining to do. And so do many others. According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute's (EBRI) 2013 Retirement Confidence Survey, only 66% of Americans have saved money for retirement, and nearly half (46%) have saved less than $10,000. A recent American Consumer Credit Counseling poll found that about 30% of Americans are not contributing to a retirement account at all. There are lots of reasons people might offer for not investing for retirement -- but few of them hold water. Let's examine some.

July 9, 2013 – By PRWEB American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) announced today that the non-profit will participate in the American Bankruptcy Institute’s 20th Annual Bankruptcy Conference and 8th Annual Consumer Forum in Newport, Rhode Island from July 11th through July 14th.

Boston, MA – June 18, 2013 More than 70 percent of Americans believe they are not financially ready for retirement, according to a recent online poll conducted by American Consumer Credit Counseling. The ACCC poll found that more than 7 in 10 consumers surveyed reported that they are not adequately prepared for retirement, while over 30 percent of respondents are not contributing at all to a retirement account.

June 1, 2013 “Some people are wired not to experience the fear or guilt or anxiety [associating with spending],” says Scott Rick, assistant professor of marketing at the University of Michigan. People are by nature prone to experience different negative emotions; but that can be amplified by money practices at home. My prediction is that it only takes one spendthrift to create a spendthrift kid, as long as you indulge their material desires and not make them pay the bill.

Boston, MA – May 21, 2013 Men and women prefer ‘big savers’ over ‘big spenders,’ according to a recent survey conducted by American Consumer Credit Counseling that asked consumers to define the qualities of a fiscally attractive mate. Half of all survey respondents preferred ‘big savers,’ while only 12 percent identified themselves as being more attracted to ‘big spenders.’ Nearly eight in ten respondents preferred that their significant other hold the same fiscal views as them.

Boston, MA – May 21, 2013 Identity theft is a major culprit in an ever increasing digital world; despite the growing threat many consumers do not know how to handle it, or even what identity theft is.

May 16, 2013 – By Geoff Williams The advice for cosigning a loan for a family member or friend is always virtually the same: Don't do it, and if you do, understand the consequences if something goes wrong. But what if you ignore the advice and cosign, and the loan goes south for reasons beyond your control? Although there is no database that tracks cosigned loans, anecdotal evidence and some data suggest cosigning is common – and it isn't always parents cosigning for children. In 2010, LeaseTrader.com, a national car leasing marketplace, reported a 29 percent increase over the previous two years in the number of parents asking their kids to cosign a car loan for them.

Boston, MA – May 6, 2013 American Consumer Credit Counseling’s Matt Paradise on Fox 25 Morning News sharing his expert advice on spring cleaning your finance and managing your money.

Boston, MA – April 25, 2013 This Friday, American Consumer Credit Counseling in partnership with the Boston Public Library will host an interactive “Money Matters for Teens” workshop that will explore basic financial strategies, such as managing resources, “budget busters,” how to avoid overspending and how to create a budget. This workshop is a part of Money Smart Week, a national initiative to educate consumers on ways to manage their personal finances.

Boston, MA – April 13, 2013 Many American consumers are struggling to understand some of the more complex financial education topics including identity theft and retirement according to a recent poll conducted by national nonprofit American Consumer Credit Counseling.

Boston, MA – April 9, 2013 On April 11th, American Consumer Credit Counseling will collaborate with the Treasurer’s Office and the Boston Public Schools Superintendent’s office, along with a coalition of Greater Boston financial planning and community organizations and other partners, to host the second annual Boston Reality Fair: Financial Tools for Life, a program for high school juniors and seniors. The Boston Reality Fair will offer interactive educational workshops and a Money Matters play sponsored by Cambridge Savings Bank to prepare students for sustainable financial stability throughout their lives.

April 1, 2013 – By Ira Kantor Consumers concerned about their budgets will use this year’s tax refund to pay down debt and strengthen their savings, according to a recent survey conducted by American Consumer Credit Counseling. Out of 251 consumers surveyed in the recent web poll, 45 percent said they will use their 2013 tax refund to pay down their credit card debt, while 26 percent will put the cash directly into their savings. Less than 1 percent of respondents will use the refund to open or contribute to a retirement account or pay down student loans.

April 1, 2013 – By Emily Micucci Most Americans polled by the nonprofit group, American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC), will use this year's tax refund to pay down credit card debt, and results show there is some evidence that consumer confidence is increasing.

Boston, MA – March 5, 2013 As National Consumer Protection Week kicks off in March, many consumers are reminded of some of the critical mistakes that can cause long term damage to their financial profile, the most common of which is credit reporting errors. A recent study released by the Federal Trade Commission earlier this year discovered that 26 percent of consumers suffer from material errors on at least one of their three credit reports – errors which often go unnoticed. Even more shocking, 5 percent of these consumers participating in the study moved into a different credit risk tier once the error on their credit report was corrected.

February 27, 2013 – By PRWEB Nearly 80 percent of women in relationships bear the responsibility of managing household finances – often with little help from their significant others, according to a survey conducted by national nonprofit American Consumer Credit Counseling.

February 12, 2013 – By Rebekah Coleman After the consuming task of submitting tax returns, the beneficial part arrives: payday. Instead of spending the return in a frivolous manner, taxpayers should utilize this annual check from the government to reduce their debts, including personal loans and credit cards. According to a recent TD Ameritrade survey, nearly half of Americans expect an income tax refund this year. Of those consumers that expect a tax refund, almost half plan to reduce their debts. Forty-three percent, to be more precise, plan to pay off debts with their refund.

February 8, 2013 – By Rodney Brooks Baby Boomers, forget about retirement. We'll be working for the rest of our lives. OK, that may be an exaggeration, but not by much. We have not saved enough money. And worse, many of us will still be up to our eyeballs in debt when we do retire. We're just one medical emergency away from bankruptcy.

Boston, MA – January 24, 2013 Bankruptcy filings fell nearly 14 percent to fewer than 1.2 million in 2012, continuing a two-year trend that has been observed in all 50 states. But for many consumers still faced with insurmountable debt, an environment of continued economic uncertainty has forced them to consider bankruptcy as their only alternative. “Too often all it takes is one bad break, like a job loss or costly medical procedure, to force someone to file for bankruptcy,” said Steve Trumble, President and CEO of Newton-based American Consumer Credit Counseling. “Most people who file for bankruptcy are facing threats of repossession and perhaps imminent foreclosure. Filing for bankruptcy is sometimes the only way they can stay in their homes.” For those consumers who are contemplating bankruptcy as an option, there are several considerations that need to be made before filing.