Advantage Advisor
Monthly Newsletter
September / 2018
The Mortgage Bankers Association has published a very helpful PDF booklet that provides important information about the disaster recovery process for homeowners who have experienced a natural disaster that has destroyed their home. This is a free resource for all homeowners!

Click below for more information:
In This Issue:


Disaster Recovery Resource
Mortgages & Credit Counseling
Reasons To Not Use Credit Cards
DMP Reasons For Not Signing Up
Clients Speak Out
Company News & Events
The Advantage Challenge
RECENT BLOG POSTS - 
We get asked this question almost every day “Can you get a mortgage if you’ve done credit counseling and are on a Debt Management Program (DMP)?” The short and sweet answer is “YES”! There are a few things that you need to consider though. Consumer credit counseling can get individuals with poor credit scores on the road to home ownership, but it doesn’t happen overnight. .... Read more
If credit card companies had it their way, consumers would charge any and every purchase they make every single day of their lives. Unfortunately, that would only be fun until it came time to pay the enormous bill. While it can be difficult to resist temptation from time to time, there are a few excellent ....   Read more
We’ve been in business for over 50 years now (since June 17th, 1968) so we’ve heard about a million reasons why someone doesn’t want to sign up for a Debt Management . ....   Read more
CLIENTS SPEAK OUT - 
"I am so grateful for your service. I didn't know how I would ever catch up. It took 4 years but I paid it all off and have a better feeling about myself since I didn't have to do bankruptcy. I was always treated with dignity and respect when I needed to call and the help was tremendous. "  ~ Jill L .
"Great experience. Saved us so much money, and everyone we dealt with was professional and helpful. Thank you! "  ~ Kristen G.
"Awesome, easy, and a well thought out plan. Can't say enough about how good the program was for me ."  ~ Robert B.
COMPANY NEWS & EVENTS -   
United Way of Wyoming Valley recently presented Advantage Credit Counseling Service with a grant check for $20,000!

We receive funding from United Way under its "Poverty to Possibilities" initiative to provide financial counseling to lower income residents in the Wyoming Valley.

In Luzerne County, 28.8% of children under 18 are living below the poverty line. United Way intends to reduce that percentage by focusing on these children and their families' education, financial stability, and overall health. We're thrilled to contribute to this effort by providing free financial wellness counseling and education. 

The picture above features (from left to right): Bill Jones - President and CEO (United Way of Wyoming Valley), Jennifer Deemer - Vice President of Community Impact (United Way of Wyoming Valley), Terri Stocki - Certified Counselor and Educator (Advantage Credit Counseling Service), and Christine Jensen - Administrator (PA CareerLink Luzerne County). This is a huge honor for Advantage CCS!
ADVANTAGE CHALLENGE - 
Are you up for the Advantage Challenge?

Advantage CCS challenges YOU to.... check your credit report today!

Use the free government sponsored website www.annualcreditreport.com and select your report from one of the three bureaus or you can view your report from all three credit bureaus, if you'd like. If it’s in your budget, opt to pay for your credit score or ask if one of your credit card lenders can give you the score such as Discover card or Bank of America.

Examine your credit report to see what you need to work on and to make sure it’s correct. Take steps to increase your score and check it again early next year. Let us know what changes you made and what affect those changes had on your credit score. Email us anytime at: info@advantageccs.org .