Who is CESI Debt Solutions?

CESI Debt Solutions is a not-for-profit organization for consumers who want financial freedom. CESI offers a complete line of debt relief services: debt management program (DMP), housing counseling, credit counseling, financial education, bankruptcy referral and debt settlement.

Since its inception in 1998, CESI has helped hundreds of thousands of consumers nationwide improve their money management skills as well as credit and debt responsibilities. For more information, please visit our About CESI section.

What is the Transparency Project?

This project was launched in an effort to provide consumers with the facts about CESI, the services we offer and real measurements of our impact in our Community and across the Country.

Our Counselors:

Our counselors are certified within 6 months of employment by agencies such as the Association for Financial Counseling Planning and Education (AFCPE), the National Institute for Financial Education (NIFE), and the Center for Financial Certifications: We provide one on one counseling six days a week.

Education and Community:

We believe that your journey to becoming debt-free should not be made alone. We realize that debt relief is so much more than a Debt Management Program(DMP). CESI has created a place online for you to come and learn, grow, dialogue, and dream about the future! For more information, please visit the Education and Community section of our website.

Program Suitability (Fit):

Does CESI put the right client on the right program? Was the DMP the right program for this client?

Through our counseling sessions, each client is provided with a unique solution based on their specific financial need. This is determined by a thoroughly reviewing our client’s income, living expenses and outstanding debt.

We measure suitability by looking at the number of clients with accepted Debt Management Programs who make their first 3 consecutive program payments. In 2010, 85.75% of CESI’s clients met this criterion.

Program Eligibility:

Who is right for a DMP?
CESI counselors evaluate each and every client individually. We offer free financial counseling and education to all who contact us. Twenty-five percent (25%) of all clients we speak to are actually eligible for a DMP. Others may only need a Self Management Plan, referral to Social Services or even bankruptcy.

Reasons for Client joining our Program:

Since no two clients are alike, CESI tracks the numerous reasons why they seek our assistance. Ninety-nine percent (99%) of clients who are recommended for the DMP have excessive Credit Card Debt.

This chart below illustrates the Top 10 reasons:

Benefits and Savings:

How will the DMP program help me?

Clients often wonder what are the benefits on a DMP and how will it help them get out of Debt.

We work with your Creditors to ensure we meet their Program requirements and in most cases clients can expect:

• Reduction in Interest rate
• Suppression of Fees
• Fixed payment while on the program
• Delinquent accounts, if eligible, become current after 3 consecutive program payments
• Being debt free in 60 months or less if they stick to the plan

For 2010, the average CESI client, whose DMP was accepted by their creditor, had 37% reduction in the required minimum payment to their Creditor.

Survey Results

CESI’s Client satisfaction survey was conducted in May 2011 to measure client sentiment in several groups: Graduated clients (those who have completed CESI’s programs), New clients (enrolled less than 1 year) and Senior clients (enrolled for more than 1 year). The survey link was sent via email and was conducted online.

4,657 CESI clients completed the online survey. The charts below highlight the results.