Century Support Services Review: From Debt to Freedom

An Overview of Century Support Services

Since 2003, Century Support Services (CSS) has operated as a reputable debt relief company from their main office in North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. They are experts at providing families and individuals with various debt management and resolution services.

Century Support Services has garnered recognition for their significant portfolio of achievements and maintains an A+ accreditation from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Furthermore, they received accreditations from esteemed professional organizations, such as the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA) and the American Association for Debt Resolution (AFDR).

These accreditations show how dedicated the company is to upholding ethical and professional standards in the debt settlement sector. In addition to providing ongoing support, their services consist of a free initial consultation, debt analysis, the development of a customized resolution strategy, negotiation, and settlement of the debt.

CSS is widely recognized and esteemed within the industry due to their exceptional expertise, numerous accolades, and unwavering commitment to ensuring client satisfaction. They aim to empower individuals to regain financial stability and progress toward their goals.

Types of Debt That CSS Covers

They cover unsecured debts such as credit card balances, personal loans, medical expenses, and education loans. It is crucial to remember that Century Support Services might manage a broader range of unsecured debts than those mentioned above; the list provides a synopsis of the most prevalent debts they resolve. Due to the absence of an exhaustive list of specific debt categories they cover, contacting them and going through the initial consultation procedure is advisable.

It should be noted that they do not handle secured debt, including federal student loans, auto loans, and mortgages.

CSS claims that their services are best suited for people with more than $10,000 in debt, having trouble making the minimum payment every month, or going through difficult times due to sickness, unemployment, or similar circumstances.

Services & Perks Offered

Debt settlement

Century Support Services tailors their debt settlement services to fulfill customers' needs. As part of their strategy, they provide customized plans and programs to help people get out of debt. These debt settlement programs typically consist of a monthly structured deposit plan based on a client's specific financial situation.

Instead of paying payments to creditors in real time, these plans require a customer to transfer these funds to a savings account through an FDIC-insured financial institution. This approach allows clients to gradually collect funds, which are then used to negotiate settlements with creditors to reduce the overall debt amount.

During this process, CSS provides clients with comprehensive guidance and support throughout the debt settlement process. 

Additional services 

• Negotiations: After a client has collected adequate funds, CSS proceeds to negotiate with creditors, aiming to decrease the client's overall debt amount. They aim to mitigate the financial strain on their clients by advocating for favorable settlement terms using their expertise and industry knowledge. During this procedure, clients are provided with consistent updates and clear communication, guaranteeing they are consistently informed and engaged at each stage
• Financial assessment: As part of their services, they offer a free assessment where their specialists evaluate if your debt qualifies for their program. This assessment also allows them to personalize the program according to various factors, including, but not limited to, the monthly deposit amount, the number of creditors, and the balance of each account

Pricing & Fees

Century Support Services takes a less upfront approach regarding fees and pricing, preferring not to provide specifics. However, through research, we have found that they do collect a settlement fee. This fee is usually applied to the percentage of the forgiven debt or savings achieved by settlement.

Additionally, based on customer reports and other online sources, the settlement fee they collect may be 25% of the total current debt enrolled.

They acknowledge that not all customers have the same financial situation, and they stress the need to consult with their specialists to get an accurate overview of the requirements and potential costs involved. A program calculator is available to help you estimate your potential savings depending on your total debt and monthly payment amount, and they state that a minimum debt requirement of $10,000 is required.

What Are the Advantages & Disadvantages of Working With Them?

Advantages

• Client portal: They provide a practical portal called ‘MyCentury’ that gives customers 24/7 access to their financial progress. With this portal, their dedicated savings account balance can easily be monitored. Additionally, clients can track payments sent to creditors
• Do not charge upfront fees: Century Support Services abides by all applicable laws and does not demand payment in advance from customers. According to the company, their costs are calculated as a percentage of the total amount of debt settled, rather than an upfront payment
• Live chat option: Another notable advantage of CSS is their live chat feature, which is available during specific working hours. Customers can get in contact with a Century chat representative for insistent communication and real-time assistance 
• Offers financial education and resources: Through their blog, they provide a broad collection of resources and tips across multiple fields, such as cars, travel, finances, food, home, and more. This approach gives their readers the information and resources they need for better financial health and to make educated financial choices
• Accreditations: CSS holds certification from the AFDR and IAPDA, which ensures that they have met the standards of these organizations and provide customers with the highest level of ethical practices

Disadvantages

• Minimum investment: They place a minimum debt requirement of $10,000, which results in people with modest debt finding it difficult to qualify for their services. This requirement limits the target audience for their services by excluding those seeking help with lower debt
• Availability limitation: Individuals in specific states cannot access their debt settlement services. These states include Oregon, Wyoming, North Dakota, Vermont, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. Residents of those areas will find this availability restriction an obstacle when looking for debt settlement services
• Credit score impact: Although debt settlement could alleviate severe debt, it is essential to note that it could have a negative impact on your credit score. Clients must stop making payments as the negotiation begins, resulting in lower credit scores. This impact is an essential consideration for individuals looking for debt relief
• Lack of price transparency: Their website does not provide pricing or fee structure details, resulting in a lack of transparency. Customers interested in the services may struggle to understand the cost if prices are not displayed, resulting in unease and unforeseen financial consequences. This is why it is essential to contact the provider directly and read the terms of service to understand the details better
• Only offers debt settlement: Another limitation is the fact that they only offer debt settlement as a debt relief option. Therefore, individuals looking for other services, such as debt consolidation loans or credit counseling, cannot work with this provider

The User Experience at CSS

Century Support Services has demonstrated their dedication to exceptional service by being accredited and receiving an A+ rating from the BBB. Their 4.9 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot and 4.7 out of 5 rating on Google reviews demonstrate their excellent track record for satisfying customers and providing quality service.

Positive feedback

According to customer reviews, the services offered by CSS met their needs. Many were pleased with the personalized care they received from Century's personnel, who provided constant flexibility and advice based on each client's unique situation. Customers also appreciated the thorough explanations of the debt settlement process and the company's comprehension of their financial condition, which they credited to the company's dedication to openness and understanding.

The employees at Century were praised for their expertise, friendliness, and professionalism, which helped customers feel at ease and secure in their choice to seek help. In addition, customers praised the client portal for its ease of use, which lets them monitor their accounts and progress in real-time. Overall, CSS earned customer satisfaction by delivering efficient solutions and outstanding service during the debt settlement process.

Critical feedback

Regarding negative reviews, customers often express dissatisfaction with how their funds were handled, citing instances where funds were taken out of their accounts without their knowledge or agreement, causing refund delays and other inconveniences. Some customers expressed dissatisfaction with Century's overall cost-effectiveness and stated that the unexpected fees and expenses outweighed the potential savings from the program.

Customers also raised concerns about being misled and unhappy with the results of their agreements, which made them question CSS's debt settlement approach. Additionally, there were complaints about a lack of transparency and communication, leading to disappointment and financial setbacks. Furthermore, customers complained about the customer support and service they received, citing a lack of response and insufficient help.

Despite the significance of these reviews, CSS took a proactive approach and addressed and resolved most of them by offering solutions and untangling any confusion the customer may have experienced.

What Customer Support Options Do They Offer?

You can contact their customer service team at [email protected] or 888-913-8784 from Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm EST. Additionally, they have a live chat feature available from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm (EST) Monday through Thursday and from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (EST) Friday.

This multi-channel support system ensures customers can quickly contact the company and get help within work hours.

A financial blog that educates individuals on how to manage their money and resolve and alleviate debt-related issues is available on their website, along with an entire section dedicated to providing resources for debt settlement. Additionally, they have multiple FAQ sections on their website with answers to common questions customers may have.

Final Assessment 

Century Support Services may be the fresh start you need if you are going through financial hardships. They focus on unsecured debt settlement and provide personalized debt settlement programs and negotiations to help their customers. While they boast many accreditations and certifications, such as an A+ BBB rating and certifications from the AFDR and IAPDA, certain limitations, such as minimum debt requirements and state availability, limit the number of people that can use their services. Despite receiving mixed feedback, CSS takes client complaints seriously and works hard to answer them, clarifying and resolving problems as they arise.

Depending on your specific financial situation and objectives, Century Support Services may or may not be the best option for you. To choose the best debt relief option, read reviews of top providers and use our comparison tool. On top of that, we keep readers more informed by publishing blogs about the debt relief industry.

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