Atlanta
(2008-09-23)
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Those seeking debt counseling with Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta last month had an average household income of about $49,000. Compare that to August of last year when the average was about $40,000.
"It's an increasingly middle class group of people who are getting in trouble now."
John McCosh is with CCCS. He says the agency has seen a 39% increase in the past year of people seeking assistance. Many are turning to bankruptcy.
"As of July of this year, we'd had about 120,000 for pre-file bankruptcy."
McCosh says clients are paying 25% more for their homes compared to last year, and 20 percent more for food and fuel compared to January.
Just to keep up with demand, CCCS has had to hire more credit counselors.
Jim Burress, WABE News.
© Copyright 2009, WABE
