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Samantha Hayes ReportingThe Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Utah is open for business again, even though the company and its president are under investigation for mismanaging money.
The Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Utah was restrained from doing business while state investigators tried to find out what happened to $64,000 owed to creditors. But today a judge ruled the state's evidence insufficient, and CCCS, at least for now, is open for business.
President and CEO Scott McCagno will open the doors of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service for business again, after a judge decided the state didn't have sufficient evidence to merit an emergency freeze on business.
Scott McCagno, Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Utah: “We are going to be open tomorrow, but I think the state has done a good job of discrediting us and I'm scared that we are going to go there and no one will believe in us anymore and we haven't' done what they've said."
The state started investigating after consumers called about bounced checks, and employees shared concerns about a $64,000 deficit in a trust account.
Francine Giani: “Our order was put together based on witness testimony. We feel comfortable with that."
Former employees testified the trust account was sometimes used to pay operating costs and then replenished. An additional trust account at Zions bank is $8,200 dollars in debt.
Jim Bradshaw, Attorney: “The question today was 'Was there a basis to come into someone's business take his car and take over the business and preclude him from participating?’"
And the judge said 'No,' the state shouldn't have done that. The State is continuing their investigation, asking any consumer who was with CCCS and has bounced checks to contact the State Fraud Division.
