It’s a week of huge milestones for the Clark Howard Team!
Thursday, February 1, 2018 marked the 25th anniversary of the Consumer Action Center, the hub of volunteers who help consumers find answers to their most vexing questions. Also, Friday, February 2, will make 20 years of syndication for Clark’s radio show.
Clark’s Consumer Action Center turns 25
Clark says that in the early days of his show, people would call in for answers, but many couldn’t get through. “That was always frustrating to me, because one thing you know I hate is customer no-service.”
To aid consumers who often faced a labyrinth of obstacles when trying to get answers from large companies, Clark said he was determined to create a resource for everyday people.
Consumer Action Center: How it all began
Clark said that he got the idea for the Consumer Action Center (CAC) from a similar initiative he’d heard about at a TV station in Denver, Colorado. “So I flew out to Denver and when I saw it, I knew it was exactly the idea that I wanted to accomplish,” he said.
It took about four years for him to get things in place in Atlanta, but although his work space then was little more than a closet, the center had an immediate impact on the public when it went live in 1993. Originally starting with just a handful of people, over the course of a quarter century, scores of helpers have joined the CAC, volunteering their time and expertise to help consumers find real solutions and save money.
Today, more than 70 people — many very accomplished retired professionals like builders, CPAs and Fortune 500 executives — take calls during the week at the CAC. Almost to a person, they say that sharing their collective wealth of knowledge has been just as rewarding for them as it is for people seeking help.
In 1998, Clark’s radio show went into national syndication, bringing his money-saving tips and advice to hundreds of stations around the country. From the Equifax data breach to simple advice on how to save money throughout the year, Clark continues to cover topics so that people can gain greater control of their financial lives.
Want to learn some Clark-approved methods of saving more of the money you make? You can also catch him on his podcast Looking for the latest bargains? Check out Clark Deals for the most up-to-date specials out there!
