More Than Wheels

The More Than Wheels Program consists of the following services:

Screening

More Than Wheels completed an analysis of 750 clients to better understand what the characteristics of successful clients are.  Based on this analysis, the screening process was modified to best evaluate the characteristics of WAMI.  Successful clients have been shown to have: 1)  Willingness to make changes (open to making different financial decisions on their household budget); 2) Ability to read, write and do simple math or have access to someone to help them (they must repair all credit items themselves..with our guidance);  3) Motivation that extends past obtaining a car (educational aspirations, making their children proud, obtaining better employment); and 4) Initiative to do the work necessary to attend financial education classes, repair their credit, and prove they can make an on time car payment

Behavior Change Intervention

MTW client-facing employees have a unique blend of skills:  being able to read people at an emotional level, give praise and encouragement, tough love when warranted, and a shoulder to cry on from time to time. The skills and support for people who will almost always “fall off the wagon” are critical in attaining an intervention that will provide long-term success.  The “practice” of having to personally repair all negative credit items (with support and tools from More Than Wheels), and proving through a monthly saving requirement that an on-time car payment can be made enhances a client's new mode of decision making. Principals of successful behavior change such as frequent reinforcement of positive behaviors and patience with multiple relapses into former behaviors are important elements of this intervention.

Financial Education

Rather than espousing theories or high level advice, More Than Wheels' financial education program is practical and hands on, requiring completion of homework each week. It is a combination of lectures, templates and tools, and interactive participation with others in a similar situation.  Clients gain confidence and understand that they are “not alone”.  Each client must track their income and expenses daily for five weeks. New ways to go about decision making and understanding choices is stressed.  In the end only the MTW clients can control how they manage their money.  The program brings the entire family into the classroom – with an understanding that it takes the entire family to make a commitment to change the way they make financial decisions. In addition to the specific financial skills gained, clients gain a renewed sense of self-confidence that has taken a beating from the many collections calls and loss of financial freedom caused by poor credit.

Car Selection

Selecting the right car is critical to long term success.  The car selected must be reliable (new or certified used), and the car payment must include a warranty as part of the car payment. The quality of the car and incorporating as many costs as possible into the car payment is critical for success.  In the early stages of changing their financial decision-making, clients need the reliability of one payment that includes as many of the transportation costs as possible. The problem with using a $4,000 to $6,000 used car is that the repair costs must be saved for, which often can derail all of the work and expense of the behavior change intervention. Clients receive follow-up support for the life of the loan, including tracking credit score, and credit activity and offering additional counseling as needed.  If a client's financial situation has changed we assist them to get out of their car loan without damaging the work they have done on their credit. Having the right car makes all of this possible.