credit counseling before filing?

[InLimbo]

btw it was called hummingbired credit

[CAB_44]

yes hummingbird credit was one of the cheaper ones...but my attorney said that they had a tendancy to be slow at sending your certificate.....
how was your experience?!

[Bobby'sGirl]

I used CCCS of Atlanta online last Wednesday.

The same one SinkingFast used. My session was quite short, actually less than an hour. I already had my expenses list prepared for my attorney plus they can import most of your creditors and info from your credit report with your social security number and a "proof of identity" question. The $50 fee came right out of my checking account and the completed certificate was sent via email to my attorney and to me in 24 hours.

[lrprn]

yes hummingbird credit was one of the cheaper ones...but my attorney said that they had a tendancy to be slow at sending your certificate.....
how was your experience?!

We used Hummingbird Credit Counseling and Education before we filed too. We finished the online part on a Sunday (took about an hour), made the toll-free call to speak with the reviewer on Monday morning (took 15 minutes), and our lawyer had our certificates by Weds.

The two approved online required counseling websites that are consistently mentioned the most favorably online in bk forums and blogs are Hummingbird at http://www.hummingbirdcreditcounseling.org/ and CCCSAtlanta at http://www.cccsatl.org/index.asp?_me...md=bankCounsel .

[InLimbo]

we were never required to do a on the phone session. Once I printed off my certificate from the internet...that was it. It took me about an hour to put everything in, then instantly I printed my certificate. Took it to my lawyer and he didn't ask for anything else. Did I miss sometime I was suppose to do?

[lrprn]

we were never required to do a on the phone session. Once I printed off my certificate from the internet...that was it. It took me about an hour to put everything in, then instantly I printed my certificate. Took it to my lawyer and he didn't ask for anything else. Did I miss sometime I was suppose to do?

No worries, InLimbo. Pre-filing bk credit counseling agencies can do things differently. As long as the organization you used is on the Dept of Justice's US Trustee Program list of approved agencies for your state, you're fine. To check - here's the link, just click on your state: http://www.usdoj.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/ccde/cc_approved.htm .

[InLimbo]

Thanks so much Irprn! I will note down to ask my lawyer about this before we file just to make sure.

[GoingUnderInNV]

So, what do the credit counselling companies do with the info??

So, I'm just curious here... What exactly do all these credit counselling agencies do with all this private financial info you're sending them? Do they sell their client lists to marketers or these "You're Pre-Qualified!" credit card marketing companies?

I'm having some hesitation giving out this kind of personal info...

[6ftladycop]

You have to do Credit Counseling before filing BK.

After you file, and before you're dischaged, you have to do Debtor Education Classes.

You can find DOJ approved agencies here:

http://www.usdoj.gov/ust/

Right hand side. Bankruptcy Reform Box. Second line.

I received a letter that says before discharge is complete, I have to take Debtor Education post BK class. After I take this class and receive the certificate from Fresh Start Debtor Education, I took the first one down there to lawyers with my petition, however can I mail this in or should I just go back to the bankruptcy Clerks office and turn it in personally? and after that, will I only be waiting for a discharge or is there something else after the class and the discharge of all debts?

[Lindsay]

If a married couple file together, do you both have to have separate credit counseling phone sessions?

[lrprn]

If a married couple file together, do you both have to have separate credit counseling phone sessions?

You each need to complete the credit counseling and get a certificate before filing, but most approved agencies offer joint sessions where you both listen in and participate during the call at the same time and charge one joint fee (usually around $50).

Same deal for the required finacial management course after filing but before discharge.

[cathywhite4495]

My first session was all online. I didn't have to talk to anybody and it seemed like it went by pretty fast. I only had 1 wrong on the pretest (probably owing to all my reading about BK )
I'm waiting until after my 341 to do the 2nd session. I've heard that it's longer and probably more useful than the first.

[Misha707]

I just finished my second course about a week ago, my lawyer recommended this one:

http://www.hummingbirdcreditcounseling.org/

Just because it charges less than the others, only $19 where most are $50. You can pay by credit/debit card, or pay pal.

I actually got more out of it that I expected. It was all online, you watch a video and look for 5 code words to prove you watched it, then take the test and you're done. Took a little over an hour.

You're supposed to choose to get your certificate by email, fax, or snail mail. I put in both email and snail mail addresses and they sent both.