Can someone tell me about the credit counseling before filing?

[leo_075]

Hello,

What is involved in the credit counseling before filing BK? Do they work with the court to see if you're really needing to file, or just there so you don't have to file again in the future?

[cathywhite4495]

It's pretty easy. I did mine online. I had to take a quiz before I started. Then they went through a few screens of info, you fill in your income, expenses, and debt (you might want to gather that beforehand), and then you take an ending quiz. They emailed me my certificate and I was done.
I haven't taken the 2nd class yet.

[leo_075]

Thanks for the information. Wow, it's a two parter, huh? Hoping that we don't have to file, but it looks bleak and I think it's better to know what's ahead with filing if we have to. My husband is fighting it tooth and nail and we have "plan", I just hope it works. If our home forecloses, then we're toast.

Thanks again!
AD

[familyof7]

The first one has to be done before you file the other on after you file.

[qwertysue]

from Springboard, where we took ours:

...Any individual who files bankruptcy on or after October 17, 2005, must undergo these two mandatory requirements. They are:

Requirement 1: Pre-petition Counseling
An individual may not be a debtor unless they complete an individual "Budget Briefing Session" with an approved, Nonprofit Budget and Credit Counseling Agency, during the 180-day period preceding the date of filing the bankruptcy petition. A certificate of completion must be obtained once they have completed the Budget Briefing Session in order to file a bankruptcy petition.



Requirement 2: Debtor Education Course
Once an individual has completed their Budget Briefing Session and filed their bankruptcy petition, that individual must complete an approved personal financial management instructional course by an approved educational provider before they can be eligible to receive a bankruptcy discharge.

************
At our 341 the Trustee confirmed with us that we took the courses. He had dismissed several pro se filers for NOT having completed the courses.

.

[leo_075]

Thank you all for the info!

[dpickrn]

http://www.helpwithbills.org

The second portion is to "supposedly" educate you how to not make poor financial choices in the future.

I recommend this company. It was quick, easy and painless plus my certificate was generated as a PDF file immediately after I completed the lesson, and they will fax it directly to your attorney as well. They also were able to process payment from a checking account verses needing a credit card.


American Debtor Educators On-Line

http://www.debtor-ed.com

1385 Kelton Avenue, Suite 104
Los Angeles, CA 90024

310-477-9982

The course costs $50.00 for an individual, $65.00 for a married couple (filing jointly).

[Boscoe]

Try also freshstartonline.org. $50 (single or joint filing) each for the counseling (pre-filing) and financial mgt. course (post-filing).

[guzzie]

easiest courses you will ever take....good luck

[monkey hands]

in regard to the debtor ed class (2nd one) The following are some cheap online classes I've found:

www.a1education.net - $15.95
www.advantageclass.com - $17.50
www.personalfinanceeducation.com - $25.00

I think the first class is best to do in person. It's good to have someone talking with you to make sure you really want to take the bk jump - just my two cents....

[rissyroo]

I used Consumer Credit Counseling Service at the recommendation of my attorney. I did both of mine online and there's a place where you could put your lawyer's "Firm Code" so that the certificate is directly e-mail to them. The pre-filing took about 1-2 hours and cost $50 and the post-filing took longer at closer to 3 hours and you have to pass a quiz after each "chapter" and then a comprehensive quiz at the end (containing the same questions that you answered in the quick chapter quizzes); that cost $50 too. It was easy though. Their web site is www.CCS-express.org.

[leo_075]

thank you all SO MUCH!!! I will look into all of those. You are all so helpful here.

[Cassiopeia]

I used CCCS for pre-filing and did it by phone. Took about 45 minutes if I remember correctly. However for my pre-discharge course I did it online with that one mentioned above that is $17.50. I'm kinda sorry I paid $50 to CCCS, that was a lot for me to afford at that time. I would look for the most reasonable price on both courses. They are basically all the same, right? The different companies' courses, I mean.

[SinkingFast]

Be sure to check the list of Credit Counseling Agencies approved by the DOJ for your State:

http://www.usdoj.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/ccde/cc_approved.htm

[6ftladycop]

Hello,

What is involved in the credit counseling before filing BK? Do they work with the court to see if you're really needing to file, or just there so you don't have to file again in the future?

I have to tell you about my experience with www.freshstartonline.org because the credit counseling class that I took online for the beginning of the bankruptcy filing procedure is the same place I used for the Debtors Education class online needed for the discharge at the end of the bankruptcy procedure. The information about myself that I learned was so facinating, that I am applying some of those principals right now as we speak. Just hearing about all the things that I will be able to do once the case is over is facinating in itself, but they send you workbooks and everything. Now that was a wonderful experience. The books tell you how to rebuild your credit, how to get a car later on down the line, how to stay out of debt and a whole bunch of stuff...lol