pre-filing counseling and privacy

[IOIOIO]

Thanks for the information about an actual experience. It's good to know the social security number isn't required, and I can only presume the same about birth date and lawyer. I'm still on the fence with this place: they look ok, but I can't tell yet if their system will allow me to register without supplying the info I don't want them to have unnecessarily. I'm going the next step with them because I've already given them my name and address on the telephone in order to obtain their counseling fee waiver application, based on my income. I'm now waiting on that form. If not for that, I'd have only dealt with them online and not encountered the person on the telephone who kept suggesting I register with him on the phone. I was only reluctant to register on the phone because of my concern for having to decide on the spot whether or not to give them requested info, but when his first question to me was for my birth date, I immediately insisted that registering online would be better for me, and he was ok with that.

Since they already have my home address (and perhaps phone number since I called their toll free number) I'm already subject to their junk mailing, if that's their game, so I'll see about their online counseling service if they waive my fee.

[FreshLikeADaisy]

IOIOIO, my strong suggestion to you is that you select another. I ran into a hard sell very similar to the one you describe, but in person, and it involved them getting me into a back room trying to force me into signing a bunch of stuff and giving up my SSN, which -- like you -- I was loath to do to begin with, and thank God I was. In the end, it was so ugly I filed a complaint with the DOJ about it.

But the next place I tried, an online place in Tampa, were just as wonderful as the first place was bad. AND they never wanted my SSN.

Seriously, find another. Some of these places are highly unethical, they make their money from "debt management" programs and funding from major creditors. I'm pretty sure that's why they wanted my SSN so badly; they wanted to strong-arm me into a lucrative DMP. There are even links to the FTC warnings about them on the DOJ page where you click to get to the place you choose your state and are then taken to the list (http://www.usdoj.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/ccde/index.htm). You were wise not to select that one.

I note that Hummingbird is one of the approved providers for California; I never used them but many people here have posted satisfactory experiences with them, for what it's worth.

Good luck!!!

P.S. I too was pro se with no problems -- I wish you well!

[IOIOIO]

I don't know which state you are from.

However,

Make sure your choice of who to take your classes through is approved by the gov't

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

My state is in my signature, and I specified that my question regards approved counseling places.

[Mi Bankruptcy]

I don't know which state you are from.

However,

Make sure your choice of who to take your classes through is approved by the gov't

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

[IOIOIO]

Are approved counseling places entitled to or required to collect the following items of personal information?

1) home phone
2) social security number
3) date of birth
4) acknowledgment of whether or not I have an attorney

For example, this place wants that info to sign up, but I don't want to give them one thing more than I have to, just on general principles. Maybe I'm wrong but I get a certain sense of a hard sell coming from these places, which implies to me that not only do they make money from their course fees (which is fine), but there's some follow-on marketing in store for anyone who signs up with them (which is not fine).