What to expect during the Pre Counseling through the Debt Service?

[rpg1977]

I am having my pre counseling session today over the phone to get my certificate. What can I expect? Will they try to talk us out of bankruptcy?

Thanks

(oh, Im filing ch 13)

[dingdong]

Why don't you just do it online?

Much easier, you don't have to talk to anybody.

I don't know what they ask you in the phone version, but it is basically just budgeting issues , how to use credit responsibly, blah, blah.

Nothing scary.

They probably read from a script in the phone version.

Just a post 2005 hoop to jump through.

[notadeadbeat]

I was scared too but it's no big deal. Don't be overwhelmed. You can't fail it!
I did mine online for 30.00 and then had to speak with a counsellor for a few minutes before they sent me the certificate. It really was not a big deal.

[Flowers]

Mine was actually very helpful.

We did a budget together over the phone, sans the credit card debt because it was being assumed I was filing Ch.7

We discussed how to keep track of expenses and she was very sympathetic to how I ended up in a BK in the first place.

good luck.

[SuzieBK]

We did an online course with a concluding phone call. The call was just verifying what we had input online and reading the analysis that was also provided online. Pretty silly. I asked my husband which politician's crony had a debt counseling business, wanted to increase business, and gave a little money to make it a requirement for bk.

Apparently the post course is even more ridiculous. You watch some videos and then write down words that are flashed on the screen. You then input the words and that's it.

[rpg1977]

Well, that was fast and easy. The website said it was going to take 90 minutes, so I was dreading it all day. It ended up being only 8 minutes long! She just verified all the numbers we inputted on the computer and said that the only plan they could come up with would cost us almost 3000 a month, so BK would be the best option. That was it. On one hand Im glad it went so fast, on the other, Im pissed that I had to pay $40 for something so dumb. Phew...

One step down...

[DustinLH00]

Can you guys recommend an online class. The last lawyer I talked to said I had to take a $100 phone course. I would much MUCH rather take a $30 online class. Does the class work for all states?

[lrprn]

Can you guys recommend an online class. The last lawyer I talked to said I had to take a $100 phone course. I would much MUCH rather take a $30 online class. Does the class work for all states?

You MUST take a course that's been approved by your state.

If you intend to file with a lawyer, don't do the pre-filing course now. Some lawyers include the course fee in their fees or provide the course themselves as an approved provider. No sense wasting the money now if you don't have to.

If your lawyer doesn't provide this service and doesn't roll the course fees into his/her fees, here's the link to the pre-filing credit counseling courses that have been approved by each state - http://www.usdoj.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/ccde/cc_approved.htm

Here's the link to the post-filing personal financial management (debt education) courses that that have been approved by each state - http://www.usdoj.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/ccde/de_approved.htm

[DustinLH00]

Thank you for the info!

You MUST take a course that's been approved by your state.

If you intend to file with a lawyer, don't do the pre-filing course now. Some lawyers include the course fee in their fees or provide the course themselves as an approved provider. No sense wasting the money now if you don't have to.

If your lawyer doesn't provide this service and doesn't roll the course fees into his/her fees, here's the link to the pre-filing credit counseling courses that have been approved by each state - http://www.usdoj.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/ccde/cc_approved.htm

Here's the link to the post-filing personal financial management (debt education) courses that that have been approved by each state - http://www.usdoj.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/ccde/de_approved.htm