What's up with this stupid *(#$ing credit counseling?

[KevinR]

I've never seen such idiocy in my life. $50 so they can tell me I'm broke. Unbelivable.

According to the law you're supposed to get 90 minutes of couseling before filing BK right? HA! The lady I talked to spent maybe 15 minutes of random BS before saying that all she needs is $50 and I'll have my certificate. What a racket.

The means test accomplishes the same damn thing, the only possible reason for this new layer of BS is to line someone's pocket. But I digress.

Is there a way to get this stupid certificate for free? Surprisingly enough I don't really have a whole lot of extra cash laying around to waste on worthless pieces of paper.

[annikasaunt]

My Atty says the same thing. The entire counseling thing is bulls**t. He says what you did...just a way to get money for those who don't need it! The agency we used used to waive the fee because they were a non profit company, my atty told me to ask them to waive it and they don't do it for everybody now, just based on your income. I make too much money...go figure...so I had to pay the $50 to get that all important piece of paper.

[13inOR]

We didnt have to do that, is that only for filing chapter 7 maybe???
This is the first I have heard of it.

[SinkingFast]

You can check the list of approved CCA's at the DOJ website.

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

Check out the approved ones in your area.

When I was looking at ones for our area, some offered to do the counseling for free. Those were smaller, more local type CA's. There wasn't one near us and $50 was cheaper than driving over to the Counselor's office for the free face to face.

But you may get lucky and find one near you.

[SinkingFast]

We didnt have to do that, is that only for filing chapter 7 maybe???
This is the first I have heard of it.

It's for New Law filers, 13inOR.

We went with CCCS of Atlanta. They worked up a real nice packet full of all kinds of tips on budgeting and controlling expenses tailored to our specific situation.

[13inOR]

ohhhh, I see. Gotcha.

[FoolAndHisMoney]

It was designed to make bankruptcy a last resort. There's probably a very small percentage of debtors that owe only 10k to 15k or so and need their 30% interest rates and fees cut and the couseling may help them avoid bankruptcy by negotiating with creditors but that's about it. For the majority this is the biggest waste of time and money for the average debtor. The real kick in the ass is how debtors are forced into this with so many of them being investigated by the Government.

[jane taylor]

Fortunately we don't have to go through that due to Hurricane Katrina. They have waived the counseling for now. We talked to a credit counselor before filing BK and he couldn't help us! You're right. What a joke--like we really have $50.00 just lying around!

[NASCAR20FAN]

Yeah, that is the dumbest thing I have ever heard of! I paid $50.00 for pre-couseling, and now I'll have to pay another $35.00 for post! Hell between the money I paid for filing fees and the lawyer and counseling I'd almost be bertter of paying off some of my bills. But the sad truth is that I have a judgement and there is no way I'd have enough to pay that off

[SinkingFast]

Fortunately we don't have to go through that due to Hurricane Katrina. They have waived the counseling for now. We talked to a credit counselor before filing BK and he couldn't help us! You're right. What a joke--like we really have $50.00 just lying around!

This week was really tight. We finally collected together the $8100 we owed Uncle Sam for last year's taxes.

I was about to die thinking we'd have to limp thru to pay day on $100. I was checking to see if everyone had gas in the tank. One trip to the gas station can eat a chunk right there. Looking in the freezer and pantry to see if we can eat for a week until the eagle flies again.

And still gotta come up with money to pay attny's and filing fees.

There was manna from heaven in the mailbox today!! The extended warranty money from the truck we sold to pay our debt to the IRS, that shoulda took a month to 6 weeks to process, came in the mail today!! We are RICH!! At least for a little while anyway!!

[13inOR]

Hurray, glad to hear you are going to have enough money this week!! I love it when things work out!!!! It seems like just about when you think you can't deal with it any more, something goes your way! Thats what keeps us hanging on through all this.

[debtisbad]

I just did my credit counseling online. What a joke. 50 dollars so they could fax a certificate to my atty. This is such a racket. Thank you Mr. Bush!