Bankruptcy Counseling includes:
- Pre-filing Credit Counseling – credit.org is authorized by the Executive Office for U.S. Trustees (“EOUST”)* to provide Pre-filing Credit Counseling required by the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (“BAPCPA”) for anyone filing personal bankruptcy.
- Pre-discharge Debtor Education Counseling – BAPCPA also requires bankruptcy filers to complete a course on Personal Financial Management after filing for bankruptcy but before receiving a final discharge. Credit.org is an approved course provider.*
All credit.org counselors/educators providing these services have three to five years of experience in counseling, education, lending or a credit-related field. Credit.org’s counselors/educators are required to obtain certification through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, and continue to remain certified to offer these services.
Client/Debtor shall be issued counseling/debtor education certificates only upon completion of the instructional education as required by the BAPCPA. Credit.org offers counseling services in English and Spanish, interpreter assistance may also be available in other languages upon request.
Counseling services are available to any member of the community without regard to race, religion, national origin, gender, social position, handicap, financial status or ability to pay.
Fee Waiver & Fee Reduction Policy – For both Pre-filing Credit Counseling and Pre-discharge Debtor Education Counseling fees will apply, however fees may be waived or reduced if a client lacks the ability to pay the fee if the clients household current income is less than 150 percent of the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For purposes of this assessment, “client household” is defined as the individual client, spouse (unless the client is separated and not intending to file a joint bankruptcy petition) and any other dependents. To apply for a fee waiver or fee reduction we require the client to provide a copy of their most recent income statement or latest tax return which may be faxed to 951-783-1302 or emailed to bkfeedback@bkhelp.org upon completion of the course registration. Please include your client identification number along with your first and last name, household size and the course you are looking to complete. Once we have received the proper documentation we encourage you to contact us so we may confirm your request and continue with your counseling requirements.
Pre-filing Credit Counseling
The fee for Pre-filing Credit Counseling is $49.00 for counseling by telephone or in person and $45.00 over the internet. This fee is for either single or joint counseling. Credit.org has an obligation to provide a certificate of completion promptly within one (1) business day of completing the Pre-filing Credit Counseling course and will be valid one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of completion of counseling. We do not charge an additional fee to generate your certificate.
Credit.org receives funding from government entities and sponsored enterprises, foundations and corporations who support our counseling and educational services and programs, including voluntary contributions from creditors for clients enrolled in our debt management plans (“DMP”) which allow clients the opportunity to negotiate an alternate payment schedule regarding their unsecured debt. Involvement with a debt management plan could be reflected on a credit report in a favorable or unfavorable way according to creditor’s reporting policies.
If a DMP is considered which credit.org offers, a separate agreement and other documents will be provided and additional fees may be incurred which will be explained during the DMP enrollment process.
Credit reports are not impacted by obtaining pre-filing credit counseling through credit.org, and we will not disclose or provide any information discussed during credit counseling including the option of filing for bankruptcy unless authorized by the client or as required by law. However, if bankruptcy filing is elected, it will have negative effect on credit reports and bankruptcy does not remove inaccurate credit report information such as past delinquencies. In fact, bankruptcy is a matter of public record and will be reflected on clients’ credit reports.
Pre-discharge Debtor Education
The fee for Pre-discharge Debtor Education Counseling is $49.00 by telephone or in-person, or $35.00 through the internet. This fee is for either single or joint counseling. Credit.org has an obligation to provide a certificate of completion promptly within three (3) business days of completing the Pre-discharge Debtor Education course. We do not charge an additional fee to generate your certificate.
Credit.org does not pay or receive fees or other consideration for the referral of counseling or debtor education students. All information provided by a client is kept confidential unless authorized by the client or as required by law.
Internet Pre-discharge Debtor Education Counseling courses are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by accessing www.bkhelp.org. For Pre-discharge Debtor Education course availability by telephone and/or classroom education courses, please contact us at 888-425-3453. Clients must spend a minimum of two (2) hours participating in the Pre-discharge Debtor Education course.