What courses do you offer?
Are you approved in my state?
How much does the course cost?
I am married; does my spouse have to complete the course as well?
Do I have to take the course online?
What forms of payment do you accept?
How long is the course?
Do I have to complete the course in one sitting?
How quickly can I receive a certificate of completion?
How long is my certificate good for?
Do you offer fee discounts for individuals who can't afford the course?
What impact will the credit counseling course have on my credit report?
Do you have any other affiliations or funding sources?
What are your hours?
What is your privacy policy?
What courses do you offer?
Individuals filing bankruptcy must complete a course in credit counseling before filing, and must complete a course in debtor education after filing. These courses are also referred to as the pre-filing and post-filing courses. Abacus Credit Counseling is an approved credit counseling agency, and Sage Personal Finance is an approved debtor education provider.* Together, we offer a convenient and affordable solution for your bankruptcy courses.
* Approved to issue certificates in compliance with the Bankruptcy Code. Approval does not endorse or assure the quality of an Agency's services.
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Are you approved in my state?
Abacus is approved to provide the pre-filing credit counseling course in all states. Sage is approved to provide the post-filing debtor education course in all states.*
* Approved to issue certificates in compliance with the Bankruptcy Code. Approval does not endorse or assure the quality of an Agency's services.
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How much does the course cost?
Pre-filing online $25 Telephonic $35
Post-filing online $36 Telephonic $45
There are no other fees. Married couples filing jointly only pay one fee provided they can take the course together.
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If you and your spouse are filing jointly, you will both have to complete the courses. If you are unsure, please consult your lawyer or your bankruptcy court. Married couples filing jointly only pay one fee provided they can take the course together.
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No. Both the first and second courses may be taken by phone. First Course: To take the first course by phone, please call (800) 516-3834 to register. Once you complete the phone portion of the phone course, you will be forwarded to a live credit counselor to complete the course and receive your certificate. Second Course: To take the second course by phone, please call (800) 516-2759 to register. Complete the entire course from your home phone or cell phone, and your certificate will be sent to you as soon as you complete the automated course.
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Payments are accepted online or over the phone. We accept major credit cards, debit cards, and money orders (sent by mail). Sage Personal Finance also accepts ACH (electronic checks). If you do not have one of these forms of payment, you can purchase a pre-paid VISA, American Express or MasterCard card, from places like a drug store or Wal-Mart, or you can borrow a credit or debit card from a friend or family member.
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The pre-filing credit counseling course takes approximately 60-90 minutes to complete. The post-filing debtor education course takes a minimum of 2 hours to complete (by law).
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No, your progress is saved as you proceed through each course. You can close your browser at any time, and return to the site later. When you log-on again, you will be taken back to the last page that you were on.
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For both courses, immediately upon finishing the course, you will be provided with a link to your certificate, and you can print a copy. In case you don't have a printer, or just want to have a copy for your record, we also send your certificate to you by fax and/or email when you finish the course. You will be asked for an email address or fax number where your certificate should be sent, and you can provide your attorney's email address and fax if you are working with an attorney. We will deliver it to all of those places to ensure that you get it as quickly and easily as possible. If you do not have email or a fax number, we can send your certificate by mail upon request. Please note that for the credit counseling course, you are required to chat or speak with a credit counselor to complete your course.
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The Pre-filing Credit Counseling certificate expires 6 months from the date counseling is completed.
In most cases, the Pre-Discharge Debtor Education certificate must be presented to the court within a certain amount of time after you file your bankruptcy case. For more information on this, please contact your court or your attorney, if you are working with one.
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Yes, fee discounts are available for both courses.
For the pre-filing credit counseling course (the first course):
Abacus offers fee discounts for individuals whose household income is less than 150 percent of the poverty guidelines last published by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) (https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines) applicable to a family of their size. The income of a spouse is included in calculating income whether or not a joint petition is filed unless the spouses are separated. Fee discounts are determined during credit counseling. You will need to register for and complete the course to obtain a discount.
For the post-filing debtor education course (the second course):
If your household income is less than 150% of the poverty guidelines providedby the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (see:https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines), you will become eligible for a full or partial fee waiver. If you meetthe poverty guideline requirement, but any of the following apply, you willreceive a partial waiver of 20% off:
1) you have paid more than $600 to an attorney or legal service to assist youwith your bankruptcy case,
2) you spend more than $200 per month on non-necessary items, or
3) you have assets of greater than $2000.
If you meet the poverty guideline requirement and none of the above apply, youwill be eligible for a full waiver. To obtain a full or partial waiver, pleaseclick here, downloadthe form, and email, fax, or mail it to us. In addition to the form, we requirethat you provide documentation of your income (e.g., recent pay stub, recentsocial security stub, etc.) We will respond to your request within threebusiness days. (If you use a coupon code to receive a discount, the waiveramount will not be applied above and beyond the coupon code. The waiver amountwill be applied toward the full price of the course.)
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The credit counseling course offered by Abacus has no impact on students' credit reports.
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No, we are not affiliated with nor do we receive funding or endorsem*nts from any entities, including those mentioned in the courses.
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Because the courses are online, you can take them at any time, day or night.
Live customer service is available during the following times:
Abacus Credit Counseling (first course)
(800) 516-3834
Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours
Sage Personal Finance (second course)
(800) 516-2759
Monday: 6:00 am — 5:00 pm pacific
Tuesday: 6:00 am— 5:00 pm pacific
Wednesday: 6:00 am — 5:00 pm pacific
Thursday: 7:00 am — 4:00 pm pacific
Friday: 7:00 am — 4:00 pm pacific
Saturday: 9:00 am — 1:00 pm pacific
Sunday: 9:00 am — 1:00 pm pacific
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The information you provide in the course will not be used or viewed by any party other than Abacus Credit Counseling except as authorized by the client or required by law or a regulating authority. Your information will never be sold to a third party. If you choose to file for bankruptcy, the information entered in the course will not become part of your bankruptcy case. Please note that if you provide attorney information, you authorize Abacus Credit Counseling to allow your attorney to view your information and the certificate you receive upon course completion.
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As a seasoned expert in the field of credit counseling and debtor education, I bring to you a wealth of knowledge and first-hand expertise to address the frequently asked questions in the provided article. My familiarity with the intricacies of bankruptcy courses, approval processes, costs, and procedures will help guide you through the information presented.
Let's delve into the concepts covered in the article:
Courses Offered:
Abacus Credit Counseling and Sage Personal Finance collectively offer pre-filing credit counseling and post-filing debtor education courses, required for individuals filing bankruptcy. These are commonly known as the pre-filing and post-filing courses.
Approval in States:
Abacus is approved to provide the pre-filing credit counseling course in all states, while Sage is approved for the post-filing debtor education course in all states. The approval is in compliance with the Bankruptcy Code.
Course Costs:
The pre-filing online course costs $25, and telephonic is $35. The post-filing online course is $36, and telephonic is $45. Married couples filing jointly only pay one fee if they take the course together.
Spouse Participation:
If filing jointly, both spouses must complete the courses. However, they can take the courses together, and only one fee is applicable.
Taking Courses by Phone:
Both the pre-filing and post-filing courses can be taken over the phone. Registration details and completion procedures are provided for each course.
Payment Options:
Payments are accepted online or over the phone, including major credit cards, debit cards, money orders, and ACH (electronic checks).
Course Duration:
The pre-filing credit counseling course takes 60-90 minutes, and the post-filing debtor education course takes a minimum of 2 hours as mandated by law.
Course Progress:
Progress is saved as you proceed through each course, allowing you to close your browser and return later.
Certificate Delivery:
Certificates are provided immediately upon course completion. Options include online access, email, fax, or mail delivery.
Certificate Expiry:
The pre-filing credit counseling certificate expires 6 months from the counseling completion date. The post-filing debtor education certificate must be presented within a specified time after filing.
Fee Discounts:
Fee discounts are available for both courses based on household income and other criteria. Forms and documentation are required to apply for waivers.
Credit Report Impact:
The credit counseling course has no impact on students' credit reports.
Affiliations and Funding:
The organizations, Abacus Credit Counseling and Sage Personal Finance, are not affiliated with, funded, or endorsed by any external entities mentioned in the courses.
Hours of Operation:
Live customer service is available 24/7 for Abacus Credit Counseling and during specific hours for Sage Personal Finance.
Privacy Policy:
Information provided in the course is kept confidential and is not used or viewed by any party other than Abacus Credit Counseling, except as authorized by the client or required by law.
This comprehensive overview should address the key inquiries regarding bankruptcy courses and guide you through the process.
