The Bankruptcy Abuse, Prevention, and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 established a new set of rules for consumer bankruptcy filers. These new rules require the completion of a Credit Counseling course BEFORE filing for bankruptcy. In addition, you must complete a second financial education course (called a "Debtor Education" course) AFTER you have filed for bankruptcy and BEFORE the Court can approve your bankruptcy petition. The U.S. Department of Justice's Trustee Program reviews and ultimately approves those organizations that are authorized to offer these courses and issue official course completion certificates.
The DebtorWise Pre-filing Credit Counseling Course is approved to issue certificates in all states except Alabama and the Eastern & Western Districts of North Carolina.
The DebtorWise Debtor Education Course is approved to issue certificates in all states except Alabama.
The DebtorWise Pre-filing Credit Counseling Course is offered online and by telephone. If you choose to take the course on-line, click the "Get Started" button in the Credit Counseling box on our homepage to register. Please note, a follow-up phone call is required to verify your personal information before the course completion certificate can be issued to you. If you choose to take the course by telephone, please call (800) 870-2222 to speak with one of our friendly counselors to get started.
The DebtorWise Post-filing Debtor Education Course is offered online and by telephone. If you choose to take the course on-line, click the "Get Started" button in the Debtor Education box on our homepage to register. This course does not require a follow-up phone call because your course completion certificate will be automatically issued to you. If you choose to take course by telephone, please call (800) 870-2222 to speak with one of our friendly counselors to get started.
The Pre-filing Credit Counseling On-line Course is $25. For Joint Filers, a modest $5 service fee is added for processing the second course completion certificate.
The Post-filing Debtor Education On-line Course is $15. For Joint Filers, a modest $5 service fee is added for processing the second course completion certificate.
The Pre-filing Credit Counseling Telephonic Course is $34.95. For Joint Filers, a modest $5 service fee is added for processing the second course completion certificate.
The Post-filing Debtor Education Telephonic Course is $24.95. For Joint Filers, a modest $5 service fee is added for processing the second course completion certificate.
YES. With so many consumer bankruptcy filers without jobs and having difficulty even paying their bankruptcy filing fees, DebtorWise believes that it is crucially important that the bankruptcy education community assists its most indigent clients with no-hassle fee waivers.
At DebtorWise, we are honored to assist the most financially distressed during their time of need. DebtorWise simply requires that you send an email to FeeWaiver@DebtorWise.org (be sure to copy in your attorney) or fax to (800) 504-0392 a brief summary (one or two paragraphs) that includes your contact information and explains your financial difficulties and then send a copy to your attorney. Within a couple of hours of receiving this information, DebtorWise will send an access code that will allow you to take the Credit Counseling and Debtor Ed courses without submitting a payment.
DebtorWise is pleased to extend its generous fee waiver policy to active military personnel and military veterans that must take the post-filing Debtor Education course. We appreciate the sacrifices made by military personnel and their families in serving our nation and feel priviledged to waive this fee. DebtorWise simply requests that military filers email FeeWaiver@DebtorWise.org or fax to (800) 504-0392 a brief summary (one or two paragraphs) that includes your contact information, a description of your financial situation, and specification of your military service. A copy of this note should also be sent to your attorney. Within a couple of hours of receiving this information, DebtorWise will send an access code that will allow you to take the Debtor Education course without submitting a payment.
On-Line Courses: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recommends that you take approximately 90 minutes to complete the Pre-filing Credit Counseling course. The amount of time that you spend on the course is carefully monitored by our DOJ approved software. Afterwards, you must verify your personal information with a certified Credit Counselor. DebtorWise is then authorized by DOJ to issue an official course completion certificate that must be provided to your attorney before filing for bankruptcy.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) requires that you spend at least two hours to complete the Post-filing Debtor Education course. The amount of time that you spend on the course is carefully monitored by our DOJ approved software. The Debtor Education course is offered on-line and by telephone and does not require a follow-up phone call with a DebtorWise staff member. DebtorWise is authorized by DOJ to issue an official course completion certificate. It must be provided to your attorney before your bankruptcy petition can be approved by the Court.
Telephonic Courses: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recommends that you take approximately 90 minutes to complete the Pre-filing Credit Counseling course. Please contact our friendly staff at (800) 870-2222 to get started and an experienced DebtorWise counselor will assist you in fulfilling the course requirement.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) requires that you spend at least two hours to complete the Post-filing Debtor Education course. Please contact our friendly staff at (800) 870-2222 to get started and an experienced DebtorWise counselor will guide you through the course.
On-line Courses: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) allows you to complete each course with frequent interruptions. In fact, you can log in and out to complete the courses at your convenience over several days. Simply click the "Returning User Login" button on the DebtorWise home page and enter the user name and password that you created during the initial registration process. Remember, you are required to answer a personal security question before you are allowed to resume taking the course.
Telephonic Courses:
If you choose to take the Pre-Filing Credit Counseling course over the telephone, an experienced DebtorWise counselor will guide you through the course. It is highly recommended that you complete the course in one session. Please call (800) 870-2222 to get started or to answer any questions.
If you choose to take the Post-Filing Debtor Education course over the telephone, you will be able to log in and out of the course using the three digit access codes that are provided after the completion of each module (there are 10 modules). In this way, you can resume taking the course, without starting at the beginning, if your phone is disconnected or if it is more convenient to take the course over several sessions. Please call (800) 870-2222 to get started or to answer any questions.
No. If you have already completed the first course on-line, simply click "Returning User" at the log in box on our homepage, enter your user name and password and then select "proceed to 2nd course." At this point, you are simply required to enter your Bankruptcy Case ID number and submit your payment. This ensures a quick and easy registration process for the 2nd course.
If you have already completed the first course over the telephone and would like to take the second course, please call (800) 870-2222 to speak with one of our friendly counselors.
Both the on-line and telephonic versions of the DebtorWise Pre-filing Credit Counseling Course are offered in English and Spanish.
Both the on-line and telephonic versions of the DebtorWise Post-filing Debtor Education Course are offered in English and Spanish.
The methods of payment for the Pre-filing Credit Counseling Course and Post-filing Debtor Education Course include credit cards, electronic check transfer, and money order. DebtorWise accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
During registration, you can select from the following delivery methods: email, fax, regular mail, attorney email, and/or attorney fax.
During normal business hours, certificates are sent via email within a couple of hours. If you request that your certificate be delivery by fax, certificates are typically sent within the day. If you request delivery by the U.S. postal service, certificates typically arrive within 3-4 business days.
YES. As a convenience to bankruptcy attorneys, DebtorWise offers free access to our proprietary client data management system. This enables your attorney to monitor the issuance of your Pre-filing Credit Counseling and Post-filing Debtor Education course completion certificates. It also offers a convenient payment service for those attorneys that pre-pay the course fees of their clients. To sign up, simply click the "Attorney Registration" button at the top of the DebtorWise home page. Registration is quick and easy. If you have any questions, please contact our attorney account specialists at (585) 563-7715.
The DebtorWise attorney access code is seven characters. It links your course completion certificates with your attorney’s DebtorWise client information management account. If you have an attorney access code, please enter it at the bottom of the first registration page where it says, "If you have an access code, please enter it here.
In this way, your attorney can monitor your progress in completing the bankruptcy education courses. In addition, you can specify that a copy of your course completion certificates be sent to your attorney's DebtorWise client information management account.