Access Counseling, Inc. (the Agency) is required to disclose the following information prior to each Pre-filing Bankruptcy Credit Counseling (Credit Counseling) or the Post-filing/Pre-discharge Financial Management Instructional Course (Debtor Education Course):
Access is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides counseling and education to underserved populations with an emphasis on personal finance, money management, budgeting, and consumer credit and debt. As the country’s premier provider of Bankruptcy Pre-filing Budget and Credit Counseling and Post-filing/Pre-discharge Financial Management Instructional (Debtor Education Course), Access neither offers, nor are we affiliated with a Debt Management Program (DMP).
As mandated by federal law, federal rules, the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) Executive Office for U.S. Trustees (EOUST), the Bankruptcy Administrators of the Middle District, Northern District, and Southern District of Alabama, and the Eastern District, Middle District, and Western District of North Carolina, the pre-filing credit counseling course takes an average of 60 to 90 minutes to complete. The pre-discharge financial management instructional course (debtor education course) takes a minimum of 2 hours to complete.
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The fee for Credit Counseling is $18.95 via the Internet delivery method for single filers (additional $4.95 for joint) with chat and email support, $25.00 via the Internet delivery method for single filers (additional $4.95 for joint) with telephone, chat and email support, or $25.00 via the telephone delivery method for single filers (additional $10 for joint) with telephone support.
The fee for the Financial Management Instructional Course (Debtor Education Course) is $12.95 via the Internet delivery method for single filers (additional $4.95 for joint) with chat and email support, or $15.00 via the Internet delivery method for single filers (additional $4.95 for joint) with telephone, chat and email support, or $15.00 via the telephone delivery method for single filers (additional $10 for joint) with telephone support.
The fees listed above are for registrations made via the Internet. These fees include the delivery of the certificate via email. The Financial Management Instructional Course (Debtor Education Course) fee may include the standard electronic court filing of the Financial Management Instructional Course (Debtor Education Course) certificate.
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The following options and additional services are available for the following fees: expedited rush delivery of the certificate by fax for a fee of $12.95; expedited rush delivery of the certificate by email for a fee of $8.95; unlimited corrected and/or duplicate copies of the certificate by email for a fee of $19.95; delivery of the certificate by hard copy mail for a fee of $9.95; administration fee for $5.95; bankruptcy case monitoring for a fee of $7.95; receipt of the certificate sent by email for a fee of $8.95; receipt of the Financial Management Instructional Course (debtor education course) certificate filed electronically with the U.S. Court for a fee of $12.95; court records verification services for a fee of $16.95; alternative payment method convenience fee for $5.95; premium recordkeeping for a fee of $12.95; the expedited rush electronic delivery of the Financial Management Instructional Course (Debtor Education Course) certificate with the courts (within 6 hours) for a fee of $19.95; accessibility option of the Internet delivery method courses with audio-on feature for a fee of $12.95.
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The agency offers services without regard to a client’s ability to pay. Clients may obtain fee waivers or fee reductions based on their lack of ability to pay. The agency will determine if a client may qualify for fee waivers or fee reductions during the registration process by comparing the client’s state of residence, household size and income to the poverty guidelines as published by the US Department of Health and Human Services. A client will be granted a fee waiver or fee reduction upon written verification of their household size and income. Supporting documentation must be sent to: FeeWaiver@AccessCounselingInc.org. A client whose household income is above 150 percent of the poverty guidelines as published by the US Department of Health and Human Services, and therefore is not presumptively entitled to a fee waiver, may request a fee reduction either themselves or through their attorney. For assistance, the client may send an email message to FeeWaiver@AccessCounselingInc.org with an explanation of the special conditions impacting their ability to pay that may make the client eligible for a client needs-based fee reduction.
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For the client who feels they do not possess sufficient English language skills to successfully complete Credit Counseling or the Financial Management Instructional Course (Debtor Education Course), the agency offers Credit Counseling and the Financial Management Instructional Course (Debtor Education Course) in Spanish. For Spanish Internet Credit Counseling or the Financial Management Instructional Course (Debtor Education Course), please go to the agency’s website, or call (800) 205-9297 and then press # 3 for Spanish. To find another agency that may offer their services in a language other than English or Spanish, please go the following U.S. Department of Justice websites.
For Credit Counseling: http://www.justice.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/ccde/cc_approved.htm
For the Financial Management Instructional Course (Debtor Education): https://www.justice.gov/ust/list-approved-providers-personal-financial-management-instructional-courses-debtor-education
For clients in the State of Alabama and North Carolina, please send an email to Info@AccessCounselingInc.org
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Funding is provided by client fees for the services and programs offered to cover the cost of providing the service or program.
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The agency’s credit counselors and instructors all hold higher education degrees, are trained and certified in accordance with the standards of either the National Association of Certified Credit Counselors (NACCC), or the Center for Financial Certifications (CFC), and/or have experience in Credit Counseling and/or Personal Financial Education.
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Bankruptcy and various alternatives to bankruptcy discussed during Credit Counseling or the Financial Management Instructional Course (Debtor Education Course), including but not limited to debt management plans (DMP’s), debt settlement, or self-achieved work outs with creditors may have a negative impact on client credit reports.
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The Agency’s policy prohibits it from paying or receiving referral fees for the referral of clients, except under a fair share agreement.
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The Agency is obligated to provide a certificate to the client promptly upon the completion of Credit Counseling or the Financial Management Instructional Course (Debtor Education Course).
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Clients have the opportunity to negotiate an alternative payment schedule with regard to each unsecured consumer debt under terms as set forth in 11 U.S.C. 502(k). The Agency does not provide this service. The Agency may refer consumer clients to other approved agencies that provide this service, but clients may incur additional fees in connection to such a referral.
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The Agency might disclose client information to the United States Trustee and/or the Bankruptcy Administrators of the Middle District, Northern District, and Southern District of Alabama, and the Eastern District, Middle District, and Western District of North Carolina, in connection with their oversight of the agency, or during the investigation of complaints, during on-site visits, or during quality of service reviews.
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The United States Trustee and the Bankruptcy Administrators of the Middle District, Northern District, and Southern District of Alabama, and the Eastern District, Middle District, and Western District of North Carolina have reviewed only the agency's Credit Counseling and Financial Management Instructional Course (Debtor Education) Instructional Course pursuant to 11 U.S.C. 111(d)). The United States Trustee and the Bankruptcy Administrators of the Bankruptcy Administrators of the Middle District, Northern District, and Southern District of Alabama, and the Eastern District, Middle District, and Western District of North Carolina, have neither reviewed nor approved any other services the agency provides to clients.
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Clients will receive certificates only if the clients complete Credit Counseling or the Financial Management Instructional Course (Debtor Education Course) provided.