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Frequently Asked Questions |
What courses do you offer?
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. 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. How much does the course cost?Pre-filing online $25 Telephonic $35 There are no other fees. Married couples filing jointly only pay one fee provided they can take the course together. I am married, does my spouse have to complete the course as well?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. Do I have to take the course online?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. What forms of payment do you accept?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. How long is the course?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). Do I have to complete the course in one sitting?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. How quickly can I receive a certificate of completion?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. How long is my certificate good for?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. Do you offer fee discounts for individuals who can't afford the course?Yes, fee discounts are available for both courses. For the pre-filing credit counseling course (the first course): For the post-filing debtor education course (the second course):
1) you have paid more than $600 to an attorney or legal service to assist you
with your bankruptcy case,
If you meet the poverty guideline requirement and none of the above apply, you will be eligible for a full waiver. To obtain a full or partial waiver, please click here, download the form, and email, fax, or mail it to us. In addition to the form, we require that you provide documentation of your income (e.g., recent pay stub, recent social security stub, etc.) We will respond to your request within three business days. (If you use a coupon code to receive a discount, the waiver amount will not be applied above and beyond the coupon code. The waiver amount will be applied toward the full price of the course.) What impact will the credit counseling course have on my credit report?The credit counseling course offered by Abacus has no impact on students' credit reports. Do you have any other affiliations or funding sources?No, we are not affiliated with nor do we receive funding or endorsements from any entities, including those mentioned in the courses. What are your hours?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) Sage Personal Finance (second course) What is your privacy policy?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. |
Course DetailsLearn about course costs, hours, and more. |
Course by PhonePrefer to do the course by phone? |
AttorneysAccess client certificates, request client handouts and more. |
ResourcesLearn how to improve your finances and maintain a good financial standing. |
Contact UsQuestions about the courses? Contact a customer service representative. |