Online credit counseling

[OldandPoor]

So I decided to just pay for the credit counseling rather than try to get the fee waived. When I brought that up in my filing thread. justbroke recommended that I could ask the counseling company if they would waive the fee. I scoffed thinking that was funny that any for profit business would waive the fee.

I started looking today as I need to get this done to file this week and so far (barely started looking) I did find two companies that do give an option for fee waiver.

It looks like you send them some basic info (same stuff you will be giving to the court) and they might waive the fee. I am pretty sure I would qualify since I am very poor right now with no income at all.

I think I will send them an email to see if I qualify but I am wondering if one of them offers the class I need. I found them here on the government website https://www.justice.gov/ust/list-cre...ant-11-usc-111

In checking their site, they indicate they are approved specifically in 2 states that appear to have a different way of doing some of the BK stuff (North Carolina and Alabama). Can I assume since they are on a government provided list that they are also valid for Michigan? I did search correctly with my court and state. After reading their site a bit more I also found that part of the class requires a phone call which I was hoping it was a complete online thing. I don't want to talk to anybody right now phone or otherwise.

Looked at another and they also offer to possibly waive the fee. I am kind of shocked here and wonder what their financial incentive is to do this. I am sure it gets written off but this one wants more info (tax return) so maybe they can sell the info, I don't know. Most business don't do much out of the kindness of their heart, so I am looking for motive here. I get the feeling that since I found two that offer that possible option already. more probably offer it as well. I am looking for the least expensive online course in my search. So far the best I have found is 15.00.

Has anyone had a cheap online service they have used that they they were happy with? Anyone had luck getting the fee waived and if so how long was the process?

After I finish my search I will email the ones I find offering to waive the fee since I can't supply most of what they want (no tax return since I am not required to file) stuff like that. The only thing I have is a few W-2s where I made a few grand last summer. I mean, I don't want to wait but, I might as well inquire to see what they say. It is not like I have anything better to do!

I am determined to get the filing process going this week by Thursday as I want to see (hopefully) that everything is accepted by Friday so I don't have to wonder over the weekend.

I will update with the responses I get here from the companies regarding a waiver so it might help someone else down the road and my ongoing thread will also be in the Pro Se section.


Dan

[justbroke]

They are required to offer waivers because, to be an authorized provider, you must provider waivers to debtors who do not meet the 150% federal poverty guidelines.

Trust me, they make enough money as most people can afford the $50 (and typically must less) for both courses. Most debtors have stopped paying credit cards and a lot of money opens up really quick.

[OldandPoor]

I was wondering about that since there appears to be a way to get everything else at no charge if you are truely poor. I would not have been so skeptical had I known that it was required of them!

I sent off an email to a couple of them and will report back if they reply.

[OldandPoor]

After putting it off (I'm really good at that) went through and found a place that does it for 12.00, Moneysharp.org. The stuff was real straight forward common sense stuff. A lot of perfect world stuff but that is to be expected!

They did show me a payoff scenario I had never seen before that seemed cool! Bascially you pay an extra 100.00 per month and reduce your debts one debt at a time. The kicker is you keep paying the same monthly amount (+100.00) until everything is paid off (all they way through your last in line debt, which is your mortgage). Looked like you could get stuff paid off quickly with by sticking to it and having some money!

I found out that most places seemed to want you to call and this place said it was a federal requirement. If it is then some places were lying and would probably tell you once you paid (or they were ignoring the law).

I call tomorrow, then triple check everything and start my upload!

Dan