IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT CREDIT AND DEBTOR EDUCATION COUNSELING
Two sessions of counseling must be completed. These may be done either over the Internet or by phone. Our experience has shown it is generally cheaper and easier for most of our clients to do this over the Internet. If you cannot obtain Internet access, then you must do this by phone. The credit counseling must be done before we can file your case. After your case is filed, you will receive a bankruptcy case number. This will be needed to complete the debtor education counseling. This second session must be completed for the court to grant a discharge of your debts. Each time a session is completed a certificate verifying completion must be sent to our office and filed with the court. The counselor will forward these materials to us; however, it is your responsibility to make sure that the certificates are received in our office. Completed certificates may be sent by fax (618-549-0141) or e-mail: help@bankruptcy-clinic.com.
- The first counseling session must be completed in order for us to file your case.
- If the second counseling session is not done, the court will not enter an order discharging your debt. You are responsible for making sure we have the certificate.
- Additional fees apply for these services. The fees from each provider vary. These fees are not included as part of your bankruptcy case.
- We do not utilize an "attorney code" (for payment through us) with any of these agencies. You must pay the provider directly, usually by authorization to pay via a debit card or electronically from your checking/savings account.
RECOMMENDED COUNSELORS FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
The Southern District of Illinois Bankruptcy Court has approved several hundred counseling agencies. As a courtesy to our clients, we have filtered through these numerous agencies to narrow down the following recommended programs which we believe provide the best value and service for our clients.
CREDIT COUNSELING COURSES - INTERNET ONLY
| ConsumerBankruptcyCounseling.info | $5 per person |
CREDIT COUNSELING/DEBTOR EDUCATION COURSES - INTERNET OR PHONE
| Cricket Debt Counseling | 866-719-0400 | $36 - credit counseling $24 - debtor education |
| A123 Credit Counselors, Inc. | 888-412-2123 (Credit Counseling) | $30 - credit counseling $17.50 per person - debtor education (Internet only) |
| Abacus Credit Counseling | 800-516-3834 | $25 - credit counseling (Internet) $35 - credit counseling (phone) $35 - debtor education (Internet) $45 - debtor education (phone) |
| Hananwill Financial Education Services | 877-544-4640 (Credit Counseling) 866-544-5557 (Debtor Education) | $29 - credit counseling $35 - debtor education |
| Alliance Credit Counseling Inc. | 888-594-9596 | $29 - each session (indiv. - Internet) $39 - each session (joint - Internet) $49 - credit counseling (indiv. - phone) $59 - credit counseling (joint - phone) $65 - debtor education (indiv. - phone) $85 - debtor education (joint - phone) |
| The Kingdom Ministries | 901-552-5131 | $30 per household (each session) |
| Hummingbird Credit Counseling and Education, Inc. | 800-645-4959 | $49 - credit counseling $17.50 per person - debtor education |
| CredAbility | 866-672-2227 | $50 - each session |
| Institute for Financial Literacy | 866-662-4932 | $50 - each session |
| GreenPath, Inc. | 800-630-6718 | $50 - each session |
| Money Management International Inc. | 877-918-2227 (Credit Counseling) 866-745-2227 (Debtor Education) | $50 - each session |
| Springboard Nonprofit Consumer Credit Management Inc. | 800-425-3453 | $45 - credit counseling (Internet) $55 - credit counseling (phone) $35 - debtor education (Internet) $45 - debtor education (phone) |
DEBTOR EDUCATION COURSES - INTERNET ONLY
| $10DebtorEducation | 877-601-4141 | $10 per person |
| Ypside.com | 313-444-9774 | $15 per household |
| a 24/7 Bankruptcy Class | 888-412-2123 | $17.50 per person |
| Dave Ramsey's Debtor Education | 888-227-3223 | $25 per individual $40 per couple |
