Credit counseling sounds like a good thing. If the credit agency is sincerely concerned about the debtor then it's a good thing. However, if the credit agency is more concerned about a fee that is generated for them by consolidating the debt through their office, then it's a bad thing. |
I think it will create a lot more work for attorneys but there are some good aspects to it also, ... I hate to comment on what Congress did, but I really think in some ways the new laws are overkill. That would be my observation, frankly. |
It should be done in high school, ... That's when you ought to educate people on how to handle their bills. |
Now debtors will have to go through a very complicated process to determine if they have any money to pay their creditors, ... It involves looking at their monthly income for the past six months. |
That aspect is just now beginning to materialize and right now we don't know too much about how that will even work, ... There have not been any agencies approved for that yet. But, you have to complete that before you can get a discharge through bankruptcy. If you don't do it your discharge is not denied; it just doesn't move forward. So, there is some uncertainty about that right now. |
That will have to take place through the Internet or by telephone, which will create a hardship. The way I understand it these agencies are supposed to explain how people can pay their debts outside of bankruptcy, ... And in order to file you now have to have a certification that you have completed the credit counseling. |
They have made me look good through this entire process, ... They have handled all these additional filings and they are still dealing with the public and still getting their other work done. They are eating at their desk, staying late, coming in early and even volunteering to help this weekend just to help serve the public. Sometimes government offices get a bad rap but I can't say enough good things about my staff. |
three steps forward and four steps back. |
Under the new law before anybody can file for bankruptcy they will have to go through credit counseling through a credit counseling agency. And that's an agency approved by the U.S. Trustees office, |
You try to come up with a reasonable fee for the amount of work the attorney does, ... That fee has been $2,200 and it will now increase to $3,500. So, it is going to be more expensive to file bankruptcy beginning next week. |