The other one is the post-filing financial management course which is shorter and tends to cost less and can be done entirely on the internet without a telephone component.  This course is required before a discharge can issue. The certificate and in some judicial districts Form 23 a sworn certification that you took the class must be filed.  In Chapter 7 you must take the class within 45 days of the first setting of the creditors meeting. Some courts will close the case without a discharge if this deadline is not adhered to, requiring a motion to reopen and a new filing fee.

The good news is it is not a big deal.  It’s about an hour on the internet and then about ten minutes on the phone and you are done.   I provide a link on my website to Hummingbird Credit Counseling which does not even offer debt management plans so do not worry, no one will sell you a debt management plan that you do not want and cannot afford.  Another reason I use a counseling service that does not offer debt management plans is that if one is  developed during the counseling session you are required to file the plan together with the certificate in the bankruptcy court.  I think this is a bad idea because it could be used to argue that you could repay some debt.

Once you have done the phone call my office will download the certificate.  It is that simple.  I will pay for the credit counseling of all my clients as long as you use Hummingbird.

It is very easy to get the credit counseling and it serves no useful purpose, it is just a barrier set up to make it harder for your to file bankruptcy.