What courses do you offer?
Are you approved in my state?
How much does the course cost?
I am married; does my spouse have to complete the course as well?
Do I have to take the course online?
What forms of payment do you accept?
How long is the course?
Do I have to complete the course in one sitting?
How quickly can I receive a certificate of completion?
How long is my certificate good for?
Do you offer fee waivers for individuals who can’t afford the course?
What impact will the credit counseling course have on my credit report?
Do you have any other affiliations or funding sources?
What are your hours?

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.

Back to top

Are you approved in my state?

Abacus is approved to provide the pre-filing credit counseling course in all states except Alabama and North Carolina. Sage is approved to provide the post-filing debtor education course in all 50 states.*

* Approved to issue certificates in compliance with the Bankruptcy Code. Approval does not endorse or assure the quality of an Agency’s services.

Back to top

How much does the course cost?

Pre-filing online $25
Post-filing online $35 Telephonic $45 By mail $45

There are no other fees. Married couples filing jointly only pay one fee provided they can take the course together.

Back to top

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.

Back to top

Do I have to take the course online?

At this time, the first course in credit counseling is only offered online.

However, the second course in debtor education may be taken by phone or through the mail. To take the course by phone, please call (866) 693-1415 to register and complete the entire course. Your certificate will be sent to you as soon as you complete the course. To take the course by mail, please call (800) 516-2759 to request a mail packet.

Back to top

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 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.

Back to top

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.

Back to top

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.

Back to top

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.

Back to top

How long is my certificate good for?

The Pre-filing Credit Counseling certificate expires 6 months from the date issued.

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.

Back to top

Do you offer fee waivers for individuals who can’t afford the course?

Yes, fee waivers are available for both courses.

For the pre-filing credit counseling course:
Abacus will waive the fee for obtaining a Certificate of Completion for any individual who requests such a waiver and has a household income less than 150 percent of the poverty guidelines last published by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) (http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/10poverty.shtml) applicable to a family of their size. The income of a spouse is included in calculating income whether or not a joint petition is filed, unless the spouses are separated and a joint petition is not filed.

To request a fee waiver, please send a written request for the waiver along with evidence of any and all income to:

BY EMAIL

Subject: Fee Waiver

BY FAX
(888) 561-0825

BY MAIL
Abacus Credit Counseling
15760 Ventura Blvd., Suite 700
Encino, CA 91436
ATTN: Fee Waivers

For the post-filing debtor education course:
Please write to Sage Personal Finance and include your name, case number, jurisdiction, e-mail address, postal address, and phone number. Our policy is to waive the course fee for debtors whose court filing fees were waived by the judge.

BY EMAIL

Subject: Fee waiver

BY MAIL
Sage Personal Finance
4043 Contera Rd.
Encino, CA 91436
ATTN: Fee Waivers

Back to top

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.

Back to top

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.

Back to top

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
Monday – Friday, 5:00am to 6:00pm pacific time
(800) 516-3834

Sage Personal Finance
Mondays, 5:00am to 4:00pm pacific time
Tuesdays – Fridays, 7:00am to 4:00pm pacific time
Sundays, 7:00am to 11:00am pacific time
(800) 516-2759

Back to top