What is the Purpose of Credit Counseling ?
The purpose of credit counseling is to explore all of your financial options, including bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is a major decision and can affect your life for years to come. We help you understand the impact of each option on your monthly finances, credit, and overall financial picture. It's also an opportunity to ask questions that you may have and make goals for your financial future.
What Can I Expect When I Talk to The Counselor?
You may feel nervous or embarrassed, and talking to someone about your finances may seem less pleasant than getting your teeth pulled. Your counselor understands that financial problems happen to a lot of people, from a lot of different backgrounds, income levels, and education levels. Most people delay getting help because of embarrassment or because they don't know who to trust.
When you meet with your counselor you will complete and Income and Expense Sheet. It's simply a budget with a list of your (1) Income, (2) Monthly Expenses, (3) Debt. Once the counselor has a good idea of what your financial situation is, she can recommend options, if any. Each option will come with it's own set of consequences, good and bad, and your counselor will walk through them with you.
No matter what you and the counselor talk about, it is your decision to file or not. The counseling is confidential. The only thing the courts recieve is the certificate that the counselor will issue to you.