Thank you for registering for Advantage Credit Counseling Service's Bankruptcy Counseling. Please take a few moments to read over the following information. Your registration will be confirmed once we receive your payment.
Legal Requirements
Individual(s) who are planning to file for bankruptcy must complete a pre-filing bankruptcy counseling session with an EOUST-approved counseling agency. This counseling session is not intended to take the place of legal representation, and the counselors are not permitted to offer legal advice.
The information provided to Advantage CCS and its counselors is confidential and will not be shared with third parties.
About the Agency
Advantage Credit Counseling Service (ACCS) is a 501c (3) non-profit community agency with over 40 years of experience in providing financial counseling and education. The Agency is a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Advantage is accredited by the Council on Accreditation.
The Agency's counseling staff is certified by the NFCC. This certification requires counselors to pass a series of tests related to personal finance, credit, bankruptcy, and housing. Counselors are also required to maintain their competence through professional development credits.
A suitable alternative for some consumers, who are considering bankruptcy, may be a debt management program. If you decide to participate in the Agency's debt management program you will be provided with a separate agreement and appropriate disclosure forms.
Consumers who are considering bankruptcy may want to consider an alternative payment arrangement for their unsecured debts by utilizing a Debt Management Program. If this program appears to be an appropriate alternative to bankruptcy, it will be presented during the counseling session. If you decide to participate in the Agency's debt management program, you will be provided a separate agreement and appropriate disclosure forms.
Your credit report is not impacted by obtaining counseling through the agency and the agency will not disclose or provide any information about this counseling session to any credit reporting agency. If the consumer enrolls in a Debt Management Program, a notation may appear on the report that the consumer is making payments through a third party. That notation may be noted at the discretion of the lender and a consumer’s score is not negatively affected simply by enrolling in a DMP. However, filing for bankruptcy does negatively impact a consumer's credit report and the bankruptcy notation will remain on the report for a period of up to 10 years.
The Agency receives it funding from a variety of sources. A considerable portion comes from local, state and national creditors who provide funding to the Agency through voluntary contributions. Clients utilizing the Agency's debt management program are also asked to cover a portion of the cost to administer their individual program. If you elect to participate in this program, you will be provided with a separate agreement that outlines program fees. The Agency also receives funding from the State of Pennsylvania and the Department of Housing and Urban Development for various housing programs.
Advantage Credit Counseling Service, Inc offers in-person, telephone and online pre-file counseling in English only.
Counseling Fee
The fee for online bankruptcy counseling is $24.95. A debit card or money order are the only acceptable forms of payment. Personal checks and credit cards are not accepted. The fee for telephone bankruptcy counseling is $50.00. A debit card or money order are the only acceptable forms of payment.
If you are a married couple filing a joint bankruptcy, each of you must complete the required bankruptcy counseling session in its entirety. The online counseling fee for a married couple filing a joint bankruptcy is $24.95 if both parties participate in the same counseling session and $50.00 for telephone counseling if both parties participate in the same counseling session. If you choose to complete the counseling in separate sessions, the fee is $24.95 for each session online and $50.00 for each telephone session.
This fee may be waived or reduced for clients whose documented household income is at or below 150% of Federal Poverty Guidelines. Please see the chart below to determine if you may qualify to have the fee reduced or waived. Counseling is offered regardless of an individual's ability to pay. If you believe you may qualify to have the fee waived or reduced, contact us via email at info@advantageccs.org or toll-free at 888-511-2227.
| Persons in Family or Household | 48 Contiguous States States and D.C. | Alaska | Hawaii |
| 1 | $22,590 | $28,215 | $25,965 |
| 2 | $30,660 | $38,310 | $35,250 |
| 3 | $38,730 | $48,405 | $44,535 |
| 4 | $46,800 | $58,500 | $53,820 |
| 5 | $54,870 | $68,595 | $63,105 |
| 6 | $62,940 | $78,690 | $72,390 |
| 7 | $71,010 | $88,785 | $81,675 |
| 8 | $79,080 | $98,880 | $90,960 |
| For each additional person more than 8, add | $8,070 | $10,095 | $9,285 |
ACCS does not pay or receive fees or other consideration for the referral of clients to or from the Agency.
ACCS is obligated to issue a pre-filing bankruptcy certificate promptly upon the client’s completion of the requirements for the counseling services. A certificate will only be issued if counseling requirements are complete. The certificate is valid for 180 days from the completion of counseling.
Advantage Credit Counseling Service, Inc. may disclose debtor information to the United States Trustee in connection with the United States Trustee's oversight of the Agency, or during the investigation of complaints, during on-site visits or during quality of service reviews.
The agency provides free translation services for individuals who are limited English proficient or have hearing impairment. To request these services, please notify the agency by calling (888) 511-2227 at least three business days in advance of your appointment so we can secure interpretive services.
The United States Trustees has reviewed only the Agency's pre-file counseling service and its service as a pre-discharge education provider pursuant to 11.U.S.C. 111(c). The United States Trustee has neither reviewed nor approved any other services the Agency provides to clients.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to email info@advantageccs.org or call us toll-free at (888) 511-2227. Office hours are Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.
Online Counseling Process
Once you are registered and your payment or approved fee waiver is processed, you will be directed to the online counseling login page to begin your session. The law requires that you spend a minimum of 60 minutes completing this session. Once you are logged in, an "Active Session Timer" in the upper right corner of the screen will automatically display your total session time. Once you complete the online portion of your counseling session, a certified counselor will review the results of the session and interact with you via email in order to discuss your current financial situation, the factors that caused your financial hardship and options for dealing with your financial hardship.
Please read the following statements carefully so that you will understand the procedures for the use of this Web site and this counseling session. Your continuations and/or submissions in this process indicate you understand and agree with these statements.
I certify that the information I will be providing to Advantage Credit Counseling Service, Inc. is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and made in good faith. I also certify that I personally will complete the pre-filing bankruptcy counseling session. I understand that knowingly making a false statement, fraudulent statement or misrepresentations about my identity or completion of the course is a violation of the requirements of federal law.