The new bankruptcy law requires that bankruptcy petitioners complete a Personal
Financial Management Course (Debtor Education Course) after filing a bankruptcy
petition, but before a discharge is granted.
The Debtor Education Course is intended to help you plan your financial future
and avoid post-bankruptcy pitfalls. The certificate of completion must be filed
with the court before you receive your discharge.
Here at Start Fresh Today, you can purchase a Debtor Education Course from a
Provider approved to issue certificates evidencing completion of a personal
financial management course in compliance with the Bankruptcy Code for only $49
per online course or $65 per telephonic course. Approval does not endorse or
assure the quality of a Provider’s services.
Disclosure Statement
Start Fresh Today Instructional is approved to issue certificates evidencing
completion of a personal financial management course in compliance with the
Bankruptcy Code. Approval does not endorse or assure the quality of a
Provider’s services. Start Fresh Today Instructional’s course saves your
progress so you may leave and come back at any time. This course contains
engaging content and animated narrators to give you a rewarding and informative
experience. Learn about budgeting, money management, rebuilding credit, credit
rights and get your debtor education certificate.
Fee Waiver
Start Fresh Today Instructional agrees to waive any fees if the debtor student
has 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/08poverty.shtml)
applicable to a family of the size involved in the 48 contiguous states.
PLEASE NOTE:
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The income for comparison to the poverty guidelines is the "Total Combined
Monthly Income" as reported (or as will be reported) on Line 16 of Schedule I
of the bankruptcy petition.
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Non-cash governmental assistance (such as food stamps or housing subsidies) is
not included in calculating debtor income.
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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
fled.
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The income of any other family member listed on Schedule I as a dependent also
is included.
Please consult with your attorney to see if you qualify. If your attorney cannot
help you, call the Start Fresh Today Instructional Customer Service Line at 1
(877) 525-2313 to see if you qualify for a waiver.
To arrange for a waiver, please forward a written request for the waiver along
with evidence of any and all income to:
Start Fresh Today Instructional, LLC.
ATTN: Fee Waivers
Email: info@startfreshtodayinstructional.com
Fax: 1-866-583-6208
Mail: 25 E Washington Street, 5th Floor, Chicago, IL 60602
* Disclosure Regarding the Purchase of Multiple Products and the Purchase of
Debtor Education Prior to filing bankruptcy
The Congressional intent of requiring debtors to receive a pre-filing credit
counseling briefing prior to filing bankruptcy is to provide consumers with the
opportunity to be presented with all bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy alternatives
before deciding whether or not to proceed with bankruptcy. After receiving your
pre-filing briefing from an agency, found on StartFreshToday.com, you may
decide not to proceed with bankruptcy, in which case you will not ever need to
take a pre-discharge educational course. Even if you decide to file bankruptcy,
if you file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you may not need a pre-discharge
educational course for a few years, or not at all if your case is dismissed
prior to discharge. Nonetheless, Start Fresh Today Instructional, LLC has
agreed to provide you with a discount on the purchase price of a pre-discharge
educational course if you also have, at any time, purchased a pre-filing credit
counseling briefing on StartFreshToday.com., even though the educational course
may not be needed until the end of the bankruptcy case, or, in some
circumstances, not at all. Please be advised that:
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You may return to StartFreshToday.com at any time after you take your credit
counseling briefing and purchase the Start Fresh Today Instructional, LLC
educational course at a discounted rate. You need not purchase the educational
course at the same time as the briefing in order to receive a discount.
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If you do purchase the educational course at the same time as the briefing and
later decide NOT to file for bankruptcy, you should contact SFTI for a full
refund of your educational course fee.
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If you do purchase the educational course at the same time as the briefing and
later decide to file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you should immediately contact
SFTI for a full refund of your educational course fee, as you may not need to
take a pre-discharge educational course for a few years (or not at all if your
Chapter 13 is dismissed before discharge), or the course may be offered for
free by your Chapter 13 trustee.
Start Fresh Today Instructional, LLC.
ATTN: Refunds
Email: info@startfreshtodayinstructional.com
Fax: 1-866-583-6208
Mail: 25 E Washington Street, 5th Floor, Chicago, IL 60602.
Other Disclosures
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SFTI charges fees for some services to cover the cost of providing the service.
These fees including any postage, shipping, handling and materials. The fee is
due and payable at the time of service.
Maximum Fee Schedule:
|
|
Pre-Discharge Debtor Education (provided by SFTI) |
| Individual Online Session |
$49 |
| Joint Online Session |
$49 |
| Individual Telephonic Session |
$59 |
| Joint Telephonic Session |
$59 |
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The Provider does not pay nor receive fees or other considerations for the
referral of debtor students to or by the provider.
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The course is offered regardless of the debtor's ability to pay.
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Course materials are provided through the Internet via an interactive learning
module. The Internet course can be accessed online 24 hours a day / 7 days a
week and 365 days a year at the student's convenience.
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Course materials are provided via a telephonic pre-recorded message. The
telephonic course can be accessed via telephone 24 hours a day / 7 days a week
and 365 days a year at the student's convenience.
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Educators are available via telephone to provide further instruction and to
certify completion from 9 A.M. to 9 P.M. Eastern Standard Time (EST), Monday
through Friday, and 1 P.M. to 7 P.M. EST on Saturdays. Educators are not
available on Sundays.
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If you are disabled as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, SFTI has
arranged for assistance to be provided to you by the Message Relay Center. You
can access this service by calling 1-877-627-3529.
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For Oregon students only, Start Fresh Today Instructional, LLC has obtained a
$25,000.00 bond from North American Specialty Insurance Company, 1200 Arlington
Heights Rd., Ste 400, Itasca, IL 60143-2526, Bond (#2067349) for the purpose of
providing a pre-discharge personal finance debtor education to Oregon students
accordance with the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2005. Any Oregon student who
suffers damage as a result of a violation of any provision or ORS 646.380 to
646.398 and 646.608 or any rule adopted by the Director of the Division of
Corporations of the Oregon Secretary of State pursuant to ORS 646.382 to
646.398 shall have a right of action under this bond. An action on the bond may
be brought by the state or by any consumer filing a complaint in a court of
competent jurisdiction not later than one year after the surety bond is
cancelled or terminated.
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Registered Agent's Address: National Registered Agents, Inc., 3533 Fairview
Industrial Drive SE, Salem, OR 97302-1155.
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The Start Fresh Today Instructional supervisors have been providing personal
financial related educational material for over twelve years. Prior to
providing debtor education, each SFTI educator is required to be certified as
an Accredited Financial Counselor and maintain certification as such by the
Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE). Among
other certification requirements, each educator must:
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Identify proctor at local community college, learning center and complete the
exam. Candidates must earn a 70% on each course examination.
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Subscribe to the AFC Code of Ethics
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Submit three letters of reference attesting to professional competence (one
from supervisor, one from a fellow professional and one from a client).
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Have two years of admissible financial counseling experience:
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Offering one-on-one counseling or advising services for clients.
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Developing and conducting education and training for clients.
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Developing education and training programs for financial counselors.
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Education and training financial counselors.
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Serving as an education director for a financial counseling organization.
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Supervising financial counselors.
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All SFTI educators are AFCPE certified and:
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Possess certified skills to assist individuals and families in the process of
financial decision making.
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Agree to maintain the highest ethical standards as written in the AFC Code of
Ethics.
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Maintain up-to-date knowledge in the fields of personal finance and financial
counseling.
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Have certified skills to assist individuals and families in the complex process
of financial decision making, including the ability to:
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Educate clients in sound financial principles.
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Assist clients in the process of overcoming their financial indebtedness.
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Help clients identify and modify ineffective money management behaviors.
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Guide clients in developing successful strategies for achieving their financial
goals.
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Support clients as they work through their financial challenges and
opportunities.
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Help clients develop new perspective on the dynamics of money in relation to
family, friends and individual self-esteem.
- Upon completion of the course, the SFTI will provide a certificate of course
completion by the debtor student.
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The Provider is approved to issue certificates evidencing completion of a
personal financial management instructional course in compliance with the
Bankruptcy Code. However, approval does not endorse or assure the quality of an
approved Provider's services.
If you reside in the state of Oregon, and agree to the terms and conditions of
the preceding disclosure, you need to print the disclosure and fax a signed
copy to 800-435-6205. Upon receipt an agent will contact you to process your
order.
If you do not agree to the preceding disclosures, do not order the course, or you
can arrange for a refund by contacting us at:
Start Fresh Today Instructional, LLC.
ATTN: Refunds
Email: info@startfreshtodayinstructional.com
Fax: 1-866-583-6208
Mail: 25 E Washington Street, 5th Floor, Chicago, IL 60602.