CREDIT COUNSELING CENTER

Over the years, clients have trusted Credit Counseling Center (CCC) to safeguard the security and confidentiality of their personal information. We deeply value this trust and would like to take this opportunity to explain how CCC collects, uses, and protects nonpublic personal information about our consumers and clients. This Privacy Notice complies with Federal laws and regulations regarding the privacy of individuals’ nonpublic personal information.

We collect nonpublic personal information about you from the following sources:

1. Information you provide on applications or forms (e.g., name, address, Social Security number, account numbers, balances, creditors, and unsecured loans).
2. Information about your transactions with us, our affiliates, or others.

We do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about our customers or former customers, except as permitted or required by law. We may share your information with the Trustee for oversight purposes, during investigations of complaints, on-site visits, or quality reviews. Access to your nonpublic personal information is restricted to employees who need it to provide services to you. We implement physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards in compliance with federal regulations to protect your information. At the Credit Counseling Center, we are committed to safeguarding your private information and will NEVER share your email address without legal authorization.

Credit Counseling Center is required to promptly provide a certificate upon your completion of the course. This certificate will only be issued after you successfully complete the Pre-Filing Credit & Debt Counseling Including with mandatory interaction with a counselor if utilizing the online counseling or the Pre-Discharge Debtor Education course. You will need this certificate if you decide to file for bankruptcy. It remains valid for 180 days from the date of completion, and there is no additional cost for generating the certificate. If your certificate expires before you file for bankruptcy, you may need to complete the pre-filing counseling again.

We are not a law firm and cannot offer you legal advice of any kind. However, we are approved to provide you with the required bankruptcy counseling certificates that you need in order to complete your bankruptcy filing.

CCC is funded by fees from pre-bankruptcy credit counseling, pre-discharge debtor education, donations and grant funding from entities that support financial literacy education and program services, including, state and federal governmental agencies and creditors.

We are not a law firm and cannot offer you legal advice of any kind. However, we are approved to provide you with the required bankruptcy counseling certificates that you need in order to complete your bankruptcy filing.

All CCC Counselors must meet certification requirements as set forth by the National Association of Certified Credit Counselors (NACCC). Counselors are required to successfully complete the primary certification requirements and maintain Certified Credit Counselor status by upholding the NACCC Code of Ethics and completing continuing professional development education. Counselors cannot give legal or tax advice but can refer you to legal and tax professionals.

Counseling services are available in English and Spanish. In the event a client lacks proficiency in either language, we will provide counseling services through a professional interpreter at no additional charge. CCC must receive the language translation request within 3 business days of the required counseling in order to make proper arrangements. Clients may visit the U.S. Trustees website at www.justice.gov/ust to locate agencies that offer services in languages other than English or Spanish.

CCC policy prohibits paying or receiving fees or other compensation for the referral of Clients.

Credit Counseling for Pre-Filing: Credit Counseling Center will not deny counseling to any client if
they can demonstrate an inability to pay due to income level or financial hardship. The cost of the
counseling is $39. We will offer a reduction in fee or waiver of fee if your income is under 150% of
the Federal Poverty Guidelines published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Fee
reductions or waivers are determined using the client’s household finances provided by the client.
For clients qualifying for a fee less than the standard course fee, clients will be informed of any
reduced fee prior to payment.

Debtor Education Fee Reduction for Pre-Discharge: Credit Counseling Center will not deny counseling
to any client if they can demonstrate an inability to pay, due to income level or financial hardship.
The cost of the course is $39. Credit Counseling Center will reduce or waive the bankruptcy education
fees for debtor students whose household income is 150% or less of the federal poverty guidelines
as specified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for a household or family of the
size that is the basis of the fee determination. Link to HHS Povery Guidelines

To request a fee waiver, in whole or in part, client must submit supporting income documentation (most recent tax return, recent bank statement showing income deposited, recent pay stubs, pension statements, any government benefit notices, statements from employers showing salary, and if applicable, documentation of unemployment of other financial hardship) to CCC either in-person; via Email at info@creditcounselingcenter.org; by fax at (215) 396-8072; or by mailing to: Credit Counseling Center, 832 Second Street Pike, Richboro,PA 18954. Upon receipt, CCC will determine fee waiver eligibility based on documentation received. Client will be notified within three business days.

Budget and Credit Counseling services do not negatively impact a consumer’s credit score.
If a consumer enrolls in a Debt Management Program (DMP), their credit report may include a note indicating that payments are being made through a third party and that the account is closed. This notation is made at the lender’s discretion and does not negatively affect the consumer’s credit score simply due to enrollment in a DMP. CCC does not report your participation in a Budget and Credit Counseling Briefing or a Personal Financial Management Instruction course, nor does it pull your credit report if using our online internet-based services. Filing for bankruptcy does negatively impact a consumer’s credit report, with the bankruptcy notation remaining on the report for up to 10 years.

You have the option to negotiate an alternative payment schedule for each of your unsecured consumer debts. We will explore various alternatives to bankruptcy, including the possibility of negotiating a different payment arrangement with your creditors. We’ll also discuss how each alternative could affect your credit report.