my Waypoint
Vista
Bankruptcy counseling, with honesty and no judgment.
If you are considering bankruptcy, myWaypoint provides the pre-filing credit counseling and pre-discharge debtor education courses the process requires. myWaypoint (formerly Credit Counseling Center) is approved by the Executive Office for United States Trustees (EOUST) or Bankruptcy Administrator to issue certificates in compliance with the U.S. Bankruptcy Code for all 50 states. Approval does not endorse or assure the quality of an agency’s service.
*Select your counseling session below after reviewing and acknowledging the Required Disclosures.
Benefits of filing for bankruptcy
Immediately after a bankruptcy case is filed, an injunction called the "Automatic Stay" is generally imposed against certain creditors who want to start or continue taking action against a debtor or the debtor's property.
Bankruptcy stops wage garnishments. When you file for bankruptcy, your Trustee will notify your employer, the court, and the creditors to stop the wage garnishment.
Chapter 13 lets filers protect their homes from foreclosure by allowing the debtor to repay the debt over a period of up to 5 years.
Cons of filing for bankruptcy
The negative mark of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing will remain on your credit report for 10 years from the filing date, and a Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing for 7 years. No matter how high your credit score was before a bankruptcy, there will be a noticeable drop immediately after filing. Over time, though, the impact lessens.
Some credit obligations, such as student loans, tax debt, and child support, may not be included in the bankruptcy filing. You may also have to pay high interest rates for new credit.
Cosigners are not protected from collection on debts that you discharge through personal bankruptcy. A cosigner may be harassed over the remaining balance on discharged debt unless you pay it off.
Bankruptcy counseling services, fees & disclosures
Select your counseling session below, after reviewing the Required Disclosures
Welcome! myWaypoint (formerly Credit Counseling Center) has over 30 years of experience in providing financial education and counseling. myWaypoint is a nonprofit agency in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal law mandates that consumers receive a Budget and Credit Counseling Briefing within 180 days before filing for personal bankruptcy. myWaypoint is approved to issue certificates in compliance with the U.S. Bankruptcy Code for all 50 states. Approval does not endorse or assure the quality of an agency’s service. The United States Trustee has reviewed only myWaypoint’s credit counseling services and its services as a provider of a personal financial management instructional course, and has neither reviewed nor approved any other services myWaypoint provides to clients. myWaypoint may disclose client information to the United States Trustee or the Bankruptcy Administrator in connection with oversight of the agency, during the investigation of complaints, during on-site visits, or during quality of service reviews. Approval by the U.S. Department of Justice Executive Office of United States Trustees does not endorse or assure the quality of our services.
myWaypoint will provide a budget analysis that will examine your financial situation and options for developing a reasonable plan.
Pre-Filing and Pre-Discharge privacy policy
Over the years, clients have trusted myWaypoint, formerly Credit Counseling Center, 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 myWaypoint 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:
- Information you provide on applications or forms (for example, name, address, Social Security number, account numbers, balances, creditors, and unsecured loans).
- 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 myWaypoint, we are committed to safeguarding your private information and will NEVER share your email address without legal authorization
Counseling certificate
myWaypoint 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 and Debt Counseling course, including mandatory interaction with a counselor if you use 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.
myWaypoint is 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.
Funding sources
myWaypoint 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
Counselor qualifications
All myWaypoint 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.
Bilingual counseling
myWaypoint offers counseling services in English and Spanish at no additional charge. If you have limited proficiency in English or Spanish, myWaypoint will provide counseling through a professional interpreter at no additional charge. To help us make proper arrangements, please request an interpreter at least 3 business days before your scheduled counseling. You may also visit the U.S. Trustee Program website at www.justice.gov/ust to locate approved agencies that offer services in other languages.
Accessibility and communication assistance
You can reach myWaypoint toll free at 833-838-1160. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, you can contact us through [the Pennsylvania Relay Service by dialing 711 / our TTY line at XXX-XXX-XXXX]. Upon request, myWaypoint will provide telephone amplification, sign language services, or other communication methods so you can complete your counseling. If you have other special needs that make it difficult to share your service needs, please let us know and we will provide or arrange communication assistance. [myWaypoint’s offices meet applicable facility accessibility requirements.]
Referrals
myWaypoint policy prohibits paying or receiving fees or other compensation for the referral of clients.
Fee & Waiver policy
Pre-Filing Credit Counseling: myWaypoint will not deny counseling to any client who can demonstrate an inability to pay due to income level or financial hardship. The cost of the counseling is $39. We will offer a reduced or waived fee if your household income is 150% or less of the Federal Poverty Guidelines published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Fee reductions or waivers are determined using the household finances provided by the client. Clients who qualify for a fee lower than the standard course fee will be informed of the reduced fee before payment.
Pre-Discharge Debtor Education: myWaypoint will not deny counseling to any client who can demonstrate an inability to pay due to income level or financial hardship. The cost of the course is $39. myWaypoint will reduce or waive the bankruptcy education fee 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.
Requesting a fee waiver: To request a full or partial fee waiver, submit supporting income documentation to myWaypoint. Acceptable documentation includes your most recent tax return, a 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 or other financial hardship. You can submit it:
● In person
● By email at info@mywaypoint.org
● By fax at 215-396-8072
● By mail to myWaypoint, 832 Second Street Pike, Richboro, PA 18954
Upon receipt, myWaypoint will determine fee waiver eligibility based on the documentation received. You will be notified within three business days.
Credit report impact
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.
myWaypoint 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 you use our online 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.
Alternative payment arrangements
Under 11 U.S.C. 502(k), you have the opportunity to negotiate an alternative payment schedule for each of your unsecured consumer debts. myWaypoint does not provide this service. If you would like to pursue an alternative payment schedule, we may refer you to another agency approved by the United States Trustee, and you may incur additional fees in connection with that referral.
Course options and registration will appear once you acknowledge the disclosures above.
Select your counseling session
REQUIRED
Before filing
Pre-Filing credit counseling
$ 39
Individual or couple
Valid ID and review of disclosures required
Federal law requires a Budget and Credit Counseling Briefing within 180 days before filing for personal bankruptcy. myWaypoint offers three ways to complete your counseling:
A confidential online counseling program combined with a mandatory telephone session
An in-person, 60-minute private counseling session conducted in our office
A 60-minute private telephone counseling session
REQUIRED
After filing
Pre-Discharge debtor education
$ 39
Individual or couple
Valid ID and review of disclosures required
Confidential online course only
Confidential online course
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to file for bankruptcy if I come in for counseling?
No. myWaypoint explores alternatives to bankruptcy with you and discusses how each alternative could affect your credit report. [If Version A: This includes helping you negotiate an alternative payment schedule for each of your unsecured consumer debts.] [If Version B: If you would like to negotiate an alternative payment schedule for your unsecured consumer debts, we may refer you to another approved agency, and additional fees may apply.] We also provide a budget analysis that examines your financial situation and options for developing a reasonable plan. If you decide to file, we provide the required pre-filing and pre-discharge courses. The choice is always yours.
How much does bankruptcy counseling cost?
Each course is $39 for an individual or couple, and there is no additional cost for your certificate. myWaypoint will not deny counseling to anyone who can demonstrate an inability to pay due to income level or financial hardship. If your household income is 150% or less of the federal poverty guidelines published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, you may qualify for a reduced or waived fee. To request one, submit income documentation in person, by email, by fax, or by mail, and we will notify you of your eligibility within three business days. For pre-filing counseling, you will be told of any reduced fee before payment.
Is my certificate valid for my bankruptcy filing?
myWaypoint (formerly Credit Counseling Center) is approved by the Executive Office for United States Trustees (EOUST) or Bankruptcy Administrator to issue certificates in compliance with the U.S. Bankruptcy Code for all 50 states. Approval does not endorse or assure the quality of an agency’s service. Your certificate is issued only after you complete the course, including mandatory interaction with a counselor if you use online pre-filing counseling. It is sent within one business day and remains valid for 180 days from completion. If it expires before you file, you may need to complete the pre-filing counseling again.
Will counseling or filing affect my credit?
Budget and credit counseling does not negatively impact your credit score, and myWaypoint does not report your participation or pull your credit report when you use our online services. Filing for bankruptcy does negatively affect your credit report. A Chapter 7 filing remains for 10 years from the filing date, and a Chapter 13 filing for 7 years. You can expect a noticeable drop right after filing, though the impact lessens over time, and you may pay high interest rates for new credit. Bankruptcy also has benefits: an Automatic Stay is generally imposed against certain creditors, and bankruptcy stops wage garnishments.
Can you give me legal advice?
No. myWaypoint is not a law firm and cannot offer legal advice of any kind. Our counselors cannot give legal or tax advice but can refer you to legal and tax professionals. We are approved to provide the required bankruptcy counseling certificates you need to complete your filing.
Is counseling available in other languages?
Yes. myWaypoint offers counseling in English and Spanish at no additional charge. If you have limited proficiency in English or Spanish, we will provide a professional interpreter at no additional charge. Please request an interpreter at least 3 business days before your scheduled counseling. To find approved agencies that offer other languages, visit www.justice.gov/ust.
What if I am deaf, hard of hearing, or need other communication assistance?
You can reach myWaypoint toll free at 833-838-1160 or through [the Pennsylvania Relay Service by dialing 711 / our TTY line at XXX-XXX-XXXX]. Upon request, we will provide telephone amplification, sign language services, or other communication methods so you can complete your counseling.
How is my personal information protected?
myWaypoint does not disclose nonpublic personal information except as permitted or required by law, including sharing with the Trustee for oversight purposes. Access is restricted to employees who need it to provide your services, and we will never share your email address without legal authorization. See the full Privacy Policy in the disclosures above.
Take the next step with a counselor who will give you the full picture, honestly.
Questions?
Call myWaypoint at 215-348-8003 or toll free 833-838-1160.
myWaypoint is dedicated to equipping consumers with financial knowledge and imparting effective habits that build the confidence needed for long-term financial success for families and employees.
We serve Pennsylvania residents statewide with free credit counseling and can help you with bankruptcy issues nationwide.
myWaypoint (formerly Credit Counseling Center): a 501(c)(3) public charity, EIN 23-2754268. Four-star Charity Navigator rating.
Offices: Richboro and Levittown
Phone: 215-348-8003 | Toll-free: 833-838-1160