About FISC
  Getting Help Is Easy
  Forms For Counseling
  Debt Management
  Newsletter
  Money Management
  Tools and Calculators 
  FISC Workshops
  Bankruptcy Counseling
  Take Our Quiz
  FISC Store
  FISCal Cents - Blog
  Locations
  Contact Us
 

FISC-CCCS is a program of Goodwill NCW

Bankruptcy Counseling and Education

I am afraid my bills are too much for me to pay and I might need to file bankruptcy. What should I do?

Meet with one of our counselors to understand your options.

The new bankruptcy rules require you to see a financial counselor and obtain a Pre-filing Bankruptcy certificate from a qualified counselor prior to filing for bankruptcy.  If you come in for counseling you may find you have other options, beside bankruptcy.

FISC Consumer Credit Counseling of northeastern Wisconsin is approved by the Executive Office of the United States Bankruptcy Trustee or EOUST as one of the agencies to provide Pre-bankruptcy counseling. Approval by EOUST does not endorse or assure the quality of a provider’s services.

I’ve heard that with the new bankruptcy laws bankruptcy is no longer an option for me.

Most people still qualify for bankruptcy.  There are new income requirements for a chapter 7 bankruptcy (full discharge) and credit counseling is now required.  But most people needing a bankruptcy can still get it.

How to Sign Up for the Credit Counseling.

To see a counselor for credit counseling you will need to fill out our Infopac first.  This helps you to gather all your financial information in one place.  Once the infopac is completed and

FISC has offices throughout northeastern Wisconsin. Call 920-886-1000 or 800-366-8161 for locations and appointment options.

What to Expect from Your Credit Counseling Session

Your credit counseling session will be like any other counseling appointment. You can expect the same level of care and professionalism. We are not here to judge you.  You will receive helpful tips and advice for managing your financial life. Your session will include an overview of bankruptcy and a personalized budget analysis. People who complete these sessions will receive a certificate of completion. If you file for bankruptcy, your attorney will need this certificate.

Credit Counseling Fees

Fees for the pre-filing credit counseling are $50 per person or $100 per couple, payable in advance by cash or money order.

          This counseling is offered without regard to a debtor's ability to pay.

Pre-Discharge Education Course

Before getting a discharge from bankruptcy, filers must complete a course in personal financial management from a provider that has been approved by The Executive Office for U.S. Trustees (EOUST).  FISC has been approved by EOUST to provide this personal financial management course. Approval EOUST by  does not endorse or assure the quality of a provider’s services.

How to Sign Up for the Education Course

Call FISC at 920-886-1000 or 800-366-8161 for course locations and times.

What Your Pre-Discharge Personal Financial Management Course will Cover

Course topics include rebuilding finances after bankruptcy, developing and following a budget, understanding and using credit, predatory lending and identity theft. The course is about 2 hours long. Many people enjoy this workshop and say it is very helpful.

Financial Management Course Fees

Fees for the Personal Financial Management Course are $25 per person or $50 per couple, payable in advance by cash or money order.

           This counseling is offered without regard to a debtor's ability to pay.

Course Procedures

Students will be asked to provide proof of their identification, to sign in, and to complete a course evaluation. We will need your bankruptcy case number to complete your certificate. People who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion that their attorney will need. 

Forms for  Bankruptcy Counseling


Before seeing a counselor for budget and/or debt counseling, you need to submit
 a completed Infopak.  You may choose to either print the forms, complete them
 and return them via mail to us, OR you may save the documents to your
 computer, complete them and submit them back to
 us as an attachment. 

If you have questions, please call us at 920-886-1000 or 800-366-8161.

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print these pages.
 
To get Adobe Acrobat Reader click here.

Print Infopac
FISC forms to print out, complete and return by mail or in-person.

Telephone Counseling
For those who are at too great a distance to come to our offices and prefer
to do counseling via the telephone.  Please complete one of the Infopacs above
 as well as these additional 1^st appointment forms. Print both the Infopac and
telephone counseling forms, sign and return by mail to FISC's Menasha office.
Please make a copy of these forms for yourself to use during the telephone
counseling session.  Address and other information is listed on the Infopac. 

Tips to Help Complete the Worksheets

The information you enter on the Confidential Questionnaire, Expense Worksheet, and Debt Sheet will help us build an accurate picture of your financial situation. Entering accurate and complete information on these worksheets will provide your counselor with information regarding your financial concerns and goals, your household expenses, needs and wants, and your spending history. Filling out the forms as completely and accurately as possible will help us to help you.

CONFIDENTIAL QUESTIONNAIRE:

Don’t be bashful. Your honesty is essential if your present concerns are to be met. Your FISC counselor is a professional that deals with these issues on a daily basis.
Financial strengths and weaknesses need to be honestly communicated so we may meet your financial concerns, identify spending patterns, and assist you in developing plans to meet your financial goals.
Be certain to list your financial goals. Where do you want to go from here? What do you want to change in your financial life? Are there issues to resolve, better spending and savings habits to learn, future challenges to meet, and goals to reach? Write them down so you may discuss them with your counselor.

MONTHLY EXPENSE WORKSHEET:

Round all figures to the nearest dollar as you enter them on the worksheets.
All entries should be in monthly amounts. Example: If groceries cost $50 each week (50 x 4 wk.) enter $200 as monthly amount. If gasoline fluctuates between $20 to $24 per week ($24 x 4wk.) enter $96 per month. If you spend $300 each December for Christmas ($300 divided by 12 months) enter $25 per month. If car repairs and maintenance the past year totaled $186 (divide by 12 months) enter $16 per month to plan for this year.
This worksheet will show the monthly cost of keeping your household afloat, and should also reflect costs of upcoming expenses. (List everything. Unplanned expenses easily become future debts!)
All money normally spent by your household should be reflected on either the Monthly Expense Worksheet or the Debt Sheet.

DEBT LIST:

The only debts NOT listed are the Mortgage and Vehicle Loan. Both should already be listed on the Monthly Expense Worksheet. Don’t list them twice!
Gather all current statements (bills) to provide the information you will need.
List these same debts on your Debt List, with the required monthly payment.
Print or make extra copies of Debt List, if needed.
After completing the info-packet and worksheets, be certain to enclose:

Paycheck stubs or income statement, current statements, (bills), along with your last year’s tax forms, and payment for assessment fee. Mail or drop off all paper work to FISC. Your counselor will review it to prepare for your appointment and financial assessment. Phone us to schedule your appointment.

We look forward to working with you!