Please read the following statements carefully so that you will understand the procedures for this session. Please sign your name after you have read this information.

Since 2009, SafeGuard Credit Counseling Services, Inc. has been approved by the United States Trustees as a Post-Bankruptcy filing Nonprofit Provider of a Personal Financial Management Instructional Course. Our instructors have completed the certification program with The Center for Financial Certifications and are required to continue their education yearly to maintain this highly regarded certification. Our agency is a member of the Financial Counseling Association of America (FCAA) (aka Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies AICCCA). The FCAA has high standards for quality credit counseling and financial education, and our agency complies with those standards. In addition, our agency is certified by Bureau Veritas (BV) to meet the ISO 9001:2008 standards. BV is an independent third-party organization that reviews and monitors entities who provide social services.

SafeGuard is a non-profit agency. We are organized and operate in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. SafeGuard receives funding in the form of grants from banks and other financial institutions that support financial counseling. We do not pay or receive fees or other considerations for referrals of debtor students to our agency. SafeGuard is obligated to provide your certificate promptly upon completion of instruction, and we will do this within 3 business days upon the completion of your course. You will only receive your certificate upon completion of Post-filing debtor education. SafeGuard might disclose debtor information to the United States Trustee (EOUST) in connection with the EOUST’s oversight of our organization, or during the investigation of complaints, during on-site visits, or during quality of service reviews. The EOUST has only reviewed and approved Pre-filing credit counseling and Post-filing debtor education services. The EOUST has neither reviewed nor approved any other services provided by SafeGuard to debtors. SafeGuard does offer services to help with unsecured debt if needed.

Upon the completion of Money in Motion our agency will provide you a certificate of completion of an instruction course promptly; and no later than 3 business days from the completion of the Post-filing debtor education. You will only receive this certificate if you complete the Post-filing debtor education. You will need to provide us with your bankruptcy case number for this certificate.

We will ask you to voluntarily fill out basic demographic information. We will not disclose any such information that you provide orally or in writing to anyone, except as authorized by you in writing or as required by law, such as a response to a subpoena or the United States Trustee in their oversight of this agency of during the investigation of complaints, during on-site visits or during quality service reviews. We may compile data in aggregate form; however, your information will not be disclosed in any manner that would personally identify you.

To help cover the cost of providing the Post-filing debtor education to you, this agency charges a fee of $35.00 for a single and $50 if you are filing jointly, payable by debit/credit card. We do not accept personal checks. You may be eligible for a waiver of this fee based on your lack of ability to pay.  A waved fee is based on 185% of poverty guidelines updated periodically by the US Department of Health and Human Services. If you think you qualify for a waiver please call 850-434-0268 or Contact Us. As you proceed you will be asked a question about your household size and income. The counselor or the online program will notify you if you are eligible for a fee waiver.  If you are not eligible for a waiver your counselor will notify you and for online students you will proceed to the payment page where the fee is $35.00 for a single and $50 to file jointly. We do not charge a fee for the generation of your completion certificate.

This agency has a policy of prohibiting it from paying or receiving referral fees for the referral of clients, except under fair share agreement.  No fees are either paid or received by our agency for the referral of a client to a bankruptcy attorney or any bankruptcy alternative agency.

We do provide counseling services in both English and Spanish.  If you require an additional language please visit the US Trustee site.

If you are dissatisfied with the service provided by our agency you can utilize the Complaint Resolution Process.

The United State Trustee has reviewed only our credit counseling and personal financial management instructional course pursuant to 11 U.S.C. 111(d) and the US Trustees has neither reviewed or approved any other services we provide to clients.

Before you proceed any further you must enter your information into the FEE WAIVER CALCULATOR.  If you have not already done so please click here to enter your information FEE WAIVER CALCULATOR, once this is complete you can continue on.