United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2007-04-06 monographic deposited born digital 59 p. GA 1.13:GAO-07-203 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-203 P0b002ee180394c2f f:d07203 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-203 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-203 GAO-07-203 Bankruptcy Credit bureaus Debt Debt collection Investigations by federal agencies Policy evaluation Program evaluation Reporting requirements Standards Strategic planning Policies and procedures DOJ U.S. Trustee Program Other Written Product A67924 The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 requires individuals to receive credit counseling before filing for bankruptcy and to take a debtor education course before having debts discharged. Concerns were raised that the new requirements could expose consumers to abusive practices by credit counseling agencies or become barriers to filing for bankruptcy. GAO was asked to examine (1) the process of approving counseling and education providers, (2) the content and results of the counseling and education sessions, (3) the fees charged, and (4) the availability of and challenges to accessing services. To address these issues, GAO reviewed Trustee Program data and application case files, and interviewed a wide range of individuals and groups involved in the bankruptcy process. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-203/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-203.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-203/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-203.pdf GAO-07-203 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-203 Other Written Product GAO-07-203; Bankruptcy Reform: Value of Credit Counseling Requirement Is Not Clear; Bankruptcy Credit bureaus Debt Debt collection Investigations by federal agencies Policy evaluation Program evaluation Reporting requirements Standards Strategic planning Policies and procedures DOJ U.S. Trustee Program Volume 119 Page 23 119 Stat. 23 Volume 120 Page 780 120 Stat. 780 Public Law 109-8 Public Law 109-280