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 2007-05-01 monographic deposited born digital 20 p. GA 1.13:GAO-07-778T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-778T P0b002ee18038b223 f:d07778t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-778T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-778T GAO-07-778T Bankruptcy Consumer education Consumer protection Credit bureaus Debt Debt collection Fees Investigations by federal agencies Policy evaluation Program evaluation Reporting requirements Standards Strategic planning DOJ U.S. Trustee Program Testimony A68965 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. This testimony is based on GAO's report issued last month, and addresses (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-07-778T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-778T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-778T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-778T.pdf GAO-07-778T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-778T Testimony GAO-07-778T; Bankruptcy Reform: Value of Credit Counseling Requirements Is Not Clear; Bankruptcy Consumer education Consumer protection Credit bureaus Debt Debt collection Fees Investigations by federal agencies Policy evaluation Program evaluation Reporting requirements Standards Strategic planning DOJ U.S. Trustee Program Volume 119 Page 23 Volume 119 Page 37-42 119 Stat. 23 119 Stat. 37-42