Credit Counseling Agencies and Debtor Education Providers Adapt to Industrywide Changes

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Jan. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts recently released its bankruptcy statistics for the 2013 fiscal year that included 1,071,399 Chapter 7 and 13 cases filed nationwide. Amidst all of these filings, 2013 was also a year of change as large credit counseling agencies suffered their own financial losses and the Final Rule was adopted by the Executive Office for United States Trustees to regulate these agencies.  

Many of the agencies offering pre-bankruptcy credit counseling and post-filing debtor education also offer other types of counseling services, including debt management and housing.  Due to the drop in the number of consumers needing help, some of these large agencies posted multi-million dollar losses that have resulted in layoffs, mergers and acquisitions, or shutdowns.  In addition, in March 2013 the credit counseling and debtor education Final Rules were published that included specific procedures and criteria that agencies were required to abide by in order to remain in compliance, which presented additional challenges for the industry.

In response to the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA), Start Fresh Today was developed by bankruptcy attorneys and technology professionals to offer the required credit counseling and debtor education.  Since 2005, the core focus has remained the same within a proprietary all-in-one platform, simplifying the bankruptcy process for attorneys and their clients.

"While we've seen other providers within the industry come and go, Start Fresh Today has been here since the beginning and continues to grow," said Cris Frankel, CEO of Start Fresh Today. "Our primary focus has always been our service level and commitment to consumers and bankruptcy attorneys. Perhaps this is the reason, despite the drop in filings, our volume is up over last year, and we're hiring and prepared to acquire interested competitors."

Frankel's commitment to service and personal relationships is evident by his 2014 travel schedule. He plans to personally visit and entertain bankruptcy attorneys nationwide. "These visits will help us gain additional insight and improve on existing programs as well as introduce new ones which we believe will continue to set us apart from other providers," Frankel said.

About Start Fresh Today

Founded in 2005, Start Fresh Today offers Credit Counseling and Debtor Education within a nationally-recognized online platform.  Start Fresh Today has also positioned itself as the one-stop-shop where consumer bankruptcy attorneys can access due diligence products and a fully-integrated bankruptcy software platform. Visit: www.startfreshtoday.com.

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SOURCE Start Fresh Today