Nonprofit Budget and Credit Counseling
Bureau of Debt Settlement is a nonprofit organization that provides
budget and credit counseling to help consumers understand their
financial options.
What We Offer
- One-on-one budget and credit counseling sessions
- Review of your income, expenses, debts, and assets
- A personalized budget and action plan
- Discussion of your options — self-directed repayment, debt
management, debt settlement, and bankruptcy — and how each
may affect your credit - A certificate of completion when you finish your session
How to Access Counseling
Counseling is provided two ways:
200 Chisholm Place, Suite 260, Plano, TX 75075. Call to schedule.
There is no online option. Counseling is delivered by
telephone and in person only.
Languages
Services are available in English. Free bilingual assistance or
interpreter services are available at no cost for clients with limited
English proficiency.
Fees & Fee Assistance
| Service | Single Session | Joint Session |
|---|---|---|
| Telephone Counseling | $25.00 | $50.00 |
| In-Person Counseling | $25.00 | $50.00 |
| Certificate of Completion | No additional fee | No additional fee |
Fee Assistance
- No one is ever denied counseling because they cannot pay.
- Free service: Clients with family income below 150%
of the federal poverty guidelines receive counseling at no cost. - Reduced rates: Clients with family income between
150% and 200% of the poverty guidelines pay a reduced fee on a
sliding scale. - Additional waivers: Fees are also waived or reduced
for clients receiving public assistance or demonstrating financial
hardship. - How to request: Tell your counselor before or during
your session. A short income/household-size review determines your
fee. Services are provided even before documentation is verified.
Fee Schedule and Fee Waiver Policy
1. Purpose
This Policy establishes the fees charged by Bureau of Debt Settlement
(“the Agency”) for budget and credit counseling services, and
the Agency’s policies enabling clients to obtain those services for
free or at reduced rates based on the client’s inability to pay. No
client or potential client is ever denied counseling services because of
an inability to pay.
2. Fee Schedule
The Agency offers Telephone Counseling and In-Person Counseling. The
standard fees are:
| Service | Single Session | Joint Session (two clients) |
|---|---|---|
| Telephone Counseling | $25.00 | $50.00 |
| In-Person Counseling | $25.00 | $50.00 |
| Certificate of Completion | No additional fee | No additional fee |
- The fee is a single, flat per-session fee. There is no separate charge
for generation or issuance of the certificate of completion. - A “joint session” means two clients (e.g., spouses)
counseled together in a single session for the joint-session fee of
$50.00. - Payment of the fee is not required in order to receive counseling
services or to receive a certificate of completion.
3. Free Services — Mandatory Fee Waiver (Below 150% of Poverty Guidelines)
In accordance with 28 C.F.R. § 58.21(c), the Agency waives
all fees and provides counseling services free of charge to any client
whose family income is less than 150% of the Poverty Guidelines published
annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under
42 U.S.C. § 9902(2).
A fee waiver under this section is automatic and presumptive upon a
showing that household income is below 150% of the applicable HHS Poverty
Guideline for the client’s household size.
2026 thresholds — 48 contiguous states & DC
(annual). Below the 150% column = free service.
| Household Size | 100% Guideline | 150% (Free Service if below) | 200% (Sliding-scale ceiling) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $23,940 | $31,920 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $32,460 | $43,280 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $40,980 | $54,640 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $49,500 | $66,000 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $58,020 | $77,360 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $66,540 | $88,720 |
| 7 | $50,040 | $75,060 | $100,080 |
| 8 | $55,720 | $83,580 | $111,440 |
| Each additional person | + $5,680 | + $8,520 | + $11,360 |
Source: HHS 2026 Poverty Guidelines and the Administrative
Office of the U.S. Courts 2026 150%-of-poverty table. Alaska and Hawaii use
higher guidelines; the Agency applies the correct table for the
client’s state. These figures are updated annually when HHS publishes
new guidelines.
4. Reduced-Rate Services — Mandatory Sliding Scale (150%–200% of Poverty Guidelines)
In accordance with 28 C.F.R. § 58.21(d), for clients whose
family income is between 150% and 200% of the HHS Poverty Guidelines, the
Agency provides counseling services at a reduced rate on a sliding scale
based on the client’s ability to pay, as follows:
| Family Income (% of HHS Poverty Guideline) | Single Session | Joint Session |
|---|---|---|
| Below 150% | $0.00 — free | $0.00 — free |
| 150% to 174% | $8.00 | $16.00 |
| 175% to 200% | $16.00 | $32.00 |
| Above 200% | Standard fee ($25.00) | Standard fee ($50.00) |
The Agency may further reduce or waive the fee for any client between 150%
and 200% (or above 200%) who demonstrates that payment of the reduced fee
would still impose a financial hardship.
5. Additional Hardship Reductions and Waivers
Beyond the mandatory thresholds above, the Agency will also waive or
reduce fees for any client who:
- Receives means-tested public assistance (e.g., SNAP, TANF, SSI,
Medicaid); or - Demonstrates financial hardship based on documented income and
expenses, regardless of where their income falls relative to the
Poverty Guidelines.
6. How to Qualify (Client Process)
A client may request a fee waiver or reduction at any time before or
during intake. To determine eligibility, the client provides:
- Household size, and
- Family income (any reasonable verification — recent pay stub,
benefits letter, tax return, or signed self-attestation where
documentation is unavailable).
The counselor compares the client’s income and household size to the
current HHS Poverty Guidelines and applies the applicable fee level from
Sections 3 and 4. No client is required to produce documentation before
receiving services, and a client who states an inability to pay will
receive services at no cost pending verification. Self-attestation is
accepted where documentation is not readily available.
7. No Denial of Service
Consistent with § 58.21(b), the Agency provides services free of
charge or at reduced rates to any person who cannot pay. No client is ever
denied counseling, and no certificate of completion is ever withheld,
because of inability to pay. A certificate is issued upon completion of
counseling regardless of whether any fee was paid or waived.
8. Written Fee Disclosure (Timing)
Consistent with 28 C.F.R. § 58.20(l) and § 58.21(e),
the Agency discloses this fee policy — including the availability of
free and reduced-rate services — in writing to each client and
potential client before providing any information to or obtaining any
information from the client, and before rendering any counseling service.
Where the Agency publishes fee information online, that information
includes these free/reduced-rate policies, as required by
§ 58.20(l)(2).
9. Documentation and Recordkeeping
Each fee waiver or reduction determination is documented in the client
file, including household size, income basis, and the fee level applied,
and is retained in accordance with the Agency’s recordkeeping
policies.
10. Administration
The Credit Counseling Supervisor, or designee, is responsible for
administering this Policy and ensuring consistent application across all
counselors and counseling methods.
Required Disclosures
These disclosures are made pursuant to 28 C.F.R. § 58.20(l).
They are provided to every client and potential client, in writing,
prior to providing any information to or obtaining any
information from the client, and prior to rendering any
counseling service — that is, at the very start of every telephone
or in-person intake, before any client information is collected.
Please read these disclosures before we collect any
information from you and before counseling begins.
1. Fee Policy (Including Certificate Fee) § 58.20(l)(1)
Our standard fee is $25.00 for a single counseling session and $50.00
for a joint counseling session (two clients, e.g., spouses, counseled
together), for both telephone and in-person counseling. There is no
separate or additional fee for generating or issuing your certificate
of completion. Payment is not required to receive services.
2. Free and Reduced-Rate Services for Inability to Pay § 58.20(l)(2)
You may receive counseling free of charge if your family income is below
150% of the federal HHS Poverty Guidelines, and at a reduced rate on a
sliding scale if your family income is between 150% and 200% of those
Guidelines. We also waive or reduce fees for clients receiving public
assistance or demonstrating financial hardship. No one is denied
counseling or a certificate because of inability to pay. Our full fee
and fee-waiver policy is also published on our website.
3. Bilingual / Interpreter Services for Limited English Proficiency § 58.20(l)(3)
If you have limited English proficiency, we will provide free bilingual
counseling services or professional interpreter assistance at no cost
to you.
4. Funding Sources § 58.20(l)(4)
The Agency is funded by client fees and donations/grants.
5. Counselors’ Qualifications § 58.20(l)(5)
Our credit counselors are trained and qualified in budget and credit counseling. Counseling is provided by counselors who together hold FCRA and FDCPA certifications and who have substantial experience in the consumer credit field, and is supervised by a supervisor with over 20 years of experience in the consumer credit field. Counselor qualifications are documented in the Agency’s records.
6. Potential Impacts on Credit Reports § 58.20(l)(6)
We will discuss several options with you. Each option may affect your
credit report differently. For example: a debt management plan, debt
settlement, self-directed repayment, or bankruptcy each carries
different potential impacts on your credit report and credit score. We
will explain the potential credit-report impact of each alternative we
discuss with you so you can make an informed decision.
7. No Referral Fees § 58.20(l)(7)
The Agency does not pay or receive any referral fees for the referral of
clients.
8. Certificate Upon Completion § 58.20(l)(8)
Upon your completion of counseling, the Agency will promptly provide you
with a certificate of completion.
9. Right to Negotiate an Alternative Payment Schedule (11 U.S.C. § 502(k)) § 58.20(l)(9)
You have the opportunity to negotiate an alternative payment schedule
with respect to each of your unsecured consumer debts, under terms set
forth in 11 U.S.C. § 502(k). The Agency does not provide
this service. If you wish to pursue an alternative payment schedule, the
Agency may refer you to another approved agency, and you should be aware
that you may incur additional fees in connection with such a referral.
10. Disclosure of Client Information to the U.S. Trustee § 58.20(l)(10)
The Agency may disclose your information to the United States Trustee in
connection with the U.S. Trustee’s oversight of the Agency, or
during the investigation of complaints, during on-site visits, or during
quality-of-service reviews.
11. Scope of U.S. Trustee Review § 58.20(l)(11)
The United States Trustee has reviewed only the Agency’s credit
counseling services (and, if applicable, its services as a provider of a
personal financial management instructional course under
11 U.S.C. § 111(d)). The United States Trustee has neither
reviewed nor approved any other services the Agency provides to clients,
including any debt settlement services.
12. Certificate Only Upon Completion § 58.20(l)(12)
You will receive a certificate only if you complete the counseling
services.