Editor's Note
"Though they all produce bankruptcy filings, not all bankruptcy preparation
businesses are the same. The same applies to attorneys. Just because a debtor
can afford an attorney does not mean that they will get better results.
In order to include a company in our review, the company has to meet certain
criteria. As a minimum, it has to demonstrate stability by serving the public
long enough to have a critical mass of past customers with an opinion on them;
It has to allow us access to its product and it has to allow us to gather
feedback from its past customers.
We have tracked this sector for years and we have done our homework. So we know
who is who and can offer insightful recommendations.
Our recommendations are not based on price neither should your choice be based
solely on price. Compared to the tens of thousands in debt that you will
discharge, the small variation in price between the reviewed vendors is
insignificant. Pay a little extra and use the best. You will quickly forget how
much you paid but you will remember the results of your choice for years to
come."
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Bankruptcy Vendors: reviews
To file bankruptcy or not to file bankruptcy? These are some of the questions
addressed by BkReviews in this in-depth look at bankruptcy filing and the
choices available. We take a close look at some of the leading bankruptcy
preparation sites and offer recommendation to help debtors choose.
Choose
from these leading bankruptcy help companies with prices starting as low as $49.99.
-- Editor's Picks --
Miller Bankruptcy
This is our editors' top pick. It may look like another bankruptcy site but it
is not. Their Labyrinth makes all the difference. There is nothing quite like it
on the internet and that includes attorney sites.
USA Bankruptcy
Among the top two on the internet and very affordable. The best guarantee
around. Comparable to Bridgeport in level of service. Full Service. No software.
Great customer service. Most popular.
Bridgeport Bankruptcy
One of the best Full Service companies around. Thousands of cases prepared. Good
customer support. High quality work usually in 1-day or less! Amongst the
fastest turn-around. Best Value.
Pros: Full-Service bankruptcy preparation;
Ready to sign and file; current to latest requirements for all states; Reveals
inner workings of court clerks, judges, trustees, creditors and most especially,
creditors. It allows you to structure bankruptcy filing to your advantage.
Provides access to attorneys at no extra charge.
Cons: A bit more expensive than other full-service sites but well worth it.
Extras: They provide access to attorneys
who can answer bankruptcy questions from as little as $25 to free in some cases. The
Labyrinth is their proprietary one-of-a kind must-have secrets knowledge-base
that you can use to keep bankruptcy off your credit report.
In the long run, if you can keep your bankruptcy off your credit report, your
life after bankruptcy will be a lot easier and you will end up saving thousands
in finance fees down the road.
Our Top Pick, Best
Overall Vendor
Pros:
The oldest continuously serving online bankruptcy business in the US. They prepare more
full-service consumer bankruptcies than any other web site or law firm. Solid
sign-and-file document preparation and their money-back guarantee is unrivaled,
Same-day turn around, unlimited number of creditors, couples can file together
without extra charge. Best overall value. It was hard for us to decide between
Miller and USA for our top pick because of Miller's labyrinth. If you do not
need something like Miller's Labyrinth, for the price, this would be our top
pick.
Cons: They do not provide access to
attorneys and luckily, most people do not need attorney consultation. They do
not handle corporate bankruptcies.
Extras: While they do not provide attorney
access, they provide resources to help you rebuild your credit after filing
bankruptcy.
Their bankruptcy information input questionnaire is intuitive and very easy to
complete. You can save your data with a mouse click and log back in later to
continue where you left off. This allows you to take your time collecting your
information and entering your creditors.
Best Mid-Priced Full-Service Vendor
Pros:
One the best known Full-service companies. Their package is the full sign and
file service, so you can count on them to do everything for you. The only thing
you have to do is give them your bills and file the finished documents. They
will take all your creditors no matter how many they are, without a per creditor
charge like most attorneys. Because it is not a software site, you
do not have to worry about installing some unknown executable that can
compromise your computer. With their 200% money-back guarantee, they have some of the best guarantees of all the bankruptcy sites. They
also include a free fee waiver so that in most cases, you do not pay the court
filing fee. In a nut shell, for the modest amount they charge for true
full-service, you cannot go wrong with this company.
Cons: They are mostly a word of mouth site
and advertize on the search engines only sporadically, so they can be difficult to find on the search engines unless that are
bookmarked. They do not provide access to
attorneys and luckily, most people do not need attorney consultation. They do
not handle corporate bankruptcies.
Extras: While they do not provide attorney
access, they provide some help rebuilding your credit after bankruptcy.
Premier Full-Service Vendor
Pros:
The only publicly available means testing service anywhere. Since they own the space,
you know that if you qualify with them, you will qualify for a discharge of
debts with the court for sure. Their full-service bankruptcy is on par with the best. Because
it is full-service, you do not have to worry about using software and screwing
it up yourself. It may cost a bit more than software but you get what you pay
for. If you want to stick with only one company for everything from the means
test to the final bankruptcy discharge, then this one is for you.
Cons: They do not help with keeping bankruptcy off
your credit report or rebuilding your credit later. Also, they do not provide access to
attorneys and luckily, most people do not need attorney consultation. They do
not handle corporate bankruptcies.
Extras: Free bankruptcy means testing.
Their means test results are accepted by other sites and participating
attorneys.
Top Means Test
Provider and Premier
Full-Service Vendor
Pros:
Web based software. Nothing to download and nothing to install. Because it
is fully online, you avoid the risk of infecting your computer with worms and
viruses as is the case with bankruptcy software programs that run from your hard
drive. When you install any software, you have to give the software full
unrestricted access to all your hard drives and operating system and if the
software vendor wants to give themselves backdoor access to your system, they can
and you will never know about it. Using online software that works in a plain
web page avoids all that risk. There are other software solutions that cost less
but for what you get, this is the best.
Cons: This is software not full-service,
that is, there is no one behind the scenes looking over everything. You are always
better off having your bankruptcy documents prepared for you by real people and
prepared from start to finish or full-service as it is called, rather than by
software. Their software will not help you keep bankruptcy off your credit
report or rebuild your credit later. Also, they do not provide access to
attorneys and luckily, most people do not need attorney consultation. They do
not handle corporate bankruptcies.
Extras: None.
Top Software Pick
Pros:
One of the first full-service preparers, so they have had the time to perfect their craft. Solid and up-to-date
documents and extensive bankruptcy information on their public site. Quick
turn-around. Most affordable
full-service bankruptcy product.
Cons: Their site has not changed in more
than nine years neither have they offered extras such as after-bankruptcy credit
help. Also, they do not provide access to
attorneys and luckily, most people do not need attorney consultation. They do
not handle corporate bankruptcies.
Extras: None.
Premier Discount Full-Service Vendor
Pros:
DebtorAid is a full-service bankruptcy company offering the basics; good bankruptcy
documents and 2 to 3 day turn-around. Their web site is straight to the point
with little to read and depending on one's point of view, that may or may not be
a benefit.
Cons: They do not provide access to
attorneys and luckily, most people do not need attorney consultation. They do
not handle corporate bankruptcies.
Extras: None.
Reviewed Full-Service Vendor
Pros:
Online bankruptcy software is better than the software you have to download and
install on your hard drive and this web site offers online software. You are
always better off with full-service sites where bankruptcy experts actually
prepare the documents and take responsibility for the results.
Cons: It is only software and so cannot
provide real people who can prepare the documents for you and take
responsibility for it. Also, there is such a thing as too low a price for
something as important as bankruptcy that could affect the rest of your life.
Pay a little more for full-service and have it all done for you.
Extras: None.
Reviewed Software Vendor
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