Personal Bankruptcy Keswick – Facts, Alternatives & Options | Ontario
No one wants to file for bankruptcy. Find other options and get more information before taking such a drastic step.
Personal Bankruptcy in Keswick, Ontario – Bankruptcy might be the first thing you think of when you realize that you can’t keep up with your bills and debts. It might even be the right debt solution for you. But, before declaring bankruptcy, you need to know your options, how the process works and how it will affect you and your family in the years to come. Let us help you avoid a mistake by explaining all of your options first.
Types of Debts – What Bankruptcy Won’t Do For You
It’s easy for people to tell you that bankruptcy helped them eliminate their debts, but do they also tell you that it’s not possible for everyone? Some debts might still have to be paid because by law, they can’t be included when you file for bankruptcy.
3 common types of debt that aren’t included in a bankruptcy are:
- Secured debts, like a mortgage or car loan
- Student loans that are less than 7 years old
- Child and alimony support payments that you’re behind on
Many people think that they need to declare bankruptcy because of their credit card debt, but if that debt is recent, creditors may not allow you to eliminate those balances with bankruptcy.
Bankruptcy Procedures – The Process of Working with Your Trustee to Attain Your Discharge
Those who have gone bankrupt might not tell you that it takes a minimum of 9 months to complete the bankruptcy process. There are costs and fees to go bankrupt, which you pay to your trustee, as well as bankruptcy counselling sessions you must attend. Depending on your circumstances, you may also need to pay extra to your creditors, which delays completing the process and obtaining your discharge. Not everyone loses their home and assets when they file for bankruptcy, but assets above what you’re allowed to keep in Ontario will be sold by your trustee.
You should also know that your bankruptcy trustee, your creditors, the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy or the Court can oppose or delay your discharge. Depending on your circumstances, you may need to attend a hearing, answer questions under oath and/or meet the additional requirements to obtain your discharge.
Your Credit Report & Bankruptcy in Canada
Bankruptcy is one of the worst things you can do to your credit rating. There is no easy way to obtain credit after you have legally eliminated your debts through bankruptcy. It takes time and patience before creditors trust you enough to lend you money again. Not being able to take out a loan, renew your mortgage or apply for a low interest rate credit card can impact your financial plans and put your life on hold.
Canadians We Helped Interviewed on the News
On occasion, the news media will talk to one or two of the people we helped who are comfortable sharing their story with the public. Below are three of these stories.
See even more examples of the Credit Counselling Society appearing in the local and national news.
Alternatives to Bankruptcy in Ontario
By now you may be wondering which alternatives to bankruptcy could work for you. There are a number of options and the best solution might mean combining some of them. Depending on your circumstances, 4 options that you may not have considered are: consolidation loans, debt repayment programs, debt settlement options or a Consumer Proposal.
Consolidation & Debt Repayment Programs
When you hear the words “debt consolidation,” you probably think that this means consolidating your bills and other debts into a new loan. This could work for you if you’ve got a realistic budget. For many people, it makes more sense to consolidate only their monthly payments. Don’t worry if you’ve been turned down for a consolidation loan by your lender. There are other types of debt consolidation to consider.
When you consolidate payments, you don’t actually borrow more money, so bad credit is never a problem. That’s how a debt management program with a non-profit credit counselling organization works. Your creditors will help you by lowering or waiving ongoing interest charges. This saves you thousands of dollars in interest and lets you repay your debts. The amount you pay each month is based on your budget and on what you can afford.
Debt Settlement
To help you pay back what you borrowed, consolidation programs and loans can help. Most people don’t want to walk away from their debts and go bankrupt, but they think they have to because they don’t know what else to do. Surprisingly, sometimes only paying back part of what you owe can also be a solution. When done properly, a debt settlement offers your creditors a lump sum of money. That might not be as far-fetched an option as you might think.
Consumer Proposal
There are also times where you need a legal alternative to bankruptcy, so a Consumer Proposal might be right. A Consumer Proposal in Keswick is set up by a trustee, and once agreed to by your creditors, you make monthly payments to repay part of what you owe.
What’s My Best Option?
As you can tell, a lot depends on your situation. When you’re just trying to make ends meet and duck the collection phone calls, you need help looking at your circumstances objectively. You need a professionally trained Credit & Debt Counsellor to help you come up with a good plan.
There’s Life Beyond Debt for Everyone
“I am likely going to be out of debt within a year – and that’s over a year ahead of the initial estimate! Best part of that is that because the Credit Counselling Society did it as a debt repayment arrangement, unlike bankruptcy, it will be much better on my credit rating – and as proof, when I applied for new cell and cable service in Vancouver, my rating has already improved such that I got new accounts without a limit or deposit!”
– Paul, Actual Client from Yelp
Non Profit Bankruptcy Information & Credit Counselling Advice in Keswick, Ontario
Get answers to your questions about joint debts or debts remaining after a divorce, find out why someone should not file for bankruptcy, or learn more about bankruptcy alternatives from one of our Debt & Credit Counsellors! They are experts in helping people find solutions to their debt and money problems, and they’d be happy to give you with the information you need to make choices that will benefit your financial future.
Your Counsellor will:
- Explain all of your options to deal with your debts, including alternatives to bankruptcy
- Show you how to effectively manage all of your bills and living expenses
- Refer you to a bankruptcy trustee in Keswick if it looks like bankruptcy is your best option
- Answer your questions and give you the guidance you need to know what to do about your debts
We are experts in helping individuals and families just like you find good solutions to their debt problems. It really is possible to get back on track and look forward to being debt free. To find out more or to schedule a free, confidential appointment with one of our Credit Counsellors who serves Keswick, contact us today at 1-888-527-8999, email us or chat with us online.
Putting Your Interests First
Our goal is to always put consumers first and look out for their best interests in everything we do. One way we do this is through transparency and accountability. We are held accountable to the most rigorous standards in our industry.
The Credit Counselling Society also helps those who are having difficulty with their payday loans – even online loans – in Keswick.