Personal Bankruptcy Niagara Falls
Facts, Options & Alternatives | Ontario
No one feels good about filing for bankruptcy. Get more information and find out what other options and solutions could work better, before making this important decision.
Bankruptcy in Niagara Falls, Ontario – Bankruptcy can be the only thing that comes to mind when you realize that you can’t afford to pay your debts and bills. It might be a good solution for your debt problems. But, before filing bankruptcy, you need to know more about your options, how the process works and what it could mean for you and your family in the future. We can help you avoid a possible mistake by showing you your other options first.
Types of Debts – What Bankruptcy Can’t Do
Bankruptcy isn’t something most people want to talk about with their friends. Yes, bankruptcy gets rid of most of your debts, but did you know that there are some debts you might still have to repay because they can’t be included in your bankruptcy?
3 common kinds of debt that are excluded from bankruptcy are:
- Secured debts, like a car loan or mortgage
- Student loans, if they are less than 7 years old
- Child and alimony support payments that aren’t up to date
Also, if you recently racked up credit card bills and now want to go bankrupt, creditors may stop you or ask that you pay more, before they let you get rid of the debt through bankruptcy.
Bankruptcy Procedures – The Process of Working with Your Trustee to Attain Your Discharge
Filing for bankruptcy is the easy part. Did you know that it takes at least 9 months to complete the whole bankruptcy process? During that time, there are costs and fees to pay to your trustee for bankruptcy. You are also required to attend two bankruptcy counselling sessions. Depending on your situation, if you have to pay extra money to your creditors, completing the process will take longer. If you have too much equity in your home, or assets above what you’re allowed to keep in Ontario, your trustee will sell your assets for you.
Many people aren’t aware that their trustee, their creditors, the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy or the Court could oppose or delay their discharge from bankruptcy. Depending on someone’s situation, they may need to attend a hearing, answer questions under oath and/or meet additional requirements to obtain their 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.
People We Helped Interviewed by the News Media
From time to time, the news media interviews some of our clients who are comfortable sharing their story publicly. Below are three of our clients who were interviewed about their experience with the Credit Counselling Society.
You can see more of the Credit Counselling Society in the news.
Ontario Bankruptcy Alternatives
You may now be curious as to which bankruptcy alternatives can work for you. The right solution might not just be one option, but a combination of a few different ones. Depending on your situation, 4 options that you likely need more information about are: consolidation loans, debt repayment programs, debt settlement options or a Consumer Proposal.
Consolidation & Debt Repayment Plans
Consolidation means a lot of things, and while most people think that they need a loan to consolidate their bills and debts, that’s not always possible. If you’ve got a good household budget, a loan might work for you. However, if you’ve been declined for a debt consolidation loan, consolidating only your monthly payments might make more sense.
Consolidating payments doesn’t involve borrowing more money, so there’s never a problem with bad credit. That’s how a debt management program and plan with a non-profit credit counselling organization works. Creditors help by lowering or waiving interest charges while you’re making your payments. This lets you pay off your debts and saves you thousands in interest and fees. What you pay each month is based on what you can afford after you’ve had help to create a realistic budget.
Settling Your Debts
Repayment and consolidation programs or loans help you pay back what you borrowed – which is a good thing because most people really don’t want to file for bankruptcy and walk away from their debts. However, sometimes it’s possible that only paying back part of a debt may be the best solution. That’s where a debt settlement with a reputable company might help. Offering creditors a settlement requires a lump sum of money, but sometimes that’s not as far-fetched an option as you might think.
Consumer Proposal
Sometimes a legal alternative to bankruptcy might be what you need. A Consumer Proposal could be the right solution depending on your situation. A Consumer Proposal in Niagara Falls is arranged by a trustee, and by making monthly payments, you pay back part of what you owe. Your creditors have the option to agree to the proposal or not.
How Do I Decide Which Option to Go For?
By now you can likely gather that a lot depends on your situation. And regardless of what you’ve tried in the past, you need help taking an objective look at your whole financial situation with a fresh set of eyes. You need a trained and certified Credit Counsellor to help you come up with a good plan.
There’s Hope Without Declaring Bankruptcy
“Whatever your financial worries, trepidation or fear of being judged/forced into bankruptcy – get CCS to help. Their staff is incredible, couldn’t have dealt with a better group of people. They are truly dedicated to finding practical solutions, advocating for your financial future. First they provide hope, then they help and finish by delivering happiness.”
– Daryl, Actual Client Review from Google
Non Profit Bankruptcy Information & Credit Counselling Advice in Niagara Falls, Ontario
One of our expert Credit Counsellors can help if you need answers to questions about joint debts, have questions about debts left over from a divorce, want to learn more about alternatives to bankruptcy, or want to know more about how going bankrupt would affect you. They are experts in helping people come up with good solutions to deal with their debts, and would be happy to provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision to get your finances back on track.
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 Niagara Falls 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 specialize in helping people just like you deal with their debts in ways that work best for them. It really is possible to be debt free and look forward to a stable financial future. To learn more or to schedule a free, confidential consultation with one of our Debt Counsellors that serves Niagara Falls, 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 provides help to those who are struggling with payday loans – including online loans – in Niagara Falls.