Mississauga Bankruptcy Info & Alternatives
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Personal Bankruptcy Mississauga – 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.

Personal Bankruptcy in Mississauga, Ontario – When you can’t afford to pay your bills and debts what comes to mind first? Many people think of filing for bankruptcy. While bankruptcy might be the right solution for you, you first need to find out about your other options, the ins and outs of the process, and how it will affect you and your family in the future. We want to help you avoid making a huge mistake by giving you information to make an informed decision.

You Probably Have Other Options
See What They Are
You may firmly believe that bankruptcy is the only way to resolve your financial situation, but it's very possible that other viable options are available to you - other options that could potentially help you achieve your financial objectives sooner, with far more privacy, and with far less of an impact to your credit or career. Every option has pros and cons, but it's worth taking a few minutes to see what your options look like and whether you think you'd like to look into any of them further.

Types of Debts – What Bankruptcy Won’t Do

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 types of debt that you can’t declare bankruptcy on:

  • Secured debts, like mortgages or car loans
  • Student loans that are less than 7 years old
  • Child and alimony support payments that are in arrears

Some people also want to declare bankruptcy because of their credit card debt. However, if they only recently got into debt with their credit cards, creditors may oppose eliminating the debts 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.

Credit Ratings & Bankruptcy in Canada

Bankruptcy is noted on your credit report and seriously impacts your credit rating. Despite what people say, getting credit after you have eliminated your debts legally through bankruptcy is not easy. It takes patience and time to prove yourself to creditors again. Until they trust you enough to lend you money again, your financial plans might be on hold because you won’t be able to take out a loan, renew your mortgage or apply for a low interest rate credit card.

People We Helped Interviewed by the News Media

Occasionally, the news media will speak with people we helped who are comfortable with publicly sharing their experiences. Here are a few of their stories.

Global TV interviews Julia Fletcher after she eliminates her debt with zero interest & avoids bankruptcy with help from the Credit Counselling Society. See Story Now
CTV News reveals how Dan Robinson paid off $30,000 in debt with no interest with the help of the Credit Counselling Society. Watch the News Story
Global TV sits down with Charis who has almost paid off $67,000 worth of debt on 13 credit cards with the assistance of the Credit Counselling Society. Watch

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 Plans

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.

If you happen to have bad credit, you might be worried about consolidating your debts, but consolidating payments doesn’t mean borrowing more money, so credit problems aren’t an issue. That’s how a debt management program with a non-profit credit counselling agency works. Your creditors help you by lowering or waiving interest charges. This makes smaller payments possible, saves you thousands in interest and lets you pay back what you borrowed. Your monthly payments are based on what you can afford and there’s no loan to get you deeper into debt.

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

If you need a legal alternative to filing for bankruptcy, your situation might mean that you need a Consumer Proposal. A Consumer Proposal in Mississauga 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 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 Mississauga, 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 bankruptcy alternatives and debt relief options
  • Show you how to budget effectively for all of your household expenses
  • Recommend bankruptcy trustees in Mississauga if it looks like declaring bankruptcy is the right option
  • Provide answers and information so that you can choose the best way of dealing with your debts

Mississauga Office

77 City Centre Drive
East Tower, Suite 501
Mississauga, ON L5B 1M5

Phone: 647-776-0485

Our office that serves Mississauga also offers bankruptcy alternatives in Brampton, Milton, Oakville, Etobicoke, Erin Mills, Alderwood, Eatonville, Richview, Rexdale, Vaughan, Region of Peel, and Toronto.
Free Credit Counselling Appointments & Consultations for Mississauga, Ontario

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 Mississauga, contact us today at 647-776-0485, 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.

Certified by Great Places to Work Canada
Accredited by Canada’s national association of non-profit credit counselling organizations.
North America’s largest association of non-profit credit counselling organizations.
Accredited by the Better Business Bureau.

The Credit Counselling Society also provides help to those who are struggling with payday loans – including online loans – in Mississauga.