Tag: credit counselling

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PAYDAY LOANS ARE NOT THE ANSWER TO YOUR FINANCIAL PROBLEMS

PAYDAY LOANS ARE NOT THE ANSWER TO YOUR FINANCIAL PROBLEMSPayday loans. The holidays are over and it’s time to pay the piper. Your mail box is full of credit card bills and you don’t know where the money is going to come from, so you think about payday loans.

You’ve got the TV on and low and behold, what could be playing but a commercial for a company offering payday loans promising to be the cure for what ails you. Just make a call, drop into a payday loan store or go online and like magic, your money problems will be over with payday loans. Not so fast! That’s not exactly how it works. And, it will not solve your money problems; it will create new ones. Instead of owing the credit card companies money, you will owe the payday loan companies money. Payday loan companies don’t lend money because they are charitable. They lend money at exorbitant rates because they know that you can’t borrow anywhere else and you will get caught in the cycle of endless payday loans.

Here is a typical example of how payday loan companies do business. The Cash Store charges annual interest of 59.9% to new borrowers. As a result the provinces have been going after payday loan companies to protect the consumer. The December 2013 amendment by Ontario is the second time that year The Cash Store and their payday loans faced regulatory scrutiny from the province, according to Moody’s. In February, the Ontario Ministry of Consumer Services was preparing to revoke the company’s payday loans licence when it substituted a new one-year line of credit product to continue lending. Payday loans are most often taken out by low-income people willing to pay high interest rates to avoid falling behind on their bills or to cover emergency expenses, according to studies commissioned by the Canadian government and the Canadian Payday Loan Association.

If you have to go to a payday loan company, you have serious debt issues and you need professional help. There is nothing to be ashamed of. You’re like many people who have been living paycheque to paycheque until one day you either lose the paycheque or it just isn’t enough to pay the bills. Contact Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. today. We will evaluate your situation and discuss the options with you which may include bankruptcy alternatives such as credit counselling, debt consolidation and consumer proposals in addition to bankruptcy. Starting Over, Starting Now you can live a debt free life.

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DON’T BE MISLEAD BY ADVERTISING GIVING FINANCIAL ADVICE

tax lawyer, trustee, trustee in bankruptcy, bankruptcy trustee, bankruptcy, bankruptcy alternatives, credit counselling, debt consolidation, consumer proposals, financial restructuring, bankruptcy faqs, insolvency, tax lawyer in canadaHave you heard the radio advertising spots by a tax lawyer in Canada who is trying very hard to make you believe that he is The Rock Star in the world of tax problems and that he and only he can help you? One commercial ends with, “Don’t call a Trustee, call me”. Isn’t it amazing that without knowing anything about you and without a consultation, he knows exactly what your problems are and how to fix them? And, he has no way to know if a Trustee is all you require to solve your serious debt issues. However, fear based advertising must be working for him because he spends fortunes on it.

Don’t take advice from an advertisement. If you have legal issues, absolutely you need a lawyer in Canada. But, the reality is that Canadian bankruptcy law doesn’t differentiate between tax debts and other kinds of unsecured debt, therefore most people can declare bankruptcy on taxes owing. In fact, 50% of the people who file a consumer proposal or declare personal bankruptcy include some form of tax debt. If you are experiencing serious debt problems you must consult with a Trustee before declaring bankruptcy; no doubt you will have many questions about the bankruptcy process. The Trustee will evaluate your case and advise you on all of your alternatives – credit counselling, debt consolidation, consumer proposals, and bankruptcy. Bankruptcy and consumer proposals are administered by a Bankruptcy Trustee, not a lawyer. In fact you cannot declare bankruptcy through a lawyer unless the lawyer is also a Trustee in Bankruptcy.

There are cases in which you may need a lawyer:

  • Tax debts are generally discharged in bankruptcy like other debts. However, if you have tax debts and the CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) is opposing your discharge, it is recommended that you seek legal assistance.
  • In most cases Trustees do not act as your advocate. If you believe you need an advocate, you should consult a lawyer. Communication between you and your lawyer is confidential and privileged.

This is not an advertisement and we’re not telling you that we are Rock Stars. Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. is a full service insolvency and financial restructuring practice serving companies and individuals throughout the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) facing financial crisis or bankruptcy that need a plan for Starting Over, Starting Now. We approach every file with the attitude that corporate or personal financial problems can be solved given immediate action and the right plan. Our bankruptcy law is complicated. Canada (Superintendent of Bankruptcy) v. 407 ETR. Also check out our bankruptcy faqs. If you’re having serious debt issues, and yes, even tax debt, contact us today. We can provide you with realistic choices for practical decision-making.

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THE 10 MOST COMMON CREDIT SCORE MISTAKES

canadian credit score calculator, credit score, credit scores, credit score mistakes, credit report, credit problems, credit history, bad credit, bankruptcy and insolvency act, bankruptcy alternatives, bankruptcy, consumer proposals, credit counselling, toronto bankruptcy, vaughan bankruptcy, trustee, woodbridge bankruptcy, what is bankruptcy, what is a consumer proposal, dave johnsonLast week we discussed how Your Credit Score Can Be Ruined Even If You Don’t Do Anything Wrong. This week we’ll be addressing The 10 Most Common Credit Score Mistakes.

What is a Credit Score? According to the Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) “Your credit score is a judgment about your financial health, at a specific time. It indicates the risk you represent for lenders, compared with other consumers. Unfortunately, there is not an online Canadian credit score calculator tool.

There are many ways to work out credit scores. The credit reporting agencies Equifax and TransUnion use a scale from 300 to 900. High scores on this scale are good. The higher your score, the lower the risk for the lender. Lenders may also have their own ways of arriving at credit scores. In addition, lenders must decide on the lowest score you can have and still borrow money from them. They can also use your score to set the interest rate you will pay”.

What are the 10 Most Common Credit Score Mistakes?

1. Failing to check your credit report for errors: As we discussed in last week’s blog Your Credit Score Can Be Ruined Even If You Don’t Do Anything Wrong. Check your credit report at least annually. Mistakes on credit reports are more common than you may have imagined and you need to stay on top of the situation. If you do discover any errors, contact the credit bureau as soon as possible to correct the situation.

2. Not using your full legal name in financial documents: It’s possible that people with common names or similar sounding names could have their name attributed to a credit report that is not theirs, as was the case for Mr. Dave Johnson of Pembroke, Ontario. Use your full legal name on bank accounts, credit applications and other documents that become part of your credit history.

3. Paying your bills late and failing to make at least the minimum monthly payment: If you don’t pay at least the minimum amount due on time your creditors will eventually report your account as past due, which can damage your credit score. If there is a reason why you won’t be able to pay your bill on time, contact your creditor before your bill is due to work out an arrangement if possible.

4. Maxing out on your credit cards: If your credit cards are maxed out, potential creditors may question your ability to repay. If you are approved for a loan you may be charged a higher interest rate to compensate for what is viewed as a higher risk.

5. Not alerting creditors if you’ve moved: Your bill may arrive late and as a result your payments could be late, potentially damaging your credit score.

6. Registering for too many new credit cards: Consumers who often open new credit cards are viewed as a greater risk than those who don’t.

7. Closing older credit card accounts: Closing older credit card accounts shortens the length of your credit history and this can adversely affect your credit score.

8. Don’t co-sign for someone else’s loan: You could be liable for that person’s debt and damage your credit rating.

9. Don’t share your credit card or social insurance number with anyone: There are a lot of scams abound where people try by phone, email or mail to get your credit card or social insurance number. This can be a fast track to identity theft and financial disaster.

10. Ignoring the warning signs of credit problems: If you have trouble making the minimum payments on time and have maxed out all of your credit, you have serious debt problems.

Serious debt problems need professional help. Contact Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. and take the first step towards a healthy financial future. Starting Over, Starting Now a debt free life can be yours.

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ADVICE FOR SENIORS WITH CREDIT CARD DEBT-SENIORS IN DEBT, PART 4

debt, seniors in debt, bankruptcy, personal bankruptcy, trustee, bankruptcy alternatives, credit counselling, debt consolidation, consumer proposals, insolvency, restructuring, starting over starting now, seniors trying to start over, seniors with credit card debtLast week we discussed whether or not seniors should try and pay off their debt or declare bankruptcy. This week we’ve got some great advice for seniors in debt, seniors with credit card debt, seniors looking for Starting Over, Starting Now.

Seniors in debt is a serious problem that continues to get worse:

  • According to Statistics Canada, one in three retirees over 55 and two in three over 55 who aren’t yet retired are in debt.
  • A recent TD Bank study has shown that older Canadians have increased their debt load by 15% (an average of $6000/person) from the previous year. Seniors living in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec had the highest rates of debt accumulation in 2012.
  • According to Boomers and Retirement, a new survey by TD Ameritrade, the average Baby Boomer is about a half-million dollars short on retirement savings.

The most important piece of advice we can give seniors trying to start over is to eliminate debt! Carrying debt into retirement is a recipe for disaster. Once you retire and begin living on a fixed income you will no longer have the funds required to service the debt; this is especially true for seniors with credit card debt at high rates of interest. Here are 5 tips for seniors in debt:

  1. Postpone retirement if at all possible and pay down as much debt as you can. If working fulltime is not an option, consider part-time work.
  2. Pay down credit card balances as quickly as possible. They are generally the highest-interest loans that seniors carry. You can also call the credit card company and ask for a lower interest rate. They will sometimes agree.
  3. Limit the number of credit cards that you have.
  4. Stay away from debt settlement companies! Consumers are continuing to be taken in by false claims offering to settle your debts for pennies on the dollar quickly and easily. The reality is that when something seems too good to be true, it usually is. Debt settlement companies exist for only one reason – to take your money! They will not help you solve your debt problems. There is no instant or quick fix for serious debt issues.
  5. Protect yourself against fraud and/or abuse. Run away from get rich schemes. There are many scammers out there who have duped seniors out of their life savings and continue to seek out new targets.

As we discussed in Seniors in Debt, Part 3, the right debt relief option you ultimately decide upon will depend on whether or not you have assets, who you owe money to, and how much you owe. For seniors trying to start over there are bankruptcy alternatives – credit counselling, debt consolidation, consumer proposals – which in many cases are better options than declaring personal bankruptcy.

If you’re planning to retire soon or you have already retired and find yourself dealing with serious debt, consult a professional Trustee. Contact Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. We are a full service insolvency and financial restructuring practice serving companies and individuals throughout the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) facing financial crisis or bankruptcy that need a plan for Starting Over, Starting Now. We can help.

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SENIOR CREDIT CARD DEBT RELIEF OR DECLARE BANKRUPTCY-SENIORS IN DEBT, PART 3

senior credit card debt relief, should seniors file a consumer proposal, bankruptcy, personal bankruptcy, declare bankruptcy, trustee, bankruptcy alternatives, bankruptcy process, credit counselling, debt consolidation, consumer proposals, wagesLast week we discussed why the majority of seniors are in debt. This week we’ll be addressing if seniors should try and pay off their debts to obtain senior credit card debt relief or declare bankruptcy.

Life is very difficult for many seniors who anticipated that their golden years would be a carefree retirement. Instead, according to the Vanier Institute for the Family, Canadians over the age of 65 have the highest insolvency and bankruptcy rates in the country. With increasing expenses and a significantly reduced income and return on investments, more seniors are contemplating bankruptcy; but is it the best and/or only option?

While it’s true that bankruptcy can eliminate many of your debts, people typically file personal bankruptcy as a means of protection from creditors. If you are working, bankruptcy will protect you from creditors garnisheeing your wages. However, if you are retired and your sole source of income is your pension, then there are no wages to garnishee. It is very difficult for a creditor to garnishee a pension with one notable exception. If you owe the CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) for unpaid taxes, they are permitted to garnishee all types of pension income under Section 224.1 of the Income Tax Act. It is rare that the CRA will garnishee your pension income, but it is a possibility. If you have a significant tax debt and the CRA has threatened a pension garnishment, the bankruptcy process is an option that has to be considered.

The right debt relief option you ultimately decide upon will depend on whether or not you have assets, who you owe money to, and how much you owe. For seniors in debt there are bankruptcy alternatives – credit counselling, debt consolidation, consumer proposals – which in many cases are better options than declaring personal bankruptcy. In our next blog, we will be considering various options, including should seniors file a consumer proposal?

Unfortunately too few Canadians are properly prepared for the financial reality of retirement. They get caught up in a downward financial spiral and some pass away leaving significant debt. The family is then left with the unpleasant options of paying the debt themselves or bankrupting the estate. If you are a senior in serious debt, consult a professional Trustee as soon as possible. Contact Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. for professional advice and an action plan that’s right for you. Starting Over, Starting Now we can give you the help that you need to deal with your financial problems, and peace of mind.

Watch for our next blog when we’ll be discussing some advice we have for seniors in debt.

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MARITAL BREAKDOWN AND BANKRUPTCY: WHICH COMES FIRST?

Bankruptcy, bankruptcy and divorce, Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, bankruptcy faqs, Consumer Proposal, credit counselling, Debt, debt consolidation, debt relief, divorce, family law, if my ex files bankruptcy how will it affect joint accounts, if my ex files for bankruptcy how will it affect joint accounts, marital breakdown and bankruptcyJust like the old conundrum, “which came first; the chicken or the egg” how would one answer, marital breakdown and bankruptcy: which comes first? It has no definitive answer because excellent arguments can be made for both sides. The same holds true for “divorce and bankruptcy; which comes first”?

Each case has to be decided upon its own merit. Although marital breakdown and bankruptcy, and bankruptcy and divorce, often go hand in hand, marital breakdown doesn’t always lead to divorce if the marriage can be salvaged. As family and parental rights lawyers UT have made clear, bankruptcy and divorce are two separate legal processes that can be at odds with each other.

There are however a few indisputable facts:

  • The number one reason for marital breakdown and couples getting divorced is financial issues. Divorce.com
  • In a recent study one out of every seven people who declared bankruptcy in Canada listed separation, divorce or marital breakdown as a contributing factor to their financial problems.
  • One-third of all people facing bankruptcy are there because they are also going through marital breakdown and divorce in Ontario or a separation. Gail Vaz-Oxlade
  • Bankruptcy doesn’t eliminate all divorce debts. E.g. It does not eliminate alimony or child support.
  • Declaring bankruptcy on joint debts, even debts in divorce, will impact the other borrower.

If causing the least disruption on the children of the family during a marital breakdown and bankruptcy is of prime importance to the spouse with the debts (and presumably that will be the same as the spouse making the support payments), it makes sense to have at least the support provisions of the divorce proceedings agreed upon, including the making of the support order and then file for bankruptcy. Marital breakdown and bankruptcy process will not disturb any bona fide arrangements for support, but keep in mind it will affect property not already dealt with by the family law court.

One such area comes up in this common question: “If my ex files for bankruptcy how will it affect joint accounts?”. Family law proceedings are the one area of provincial law that is left relatively untouched by the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, which is a federal statute. However, the Supreme Court of Canada has confirmed that in Provinces that are an equalization jurisdiction (as opposed to a division of property jurisdiction), in a unanimous decision, the court upheld defining equalization payments as debts that are a claim provable in bankruptcy, meaning they are wiped off a person’s slate by the bankruptcy process.

Marital breakdown and bankruptcy is an extremely complicated process, made even more complicated when combined with divorce and requires the expertise of a licensed Trustee to work with your family lawyer to assess your individual situation and provide practical solutions and an action plan. If you have serious debt problems, are contemplating bankruptcy and divorce, or just wish to know more about marital breakdown and bankruptcy, just in case, check out our bankruptcy faqs and then contact Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. as soon as possible. Starting Over, Starting Now we can help you get your life back on track, even with marital breakdown and bankruptcy looming. Watch for our next blog when we’ll be addressing more issues related to marital breakdown and bankruptcy, and divorce and bankruptcy.

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THE LATEST ON DEBT SETTLEMENT COMPANIES

debt settlement, debt settlement companies, debt reduction, debt relief, debt negotiation, bankruptcy, bankruptcy alternative, credit counselling, debt consolidation, consumer proposalBack in February we did a blog warning the public to Beware of Debt Settlement Companies. At the time the U.S. Federal Trade Commission had effectively shut down debt settlement companies, but no action had been taken in Canada. Although there have been numerous consumer alerts issued about debt settlement companies by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC), many people are still falling victim to them. Consumers are taken in by false claims offering to settle your debts for pennies on the dollar quickly and easily. The reality is that when something seems too good to be true, it usually is. Debt settlement companies exist for only one reason – to take your money! They will not help you solve your debt problems. There is no instant or quick fix for serious debt issues.

Finally this spring the Ontario Ministry of Consumer Services publicly declared it is moving ahead with tough legislative measures to protect consumers from these unscrupulous companies know as debt settlement companies, debt reduction companies, debt relief companies and debt negotiation companies. The Ontario Ministry of Consumer Services intends to introduce legislation that will:

  • Ban companies from charging upfront fees for debt settlement services
  • Limit the amount of fees consumers are charged
  • Require clear, easy-to-understand contracts
  • Establish a 10-day cooling-off period, providing consumers more time to consider their agreements
  • Allow the licenses of non-compliant debt settlement companies to be revoked

The best advice that we can offer is beware! There are currently 60 debt settlement companies operating in Ontario just waiting to take advantage of your situation.

If you are experiencing serious debt problems, there is help available. Contact Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. We are licensed by the Government of Canada and subject to a stringent code of ethics. As trustees in bankruptcy we will evaluate your situation and help you to arrive at the best possible solution for your problems, whether that solution is a bankruptcy alternative like credit counselling, debt consolidation or a consumer proposal or bankruptcy. If ultimately consumer proposals or bankruptcy is the best option for you, you will have to use a trustee in bankruptcy. Contact us today and take your first step towards living a debt free life Starting Over, Starting Now.

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GREY DIVORCE IN CANADA CAN CREATE SERIOUS DEBT FOR BOOMER RETIREES

grey divorce in canada“Divorce is the one human tragedy that reduces everything to cash”. – Rita Mae Brown

The terms “silver separation” and grey divorce” sound very benign, but their financial ramifications have spelled disaster for many boomer retirees. Instead of travelling the world or spending carefree days on the golf course, many retired baby boomers may now be saddled with a mountain of debt and are trying to figure out how to pay their bills because of grey divorce in Canada.

A study done in 2012 by Bowling Green State University in Ohio revealed that the divorce rate among people who are retired or near retirement had more than doubled in the United States in just 20 years. According to Statistics Canada, divorces among couples 65 years of age and older are becoming more and more common and that the average age at which Canadians divorce has been rising steadily for a number of years. And, this trend is expected to continue. Susan Eng of the national seniors’ advocacy group CARP said that in recent years her office has been seeing an increase in calls from divorcees who are unsure of how they were going to make ends meet now that they were alone.

Although women seem to be the hardest hit, men are not immune. The nest egg that you have accumulated for retirement now has to be divided and you may also be supporting minor children and helping to support adult children and/or ageing and ailing parents. The financial challenges of your new reality may have created more debt that you can handle.

Grey divorce in Canada summary

Debt is a four-letter word but it can be managed with professional help. If you are experiencing serious debt problems because of grey divorce in Canada, or for any other reason, contact Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver. Credit Counselling, Debt Consolidation, and Consumer Proposals are all options that we can explore and then we will come up with a plan that will work best for you. Although life can be difficult after a grey divorce you can start over and live a debt-free life Starting Over, Starting Now.

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Are You Living in a Financial Dangers Zone?

bankruptcy alternatives, consumer debt, consumer proposals, credit counselling, Debt, debt consolidation, debt problems, debt relief, financial dangersAre you living in a financial dangers zone? Many Canadians have been managing to stay afloat but Bank of Canada officials and federal government ministers have been warning about the financial dangers of accumulating too much debt. With interest rates so low many Canadians have been over borrowing; but what are you going to do once the interest rates go up?

Canadians have serious debt problems:

  • Statistics Canada reports that families now owe about $1.65 for every dollar of after-tax income
  • TransUnion reports that the average Canadian’s consumer debt load hit $27,485 at the end of 2012, a 6% increase over the previous year’s level and the first time the figure has been above $27,000

Consumer debt in Canada has reached an all time high. Are you too far in debt? Are you in a financial dangers zone? The Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) has listed 8 warning signs that tell you when you are too far in debt, in a financial dangers zone and need to make changes in order to avoid bankruptcy:

  1. Frequently pay bills after their due date
  2. Regularly bounce cheques
  3. Use an advance from one credit card to pay the minimum amount on another card
  4. Receive calls from a collection agency
  5. Regularly ask friends or family members for loans
  6. Have your utilities cut off (telephone, hydro, water)
  7. Have cut back on regular budget expenses such as clothing and recreation, or necessities such as food
  8. Are considering taking a second job in order to help pay your bills

If you are living in a financial dangers zone, now is the time to take action. Contact Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. We can help you with your debt problems before they reach the critical level. Bankruptcy is not the only option to a financial crisis. There are bankruptcy alternatives which include credit counselling, debt consolidation and consumer proposals. Starting Over, Starting Now you can have debt relief.

Call a Trustee Now!