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TANK YOUR CREDIT SCORE RATINGS, DECLARE BANKRUPTCY, IMPROVE YOUR LIFE!

credit score ratings, bankrupt, Bankruptcy, Consumer Proposal, credit report, credit score, declare bankruptcy, insolvent, toronto bankruptcy, vaughan bankruptcy, what is bankruptcyAre you the poster child for financial responsibility? You have a good job, you take care of your family, your bill payments are all current and you have an excellent credit score. So, what can possibly be wrong with this picture and why would we think you should tank your credit score ratings, declare bankruptcy and improve your life?

The reality is that as many as 70% of bankruptcy filings are made by people with strong credit scores, according to TransUnion. Why isn’t a great credit score a predictor of whether or not someone will go bankrupt? “Many people are hopelessly insolvent but they’re not delinquent. From a credit report they are making their payments on time but they’ve got no reasonable prospect of ever paying this debt off,” said Mr. Mantin, senior vice-president of E. Sands & Associates Inc. According to Ira Smith, President of Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc., “This is a very telling comment. Most people believe that as long as you make the minimum payment, you are “current”, especially when it comes to credit cards, even though deep down you know that you will never be able to pay off the debt. Current used to mean that when you received the credit card statement, you paid off the balance in full and you were delinquent if all you made was the minimum payment. This is a huge societal mind shift.”

When you are staying afloat by making the minimum payments, it doesn’t take much to tip you over the edge. Any major life changing experience can do it – loss of job, divorce, serious health issues, unexpected major expense – and all of a sudden you go from paying your bills on time and having a great credit score to not paying your bills and looking at bankruptcy.

What should you do? If you are struggling with a mountain of debt, even if you are making your monthly payments and have a great credit score, contact Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. A great credit score won’t solve your debt problems, but a consumer proposal or bankruptcy can help you both financially and emotionally, alleviating the monthly stress when the bills are due. Starting Over, Starting Now you can take charge of your financial future and improve your life.

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Brandon Blog Post

SHOULD SOCIAL MEDIA BE USED TO DETERMINE YOUR CREDIT SCORE?

bad credit, Bankruptcy, bankruptcy alternatives, Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, bankruptcy in Canada, bankruptcy in ontario, bankruptcy ontario, bankruptcy protection, bankruptcy trustees, Consumer Proposal, consumer proposals, credit report, credit score, credit scores, debt management, debt settlement, declaring bankruptcy, Facebook and LinkedIn, social media, social networks, what is a consumer proposalAre you experiencing problems with debt management or having trouble getting credit due to a bankruptcy or a consumer proposal? If so, you are going to be delighted to hear that there are companies who believe that online reputations can tell lenders more about a person’s trustworthiness than the traditional credit score. Your credit score is established on the basis of how you pay your bills while companies like Lenddo and Neo Finance are analyzing data from social networks like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, and other factors to reach people who have a hard time getting loans. The Lenddo score is based upon:

  • Number of followers
  • Background of peers
  • Education and employers
  • Repayment history of friends

The Neo Finance score is based upon the following information in a person’s LinkedIn profile:

  • How long the user has held jobs
  • The number and quality of connections in their industry
  • The seniority of their connections

Should social media be used to determine your credit score? Probably not. Basing anything on the number of social media followers is categorically unreliable. Social media networks have become a numbers game where there is the mistaken belief that “whoever has the most, wins”. Fake Twitter followers have become a multi-million dollar business. Open networkers on LinkedIn have thousands of followers that they don’t know and the same goes for people who collect Facebook friends. The other problem is that the consumer would have to be willing to connect the financial service to their social media networks’ data which of course brings up privacy issues. Although in theory, this sounds like an interesting idea, I’m afraid that there is no quick fix for bad credit.

If you are experiencing problems with debt management or having trouble getting credit due to a bankruptcy or a consumer proposal, contact Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. for information on how to fix bad credit so that you can live a debt free life Starting Over, Starting Now.

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Brandon Blog Post

HOW TO FIX BAD CREDIT- READ NOW TO FIND OUT HOW

bad credit, credit repair, credit report, fix bad credit, how to fix bad credit, secured credit card, secured credit cards, canada loan scam, no upfront fee loans for bad credit, bad credit loans guaranteed approval $5,000If like many Canadians you’ve had some financial difficulties, you may now have the additional problem of having to deal with how to fix bad credit. The most important thing to remember is that there is no quick fix for bad credit. Beware of credit repair scams or Canada loan scams; they do not work. Watch out for promises like “bad credit loans guaranteed approval $5000” or “no upfront fee loans for bad credit”.

If you are having trouble paying your bills on time, contact your creditors or seek professional help from a licensed trustee. Stay away from credit repair scams.You are the only one who can fix your credit and it takes time. Here are some tips on how to fix bad credit.

  • Check your credit report – You are entitled to receive a free copy of your credit report annually from each of Canada’s two credit rating agencies, Equifax and TransUnion. Check your credit report annually for errors and get them corrected as soon as possible.
  • Pay the minimum payments on time and in full as required by the signed agreement you have with your creditors.
  • Apply for a secured credit card. Secured credit cards require you to leave a deposit with the credit card issuer as a guarantee. The deposit is usually equivalent to the card limit, but it can be higher. Build a good credit history by paying the balance regularly; then you can ask that the security requirement be dropped and that the deposit be returned. This is an excellent and simple way to start to fix bad credit
  • Do not apply for too many credit and loan products. Having too much credit can also negatively affect your credit report. Keep your available credit at a minimum. Do not fill in too many applications for credit and loans because every time you do, your credit history is checked. Too many credit checks can negatively affect your credit score.
  • Maintain your employment and residence for at least 2 years.
  • Do not fall victim to Canada loan scams.

Contact Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver for more information on how to fix bad credit or to book an appointment. Starting Over, Starting Now you can live a debt free life.

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Brandon Blog Post

CONSUMER PROPOSALS OR PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY; WHICH IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

credit, credit scores, credit score, credit report, credit reporting agencies, problems with credit, toronto, bankruptcy, vaughan bankruptcyIf you are experiencing serious financial problems you need professional advice and a plan of action. The first thing that you should do is contact a licensed trustee. A licensed trustee is a federally regulated professional who will evaluate your situation and help you to arrive at the best possible solution for your problems. Consumer proposals and personal bankruptcy are two options for insolvency. Which is right for you?

CONSUMER PROPOSALS

PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY

Stops creditors from taking legal action against a debtorStops creditors from taking legal action against a debtor
Requires a licensed trusteeRequires a licensed trustee
Your total debt cannot exceed a $250,000 (excluding a mortgage)If you owe more than $1,000 you are eligible & no limit on the amount of debt
Your monthly payment is fixedMonthly payments may vary as they are based on your income and assets
You retain your assetsCertain assets may have to be seized by the Trustee
No monthly tasks or reportingMonthly income and expense reporting is required
You are still entitled to all tax refund(s) and/or credits which you are owed.Tax refunds for the year of your bankruptcy and any prior unfiled years will be forfeited
After the completion of a consumer proposal your credit rating is R7After a bankruptcy your credit rating is R9
A Consumer Proposal will appear on your Credit Report for three years after completionA first Bankruptcy will appear on your Credit Report for six to seven years (in Ontario) after your final discharge from the Bankruptcy (14 years for a second Bankruptcy)

Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. can provide you with solutions to your financial problems and with a plan of action, Starting Over, Starting Now we can help you achieve your goal of a debt free life. Take the first step and contact us today.

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Brandon Blog Post

Everything You Wanted to Know About Credit Scores But Were Afraid to Ask

everything you wanted to know about credit scores but were afraid to ask, credit, credit scores, credit score, credit report, credit reporting agencies, problems with credit, toronto, bankruptcy, vaughan bankruptcy
everything you wanted to know about credit scores but were afraid to ask

Everything you wanted to know about credit scores but were afraid to ask: Introduction

Credit may not be sexy but it does make the world go ‘round. That is why it is important for you to know everything you wanted to know about credit scores but were afraid to ask.

Everything you wanted to know about credit scores but were afraid to ask: Our lives revolve around credit

Our lives revolve around credit – mortgages, car loans, student loans, credit cards…. Take out your wallet and look inside; how many credit cards do you have? According to a poll conducted on behalf of Credit Canada:

  • 43% of Canadians have more than 3 credit cards
  • 80% of Canadians do not know their credit score
  • 63% of Canadians do not know how their credit score is determined

The more you understand about credit the less likely you are to get yourself into trouble.

Everything you wanted to know about credit scores but were afraid to ask: What is a credit score?

A credit score indicates the risk you represent to lenders compared to other consumers. In Canada we have two credit reporting agencies – Equifax and TransUnion. They use a scale from 300 – 900 to rate your credit score. The number is calculated using a mathematical formula based on the information in your credit report (has detailed information on a person’s credit history including identifying information, credit accounts and loans, bankruptcies and late payments, and recent credit inquiries). You get points if lenders believe that you use credit responsibly. Conversely you lose points if you manage credit poorly. The higher your number is the better. A high number means that you are a good risk for credit. There are many factors that figure your credit score:

  • Length of time you’ve had credit
  • The types of credit that you use
  • Do you pay your bills on time?
  • How much debt are your carrying?
  • How many people have inquired about your credit?
  • Have you been bankrupt before?

Everything you wanted to know about credit scores but were afraid to ask: Why is my credit score important?

At some point in your life you will want access to credit whether it’s for a credit card or to borrow money to buy a house or a car, or to start a business. If you have a high credit score, you may be able to get a lower interest rate on loans, which can save you a lot of money over time. A good credit score will allow you to meet your goals for the future.

If you’re experiencing problems with credit, contact Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. We can help you get your life back on track Starting Over, Starting Now.

Call a Trustee Now!