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CONSUMER PROPOSAL IN ONTARIO: OUR COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO ELIMINATE YOUR DEBT

The Ira Smith Trustee Team is absolutely operational and Ira, in addition to Brandon Smith, is readily available for a telephone consultation or video meeting. We hope that you and your family are safe and healthy.

Consumer proposal in Ontario introduction

I will begin with a consumer proposal in Ontario definition:

A consumer proposal is a formal binding deal made to your unsecured creditors to resolve your debt for less than the total owing. To help you decide if a consumer proposal in Ontario is the right choice for you, I will answer the most often asked questions.

A consumer proposal in Ontario: Is it worth it?

I say most definitely indeed. A successful restructuring is binding on all unsecured creditors. It is a legitimately binding deal between you and your creditors if the offer is accepted. A consumer proposal in Ontario is an excellent debt settlement plan for people who have the ability to pay off a percentage of their debts, however not their total debt.

What is a consumer proposal in Ontario?

consumer proposal in ontario

A consumer proposal in Ontario is a means to stay clear of filing bankruptcy by negotiating with your creditors to pay off a portion of what you owe. If you have high and even just average month-to-month income, it is a more sensible alternative to remove your debt obligations this way than to declare bankruptcy. This procedure leads to a lawfully binding contract between you as well as your unsecured creditors that allows you to resolve your financial debts at a much lower rate, interest-free, over an extended time period.

The Licensed Insolvency Trustee (Trustee) in a consumer proposal is inspired to find the sweet spot for both the debtor and the creditors. A number that is sufficiently high that it is a better alternative for your creditors than your bankruptcy. That number has to be acceptable to the creditors yet realistic as to what you can afford to pay in monthly instalments of no more than 60 months.

A consumer proposal is usually the way of achieving that goal. In reality, the leading advantage is that you get to keep all your assets. Such a proposal can last up to a maximum of 5 years. It is a debt relief remedy that permits you to eliminate your debt by only paying off a portion. When you file, any interest charges stop. Unlike a bankruptcy, in a consumer proposal in Ontario, you get to keep your possessions.

When is a consumer proposal in Ontario appropriate?

To discover out if a consumer proposal is a right option for you, set up a meeting with a Trustee to review your individual scenarios.

The Trustee will review your financial situation as well as describe the advantages and disadvantages of the numerous options that can help you fix your financial troubles.

If you make a decision to submit a consumer proposal in Ontario, the Trustee, who is called an Administrator under a consumer proposal will deal with you to establish a debt settlement plan that helps both you as well as your creditors.

A consumer proposal in Ontario: How do you qualify for one?

consumer proposal in ontario

A consumer proposal in Ontario is for people who are able to make some payments to creditors. However they need to change the present arrangement of their repayments because it deals with a portion of their creditors or debts, but not all of them.

You can submit a consumer proposal if you are an individual that owes $250,000 or less in unsecured financial obligations.

The large distinction between bankruptcy and this sort of restructuring plan is the monthly settlement. As soon as the arrangement is finalized and the plan agreed to, you make a single payment each month while the proposal is running.

The consumer proposal in Ontario is one of the most frequently used options for settling your debts in Ontario and the rest of Canada. If you and your Trustee determine that a consumer proposal is much better for your financial scenario than bankruptcy or any type of various other debt-relief option. You and your Trustee will begin to craft a negotiation deal. Your deal will be evaluated by your creditors.

A consumer proposal in Ontario is normally the preferred option to bankruptcy. Part of making a decision about whether bankruptcy or a consumer proposal is right for you is recognizing what sort of financial debts can be included and will be discharged when the proposal is successfully finished.

When is the right time to file a consumer proposal in Ontario?

consumer proposal in ontario

A consumer proposal in Ontario is for individuals who are not able to pay their debts off in full every month. The right time to file is if any of the following sounds familiar. You:

  • can only afford to make the minimum monthly payments on your credit cards;
  • are being called by bill collectors;
  • make interest-only payments because you cannot afford to pay down the principal amount of any debt;
  • get calls from Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) trying to collect past due taxes;
  • are being sued by creditors;
  • have CRA or judgment creditors garnisheeing your bank account or your wages;
  • need to use an overdraft facility or line of credit in order to make ends meet each month;
  • are working and have money left over at the end of each month AFTER reversing any amounts paid in the month towards their debts.

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, then now may be the right time for you to file a consumer proposal in Ontario.

What happens if I co-signed a loan with someone?

If you submit a consumer proposal in Ontario, your co-signer will certainly be responsible for repaying these financial obligations; the financial debt will certainly not be gotten rid of unless you are able to file a joint consumer proposal. If you cannot file a joint consumer proposal, then the other person would have to look at filing their own consumer proposal in Ontario.

What happens when I file a consumer proposal in Ontario?

A consumer proposal in Ontario does not handle secured creditors. Submitting one can make keeping up with your home mortgage or auto loan easier. Look at your regular monthly budget plan, and see if you think you can pay for a consumer proposal. This process does NOT affect the mortgage on your residence or a secured automobile financing arrangement.

A proposal is a contract made between you and your creditors. With a legally-binding consumer proposal filing, you need to repay a percentage of your financial debts and/or expand the time you need to repay your debts completely. For those that can not manage to repay their financial obligations, it is the best financial debt consolidation program available. If you are looking for a debt settlement, this is a far better option.

For the majority of people, a consumer proposal in Ontario is a more attractive option to bankruptcy; nonetheless, it is still thought about as a kind of insolvency procedure. For Canadians looking for debt relief, it is a choice for insolvent debtors that isn’t as severe as declaring bankruptcy. During your initial no-cost consultation, your Trustee will certainly describe all your financial debt settlement choices to determine which one is the most appropriate one for you.

The Trustee acting in your consumer proposal acts as the Administrator. Within 10 days after filing with the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada (OSB), the Administrator will certainly prepare a report describing the outcomes of its investigation, the Administrator’s point of view regarding whether the consumer proposal is fair and sensible for the creditors and the debtor, and whether the debtor will have the ability to perform it.

The consumer proposal Ontario rules state that documents have to be successfully filed, the plan approved by your creditors and court-approved, and the debtor making all the payments promised in the plan. At that point, the trustee issues a certificate of full performance. The Trustee provides you with a copy and also files a copy with the OSB.

What does a consumer proposal in Ontario do to your credit?

Leaving debt behind with a consumer proposal in Ontario is commonly the preliminary step to improving your credit score. Much like any type of debt settlement program, getting through a consumer proposal successfully will ultimately improve your credit score. Most people see a rejuvenation in their credit score swiftly after finishing the program.

For those that don’t want to go file for bankruptcy, the consumer proposal in Ontario is much less intrusive. A proposal is integrated with needed credit counselling. If you are unable to settle every one of the unsecured debts that you owe, nevertheless, have consistent work and income, you can find that a consumer proposal in Ontario is a viable alternative to bankruptcy.

Once your consumer proposal in Ontario is completed, you are in the next phase of taking control of your finances

A proposal is a practical choice if you have surplus income or assets you want to maintain. A proposal is a legal action under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) (BIA) that supplies a stay of proceedings that immediately stops all creditor lawsuits and other actions. This includes most wage garnishments and calls from creditors and collection agencies.

If you are dealing with creditor calls or being threatened with legal action, this consumer proposal process can assist you to remove your financial debts.

Settlements in a consumer proposal in Ontario are worked out upfront. The responsibilities called for in a proposal are less than those in personal bankruptcy. A consumer proposal has actually fewer needed duties than bankruptcy. As you can see, it is a viable means to remove all your frustrating unsecured financial obligations and to get your life back on track.

A consumer proposal in Ontario is also something to think about if your month-to-month payments under a different debt management strategy may be too expensive for you to manage. Your regular monthly repayment on your consumer proposal is remitted to your creditors by the Trustee.

What happens to my credit cards when I file a consumer proposal?

consumer proposal in ontario

When you file a consumer proposal in Ontario or any other part of Canada, you do not need to turn over your credit cards to your Trustee. Nonetheless, the reality that you submitted a consumer proposal will turn up on your credit record.

When your Trustee sends a notice to any credit card company you owe money to, they will certainly recognize it. They will then cut off your ability to make use of your charge card. If you have a charge card where you do not owe any money on when you file, that credit card firm will not obtain notice of your filing due to the fact that they are not a creditor of yours when you file a consumer proposal in Ontario.

Nonetheless, when they do their typical ongoing credit review of you, they will discover that you have filed. When they learn of your filing, they might very well stop you from being able to use that credit card.

Which debts are eligible for a consumer proposal in Ontario?

The majority of your unsecured financial obligations can be combined and consequently eliminated in an effective consumer proposal in Ontario. Some unsecured debt cannot be compromised. As an example, a lot of student loans frequently can not be included, especially if it has actually been less than 7 years from when somebody stopped being a full time or part-time student.

Also, your valid secured financial obligations are likewise not compromised.

A consumer proposal in Ontario will eliminate income tax owing

A consumer proposal in Ontario and the rest of Canada is the only technique that can be made use of to pay less than the total amount of the taxes you owe to the CRA. A consumer proposal is a safe as well as a trustworthy way to eliminate your financial obligations but it can likewise be the cheapest in terms of regular monthly repayments. The consumer proposal will take care of your income taxes owed from tax returns that were submitted prior to the proposal date.

Due to the fact that each personal situation is distinct, the advantage of a consumer proposal is that it can be tailored particularly to satisfy your requirements. This is the only government-approved debt negotiation alternative for resolving your debts in Canada, besides an assignment in bankruptcy. A consumer proposal is an option to discuss repayment terms with your creditors via the Trustee, for a lot less than what you owe today.

The CRA collector is not allowed to consider accepting less than 100% of what you owe to CRA unless you file a consumer proposal.

What consumer proposal in Ontario stage are you at?

Regardless of what stage in this process you may go to (even if you are still considering one), you probably have questions about what to anticipate after your consumer proposal in Ontario is filed. A consumer proposal is better than a bankruptcy with regard to your credit rating. A consumer proposal is an R7 rating and is a little bit of an improvement for eliminating everything you owe, in return for the effort of paying off a part of what you owe. A successful consumer proposal will in fact assist you to prevent bankruptcy.

An additional advantage of a plan similar to this is that your Trustee is typically able to work out a higher principal decreases than you might by yourself. What sets this plan apart from paying the minimum payments allowed by your creditors by yourself is the truth that a consumer proposal freezes your interest and penalty charges. Once accepted and approved, it is a binding contract between you and your creditors. Once you fully perform the consumer proposal in Ontario, your creditors will consider your financial debts paid in full for much less than what you in fact owe.

A consumer proposal is an extremely typically utilized means to resolve your financial obligations, without declaring bankruptcy. A consumer proposal is a very powerful legitimately binding method to settle your debts, which normally puts an end to garnishments and also various other legal activities against you and stops collection telephone calls, as well as allow you to maintain control of your assets.

What happens if I miss a payment for my consumer proposal in Ontario?

In making a proposal to your creditors, it is necessary for you to make your month-to-month payments in a timely manner. If you miss 3 payments during the term of the proposal, it is annulled. This means that the consumer proposal in Ontario is brought to an end by default.

In certain scenarios, an amended proposal might be submitted before the default happens. However, when a default occurs and an amended proposal is not submitted and accepted by the unsecured creditors in time, the debts owing to the unsecured creditors are not discharged.

In this situation, the unsecured creditors will start to seek payment from you directly for the total of your pre-proposal financial debts. If you have actually defaulted and the consumer proposal is annulled, you are forbidden from filing another consumer proposal in Ontario and elsewhere. However, you can file for bankruptcy.

What happens to my credit score if I file a consumer proposal in Ontario?

When you file a consumer proposal in Ontario, you will be given an R7 score, which shows you have made a settlement with your creditors. This score will remain on your credit report for three years after your consumer proposal has been fully paid off.

How much does a consumer proposal in Ontario cost?

A consumer proposal in Ontario costs need to be in accordance with the provisions of the Typically, a Trustee will work with you to establish the total amount you need to provide for your creditors in a consumer proposal. This calculation does not take into account the Trustee’s fee and disbursements allowed under the BIA.

The Trustee can take its fee and expenses from the funds you pay into the consumer proposal as allowed by the BIA. It’s vital to keep in mind that you need to never ever be billed directly for any services connected to filing a consumer proposal in Ontario.

Is a consumer proposal in Ontario right for you?

This is a remarkable program for individuals, households, and sole proprietors who are encountering economic hardship and require a sensible option to their debt troubles. This procedure has no covert costs. While a consumer proposal commonly lasts longer than bankruptcy proceedings, the complete cost to you may be much less since you retain your assets and also there are no surplus income payments.

A consumer proposal is a feasible option to manage small business debts in a proprietorship if the overall unsecured debts do not exceed $250,000. This program is not for debts owed by an incorporated business. There is a debt relief program in the BIA for companies. A consumer proposal in Ontario is just one of the most effective, and also best, financial debt settlement options that are readily available.

What is a consumer proposal helpful for? It is a fantastic way to take advantage of a lot of the benefits of bankruptcy without serious disadvantages such as the loss of assets. All of your assets need to be accounted for, but they are shielded from a seizure when your consumer proposal is approved.

Both bankruptcy and a consumer proposal are financial debt elimination choices allowing those that are in substantial debt to get out from under that burden. However, the consumer proposal in Ontario is much less disruptive to their lives. Choosing to submit a consumer proposal is about being proactive in taking care of your financial obligations.

If your financial circumstance is such that budgeting or refinancing can not resolve your recurring economic crisis, a consumer proposal is probably the best choice under the BIA to resolve your debts. A consumer proposal may be the most effective way to help you stay clear of bankruptcy while settling your debts.

We customize each consumer proposal to fit your unique budget and circumstances. The payments you make are after that split among your unsecured creditors. We also help you with your go-forward plan after filing your consumer proposal in Ontario. As a qualified credit counsellor, we sit down with you to discuss your financial planning in two mandatory counselling sessions.

What is a consumer proposal in Ontario summary

I hope you found this consumer proposal in Ontario Brandon’s Blog about helpful. Sometimes things are too far gone and more drastic and immediate triage action is required.

Do you have too much debt? Are you in need of financial restructuring? The financial restructuring process is complex. The Ira Smith Team understands how to do a complex restructuring. However, more importantly, we understand the needs of the entrepreneur or the person who has too much personal debt. You are worried because you are facing significant financial challenges.
It is not your fault that you are in this situation. You have been only shown the old ways that do not work anymore. The Ira Smith Team uses new modern ways to get you out of your debt troubles while avoiding bankruptcy. We can get you debt relief freedom.

The stress placed upon you is huge. We understand your pain points. We look at your entire situation and devise a strategy that is as unique as you and your problems; financial and emotional. The way we take the load off of your shoulders and devise a debt settlement plan, we know that we can help you.

We know that people facing financial problems need a realistic lifeline. There is no “one solution fits all” approach with the Ira Smith Team. That is why we can develop a restructuring process as unique as the financial problems and pain you are facing. If any of this sounds familiar to you and you are serious in finding a solution, contact the Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. team today.
Call us now for a free consultation.

We will get you or your company back on the road to healthy stress-free operations and recover from the pain points in your life, Starting Over, Starting Now.

consumer proposal in ontarioThe Ira Smith Trustee Team is absolutely operational and Ira, in addition to Brandon Smith, is readily available for a telephone consultation or video meeting. We hope that you and your family are safe and healthy.

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Brandon Blog Post

WHAT IS A CONSUMER PROPOSAL? OUR AMAZING EXCELLENT INSOLVENCY FAQ PRIMER

what is a consumer proposal
what is a consumer proposal

What is a consumer proposal introduction

Let us start with a what is a consumer proposal definition: A consumer proposal is a formal binding offer made to your creditors to settle your debt for less than the full amount owing.

To help you decide if a consumer proposal is the right option for you, I will provide answers to the most frequently asked questions I receive about what is a consumer proposal in Canada.

What is a consumer proposal?

A consumer proposal is a government-regulated debt settlement program filed with a Licensed Insolvency Trustee (Trustee). The purpose of filing one is to get rid of problem debt so that you can start the process of rebuilding your credit debt-free.

It can only be filed with the Trustee. When you sign your documents, they are then filed with the federal government. It is a legal process under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) (BIA).

This process is a legal agreement between you and your creditors to repay part of the debt that you owe. If a simple majority, in dollars, of creditors agree to the terms you have offered, then your proposal is binding on all your unsecured debts.

What is a consumer proposal? It is a court-sanctioned process that allows you to negotiate a settlement with your unsecured creditors. This kind of arrangement does not deal with secured creditors.

What is a consumer proposal: Is it worth it?

I would say definitely yes. A successful restructuring is binding on all unsecured creditors. It is a legally binding deal between you and your creditors if the offer is accepted. A consumer proposal is the ideal debt repayment plan for individuals who are able to repay a portion of their debts, but not the full amount.

What is a consumer proposal? This consumer proposal process is a way to avoid filing bankruptcy by making a deal with your creditors to repay a portion of what you owe. If you have high or even just regular monthly income, it is a more sensible option to eliminate your debt obligation than to file for bankruptcy. This process results in a legally binding agreement between you and your creditors that allows you to settle your unsecured debts at a much lower rate, interest-free, over an extended period of time.

The Trustee’s motivation in a consumer proposal is to find a common sweet spot. A number is high enough that it is a better alternative for your creditors than your bankruptcy. A number that the creditors will likely accept yet still a number low enough that it is affordable for you to pay each month.

A consumer proposal is often the way of achieving that objective. In fact, the number one advantage is that you get to keep all assets. Such a proposal can last up to a maximum of 5 years. It is a debt relief solution that allows you to significantly reduce your debt and repay a portion without interest while keeping your assets. That is what is a consumer proposal.

What is a consumer proposal? How do you qualify for one?

A consumer proposal is for individuals who are able to make payments to creditors (either monthly or as a lump sum), but need to change the current arrangement of their payments.

You can file one if you are a person who owes $250,000 or less in unsecured debt.

The big difference between bankruptcy and this kind of restructuring plan is the monthly payment. Once the negotiation is complete and the arrangement agreed to, you make a single payment each month while the proposal is running.

The consumer proposal is one of the most frequently used options for getting out of debt in Canada. If you and your Trustee determine that a proposal is better for your financial situation than bankruptcy or any other debt relief option, you and your Trustee will begin to craft a settlement offer. Your offer will be reviewed by your creditors.

A consumer proposal is typically the preferred alternative to bankruptcy, both in terms of financial affordability and credit ratings. Part of deciding whether bankruptcy or a debt settlement is right for you is knowing what kinds of debts can be included and will be discharged when the process is successfully completed.

A consumer proposal does not deal with secured creditors. Filing one can make keeping up with your mortgage or car loan more affordable. This assumes that in your monthly budget, you can afford to keep them. If not, you will have to give them up to be able to get ones that you can afford. This process does NOT affect the mortgage on your principal residence or a secured car loan. That is what is a consumer proposal is not.

A proposal is an agreement made between the Trustee and your creditors. Through a legally-binding document, it requires you to pay off a percentage of your debts and/or extend the time you need to pay off your debts in full. For those who cannot afford to repay their debts, it is the best debt consolidation program available. If you are looking for debt relief, this is a better option.

For most people, a consumer proposal is a more attractive alternative to bankruptcy; however, it is still considered a form of the insolvency process. For Canadians seeking debt relief, it is an option for insolvent debtors that isn’t as severe as filing for bankruptcy. During your initial no-cost consultation, your Trustee will explain all your debt relief options to determine which one is the right solution for you.

The Trustee acting in your consumer proposal acts as the Administrator. Within ten days after filing with the official receiver, the Administrator will prepare a report containing the results of its investigation, the Administrator’s opinion as to whether the consumer proposal is fair and reasonable to the creditors and the debtor, and whether the consumer debtor will be able to perform it.

If the documents have been successfully filed, accepted by your creditors, court-approved, and then paid through completion, a certificate is given indicating the full performance of the proposal to you and the Official Receiver.

What is a consumer proposal? What does it do to your credit?

Getting out of debt with a consumer proposal is often the first step to rebuilding credit. As with any repayment program, including a debt management plan, this process will for a short while lower your credit score. However, most clients see an improvement in their credit scores shortly after completing the program.

For those who don’t want to go through the bankruptcy process, or want to keep more of their assets, the proposal is less invasive. A proposal is combined with mandatory credit counselling. Trustee fees come out of any monies paid to creditors. If you are unable to repay all of the unsecured debt that you owe but have a steady job and income you could find that a proposal is a viable alternative to bankruptcy.

Once your consumer proposal is completed, you are in the next phase of taking control of your finances.

A proposal is a viable alternative if you have significant surplus income or assets you want to keep. A proposal is a legal proceeding under the BIA that provides a stay of proceedings that immediately stops all creditor actions. This includes most wage garnishments and calls from creditors and collection agencies. If you are dealing with creditor calls or being threatened with legal action, this debt settlement process can help you eliminate your debts and stop dealing with those creditors again.

Payments in a consumer proposal are negotiated upfront. The duties required in a proposal are less than those in bankruptcy. A proposal has fewer required duties than bankruptcy. As you can see, it is a viable way to eliminate all your overwhelming unsecured debt and get your life back on track.

A consumer proposal is also something to consider if your debts are higher than $10,000 and your monthly payment under a debt management plan may be too high for you to afford. Your monthly payment on your consumer proposal is remitted to your creditors once all applicable fees have been paid.

A consumer proposal will eliminate income tax owing

For spouses, if your debts are generally common, you can make a joint consumer proposal. If such a joint filing is made, the unsecured debt threshold increases to $500,000.

A consumer proposal is the only method that can be used to negotiate a reduced balance owing to taxes to the Canada Revenue Agency. A consumer proposal is a safe and reliable way to get out of debt but it can also be the cheapest in terms of monthly payments. The consumer proposal will only include taxes owed from tax returns that were filed prior to the proposal date.

Because each personal situation is unique, the benefit of what is a consumer proposal is that it can be tailored specifically to meet your needs. This is the only government-approved debt settlement option for resolving your debts in Canada, besides filing an assignment in bankruptcy. A consumer proposal is an option to negotiate repayment terms with your creditors through the Trustee, for much less than what you owe today.

No matter what stage in this process you may be at (even if you are still considering one), you probably have questions about what to expect after your consumer proposal is finished. A consumer proposal is a little better than a bankruptcy with regard to your credit score. A consumer proposal is an R7 rating and a bit of an improvement in exchange for the effort of repaying a portion of what you owe. A successful consumer proposal will actually help you avoid bankruptcy.

Another advantage of an arrangement like this is that your Trustee is often able to negotiate greater principal and interest reductions than you could on your own. What sets this plan apart from paying the minimum payments to your creditors on your own is the fact that a consumer proposal includes freezing your interest payments and an agreement that your creditors will consider your debts paid in full for less than what you actually owe.

A consumer proposal is a very commonly used way to settle your debts, without declaring bankruptcy, (or filing for full bankruptcy, as it is referred to by many of our clients). The consumer proposal is a very powerful legally binding way to settle your debts, which normally puts an end to garnishments and other legal actions against you, stops collection calls, and allows you to maintain control of your assets.

Is a Consumer Proposal Right for You?

This is an exceptional program for individuals, families, and sole proprietors who are facing financial hardship and need a practical solution to their debt problems. This process has no hidden fees. While a consumer proposal often lasts longer than bankruptcy proceedings, the total cost to you may be less because you retain your assets and there are no surplus payments.

A consumer proposal is a viable option to deal with small business debts in a proprietorship if the total debts do not exceed $250,000. This program does not deal with debts owed by an incorporated business. It is one of the best, and safest, debt consolidation options available.

What is a consumer proposal good for? It is a great way to take advantage of many of the advantages of bankruptcy without the severe drawbacks such as the loss of assets you must endure during the bankruptcy process. All of your assets are protected from a seizure when your consumer proposal is accepted, and the more you can offer your creditors, the greater the likelihood that they will accept your proposal, thereby allowing you to keep all your assets.

Both bankruptcy and consumer proposals are debt relief options allowing those who are in a significant amount of debt to get out from under what they owe. However, the consumer proposal is far less disruptive to their lives.

Deciding to file a consumer proposal is about dealing with your debt, but I understand that you may be concerned about the impact a consumer proposal has on your credit report.

If your financial situation is such that budgeting or refinancing cannot resolve your ongoing financial crisis, a consumer proposal is one of the options under the BIA to resolve your debts. A consumer proposal may be the best way to help you avoid bankruptcy and achieve real relief from your outstanding debts.

Each situation is different. Each program is tailored to fit the budget and circumstances of each person. The payments you make are then divided among your unsecured creditors. As with bankruptcy, one of the immediate pros of entering such a debt settlement program is that it stops wage garnishments.

Even during the time that this debt settlement process is noted on your credit history, it may still be possible to obtain new credit, including renewal of ongoing commitments such as your mortgage, financing the purchase of a new vehicle, or even a credit card. For consumers who worked seasonally or have fluctuating income, a consumer proposal can be structured so that higher payments are made during peak earning times and lower payments are made during low earning times. Individuals who file a consumer proposal must complete two mandatory financial counselling sessions with a qualified insolvency counsellor.

What is a consumer proposal summary

I hope you found this Brandon’s Blog about what is a consumer proposal helpful. Sometimes things are too far gone and more drastic and immediate triage action is required.

Do you have too much debt? Are you in need of financial restructuring? The financial restructuring process is complex. The Ira Smith Team understands how to do a complex restructuring. However, more importantly, we understand the needs of the entrepreneur or the person who has too much personal debt. You are worried because you are facing significant financial challenges.

It is not your fault that you are in this situation. You have been only shown the old ways that do not work anymore. The Ira Smith Team uses new modern ways to get you out of your debt troubles while avoiding bankruptcy. We can get you debt relief freedom.

The stress placed upon you is huge. We understand your pain points. We look at your entire situation and devise a strategy that is as unique as you and your problems; financial and emotional. The way we take the load off of your shoulders and devise a debt settlement plan, we know that we can help you.

We know that people facing financial problems need realistic lifeline. There is no “one solution fits all” approach with the Ira Smith Team. That is why we can develop a restructuring process as unique as the financial problems and pain you are facing. If any of this sounds familiar to you and you are serious in finding a solution, contact the Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. team today.

Call us now for a free consultation. We will get you or your company back on the road to healthy stress-free operations and recover from the pain points in your life, Starting Over, Starting Now.

what is a consumer proposal
what is a consumer proposal
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Brandon Blog Post

THE EASIEST WAY TO ACTUALLY LIKE WHAT IS A DIVISION i PROPOSAL ONTARIO

what is a division i proposal

If you would prefer to listen to an audio version of this what is a division i proposal Brandon’s Blog, please scroll to the bottom and click on the podcast

Introduction

Over recent times, I have been receiving increased inquiries as to what is a division i proposal. The purpose of this Brandon’s Blog is to explain what it is. No person or company actually likes to enter a restructuring process to avoid bankruptcy, so hopefully, this discussion will be helpful to those that really need it to appreciate why if necessary, it is actually easy to like it; especially a successful one!

What is a division i proposal?

Division I is one of the two divisions of Part III of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. B-3). Division I is a restructuring provision. It is available to people who owe more than $250,000 and companies with any level of debt, in need of financial restructuring.

At the beginning of any consultation with an insolvent person or for an insolvent company, is to determine if a successful restructuring can be accomplished. If not, the only other realistic alternative is bankruptcy. A successful restructuring of a person will allow that person to keep the assets they wish to keep and can afford to hold onto.

A company that successfully restructures will continue to provide employment. The jobs that will be preserved are not only those of the company that restructures. Its continuing to do business with suppliers who continue to do business with the restructured company will also avoid layoffs or terminations of their own staff. The reason for this is that their own volumes will not decrease, or decrease as much as if its customers went bankrupt and could no longer buy from them.

How do I start a restructuring plan for a person?

The first thing the insolvent person or company needs to do is hire a licensed insolvency trustee (LIT) (formerly called a trustee in bankruptcy). The reason why is because a LIT is the only one in Canada authorized to administer a restructuring proposal.

The LIT will discuss with the insolvent person about the nature of his or her assets and liabilities. Which assets are financed and which are owned free and clear. There will also be a frank analysis and discussion of the person’s income and expenses. The reason for this is to do preliminary credit counselling to help the person recognize how their historical household budget (whether they actually knew it or not) needs to change. Is there room in a new solvent budget to pay for an expensive asset, or does it need to be replaced by a less expensive one? A leased or financed auto is a prime example.

I want to make that determination upfront because a financed asset given up before the debt is fully repaid will create an acceleration of the full amount of that liability claim. I will want to make sure that it is done the right way, so the new accelerated liability will be caught as a debt being compromised, not a post-filing debt not caught in the financial restructuring.

Once the issues have been identified and the realistic options identified, I will then want to work with the person to put together a realistic post-filing cash flow budget. There are three main reasons for this, being:

  1. I want to make sure that there is a budget that shows the person’s monthly expenses will be no more than, and hopefully less than, their monthly after-tax income.
  2. We must be sure that the monthly cash flow shows the person can afford the monthly payments to the LIT required to have a successful restructuring.
  3. One step needed to have a successful restructuring is to have such a monthly cash flow budget signed off by both the insolvent person and the LIT showing the person can survive through and afford a successful restructuring. Any creditor can request to see a copy of that signed off cash flow budget.

How do I start a corporate restructuring plan for a company?

The initial step in any corporate restructuring is for the board of directors to recognize and also resolve that the company is insolvent, that it needs to reorganize under this part of the BIA and to approve the hiring of a LIT.

I described the consultation process I first go through with a person to determine if they can successfully complete a restructuring proposal and then to start developing it. Similarly, I go through a consultation process with the senior management of the company.

I first want to determine if we have the basic requirement for a successful corporate restructuring. That basic requirement is, the company’s business, or one or more portions of the business, must be viable, notwithstanding that it is insolvent. There must be a true demand for the business and that it will be able to operate successfully once its financial position is right-sized. It may be the whole business, or it may be the case that we need to use the restructuring process to cut away the dead business units, in order to allow the viable one to survive and ultimately flourish.

By its nature, corporate restructuring is more complex than a personal one. There are many more moving parts to a company. However, the basic analysis is similar. What are the assets and liabilities of the company? Which business units are capable of being operated profitably? Which assets that are financed are essential to the future of the restructured company. Which are redundant and must be jettisoned. How will all the answers to these questions affect the company’s labour force? How many jobs will be lost and how many will be saved?

Ultimately, all these answers must be compiled into a cash flow statement. We must know does the company have sufficient financing or funds available to it so that it can properly operate during the restructuring process. There is no point in starting a restructuring if the company cannot survive the restructuring period. What will the company’s post-restructuring cash flow look like? We want to know that answer also to make sure that there is a real business that can operate profitably after coming out of the restructuring process. Just like in a personal financial restructuring, the company and the LIT must sign off on a realistic cash flow budget to show that the company can operate and survive the restructuring process.

What if the person or company needs immediate protection but is not ready to file the real proposal yet?

Just like in a bankruptcy, the filing of a Proposal brings in an immediate stay of proceedings. What this means is that no creditor can either begin or continue any action against the person or company for the enforcement or collection of a debt. Sometimes the insolvent debtor is under attack from a creditor.

Examples of proceedings against a person or company need protection from are numerous. The more standard ones are:

  • They need to defend a lawsuit but can’t afford the cost and therefore a default judgment is about to be issued.
  • Attendance is required at a judgment debtor examination to disclose the nature and whereabouts of their assets.
  • The Sheriff may be seizing an asset that if successful, it will stop the person or company from conducting business.

The BIA provides a way for an insolvent debtor under such an attack to invoke a stay of proceedings before they are ready to file their formal restructuring plan. That option is to first file what is called a Notice of Intention To Make A Proposal (NOI). This is a BIA filing that serves as a notification to the creditors that the debtor will certainly be making a restructuring proposal but it needs to have the stay of proceedings start right now.

How the concept of NOI evolved is very interesting. Before the 1992 amendments to the BIA, there was no such thing as an NOI. However, people and companies needed to invoke an immediate stay of proceedings, but the BIA did not contain such provisions. So, what was done, is that the LIT would prepare what was called a holding proposal. All the proposal said was that I promise to file a real restructuring proposal as soon as possible. That holding proposal was then filed which brought on a stay of proceedings.

Paperwork and procedures

The LIT needs to be satisfied that: (i) all the relevant details have been gotten; (ii) the person or company has a likelihood of a successful proposal restructuring; as well as (iii) the person’s or company’s cash flow is enough that it can pay its ongoing post-filing debts through the restructuring process.

The LIT then assists the insolvent debtor in completing the necessary paperwork. The LIT also prepares its own report. The LIT then does a mailing to all known creditors to advise them of the filing of the Proposal, a means by which they can file their claim with the LIT and a description of what the process is and what it all means. The documents are:

  • the Proposal
  • a statement of the person’s or company’s assets and liabilities
  • a listing of creditors
  • the form 31 proof of claim
  • the voting letter
  • LIT’s report on the insolvent debtor, the Proposal and the LIT’s recommendation for voting in favour of (or against) acceptance of the Proposal

The meeting of creditors is then held to allow the creditors to vote on the Proposal. If the Proposal is accepted by the required majority of the creditors, then the LIT applies to Court for approval of the Proposal. Once approved by the Court, it forms a contract between the debtor and the creditors is formed. The person or company then needs to perform the promises it made in the Proposal to its creditors. This, of course, includes paying the necessary funding to the LIT for distribution to the creditors.

Executing on the Proposal promise

The Proposal of a person will require that insolvent debtor to make monthly payments to the LIT. The payments are made out of the person’s monthly cash flow, as indicated in its budget. The person can take up to 60 months to fulfill the promise of payments to the LIT for distribution to the creditors.

A company carries out its Proposal as it continues its operations. It hopefully succeeds in operating profitably. The firm would be conserving a particular amount of its earnings in money and paying to the LIT what is needed under the company’s restructuring strategy to create the Proposal fund it promised. The LIT after that makes the distribution to the creditors called for in the restructuring plan. When all the payments have actually been made, the company has effectively reorganized and continues its business having successfully completed its restructuring.

What happens if a Proposal is unsuccessful?

This is a very simple question to answer. What is a division i proposal if not successful? It is called bankruptcy. If a restructuring plan does not get either acceptance by the necessary majority of creditors or approval by the Court, then the person or company is automatically bankrupt. If the person or company fails to make all the payments called for, that also creates an unsuccessful restructuring. In any of those cases, It is as if the insolvent debtor filed an assignment in bankruptcy.

In that case, the LIT administering the restructuring program becomes the LIT administering a bankruptcy.

What is a division 1 consumer proposal?

I have been asked this question several times. Firstly, there is no such thing as a division 1 consumer proposal, but there is such a thing as a consumer proposal. A consumer proposal is found in Part III Division II of the BIA. So, it is called either a division 2 proposal or a consumer proposal.

Is consumer proposal worth it?

Before being able to decide if a consumer proposal is worth it, we need to understand what a consumer proposal is. The same way I described what is a division i proposal, I need to describe a consumer proposal. The consumer proposal process is a streamlined version of the personal division i proposal already described. It is only for people and not companies. Further, the person cannot owe more than $250,000, not including any loans registered against the person’s home, such as a mortgage or home equity line of credit.

I have written many times about different issues concerning consumer proposals. Rather than repeating it in Brandon’s Blog, I recommend you read my earlier blogs on the consumer proposal topic. Some of the blogs I have written for ease of reference are:

Summary

I hope that I have adequately answered the question of what is a division i proposal and how you can like it. The honest answer is that no one really does. However, if it is necessary for you or your company’s survival, it becomes very easy to like it.

Do you or your company have way too much debt? Before you reach the phase where you can’t stay afloat and where financial restructuring is no longer a viable alternative, contact the Ira Smith Team.

We know full well the discomfort and tension excessive debt can create. We can help you to eliminate that pain and address your financial issues supplying timely, realistic and easy to implement action steps in finding the optimal strategy created just for you.

Call Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. today. Make a free appointment to visit with one of the Ira Smith Team for a totally free, no-obligation assessment. You can be on your path to a carefree life Starting Over, Starting Now. Give us a call today so that we can help you return to an anxiety-free and pain-free life, Starting Over, Starting Now.

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DEBT SETTLEMENT VS CONSUMER PROPOSAL CANADA: ENGLISH REALITY STAR NEEDS IT

Debt settlement vs consumer proposal Canada: Introduction

This debt settlement vs consumer proposal Canada Brandon’s Blog is to tell you a story how a once very rich person can run into debt troubles. If you want specific information about the difference between debt settlement and consumer proposal, read our blog “DEBT SETTLEMENT OR CONSUMER PROPOSAL CANADA: NEW CANADIAN GOVERNMENT REPORT EXPOSES DEBT SETTLEMENT COMPANIES HARMING CONSUMERS” published May 3, 2017. You may also wish to read our blog “FAMOUS CELEBRITY BANKRUPTCIES HAPPEN TOO”. Katie Price certainly fits into that crowd.

To find out more about how a consumer proposal works, you can also use the search function in our Brandon’s Blog site for any of the following phrases:

  • is consumer proposal worth it
  • consumer proposals faq
  • disadvantages of consumer proposal
  • consumer proposal vs credit counselling
  • how much does a consumer proposal cost
  • consumer proposal pros and cons
  • what happens after a consumer proposal

This will bring up more of our blogs on this topic.

Debt settlement vs consumer proposal Canada: The Katie Price Story

English former beauty model, reality TV star, and businesswoman, Katie Price, was a self-made success that had scooped ₤45 million after years of brilliant business transactions and plain old hard work. Unfortunately, the former glamour model will not have the ability to delight in the fruits of her work. It is said Katie is on the brink of bankruptcy having spent all her fortune.

Debt settlement vs consumer proposal Canada: Working for a pair of “knickers”

Things seem to be so bad the for the reality TV star mom. She once was paid for a social media post with one pair of slacks. Her ₤2 million Sussex estate has fallen under a state of disrepair. The swimming pool is dirty, yards are thick with growth and the tennis courts are abandoned. Katie, 40, has additionally begun marketing her horses and llamas. The ₤77,000 Audi she purchased for separated hubby Kieran Hayler for his 30th birthday celebration is also for sale.

The modelling jobs have dried up and last month she even admitted staging lewd images in Thailand with toyboy Kris Boyson. She was spotted mowing her own lawn amid claims she’s started laying off staff to stay in the black.

Debt settlement vs consumer proposal Canada: How Katie Price spent her money

Taking to Instagram, she also admitted the bailiffs had visited her house to demand £3,000 for an electricity bill. But what has the mother-of-five spent all her money on? On top of that, she’s said to have spent £120,000 on housekeepers, gardeners, and nannies – one of whom Kieran claimed to have had a year-long affair with.

Katie Price was also visited by bailiffs demanding the £3,000 she failed to pay an electrician. Her monthly heating bill apparently comes to £2,000 because she keeps it on 24-7, and her other monthly outgoings include £1,500 for twice-weekly manicures and pedicures, £1,000 on getting her hair done, £800 on massages every other day, £800 on a makeup artist, £400.

And that’s not to mention the apparent £60,000 a year she’s forking out on farm machinery such as a tractor and milking machine. She also spends on a £25,000 annual cosmetic budget.

Last Christmas she confessed ₤2,000 spent on decorations. She feared it may be her terminally ill mother Amy’s last one.

Debt settlement vs consumer proposal Canada: How Katie Price is now earning money

And while back then she generated millions from her scents, publications, reality TV show as well as x-rated shoots, nowadays her only source of work seems to be her program, My Crazy Life Now. She is determined to make back some money. Katie claimed to be intending to revive her beauty version alter ego Jordan. She also plans a release of a variety of sex playthings.

One source was quoted as saying “Katie told me when all else fails sex sells”. “It’s the way she’s taking things – she’s bringing back Jordan to fix her finances. She said that it was a no-brainer to go back to her old image.”

Debt settlement vs consumer proposal Canada: Are you in need of debt settlement?

If you’re thinking about debt settlement or a consumer proposal or are looking for ways to end your financial debt call Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. We understand the stress and pain your financial problems are causing you. We feel your pain and we can end it for you.

Our strategy for every single person is to develop a result we’re Starting Over, Starting Now comes true, starting the minute you walk through our door. You’re just one call away from taking the necessary actions to get you your debt settlement and back on the road to leading a healthy and stress-free life.debt settlement vs consumer proposal canada

Call a Trustee Now!