Tag: living paycheque to paycheque

DEBT COLLECTORS: WHAT TO DO IF THEY ARE CALLING YOU

Post author By Brandon Smith
Post date August 19, 2014

Debt collectors.

Their job is to make you so miserable that you will pay off the amount they are attempting to collect. Last week we discussed debt issues that become so serious they’re referred to collection agencies. For many Canadians living paycheque to paycheque, any unexpected expense that comes up can disturb a very delicate balance and before you know it, you’ve missed a payment or defaulted on a loan. This triggers an unfortunate series of events and now in addition to the serious debt, you are being pursued by debt collectors from the collection agency. Some of them can make your life very unpleasant but you do have rights.

What are your rights? Collection agencies are regulated and each province has its own rules and regulations. In Ontario, the Ministry of Consumer Services regulates collection agencies through the administration of the “Collection Agencies Act”. If a collection agency behaves inappropriately, file a complaint with the Ministry. You have rights:

You must be notified in writing through the mail (not email) that your file has been given to a collection agency before they can start calling
The notice must include the name of the creditor (the person or business that says you owe them money), the amount the creditor says you owe, and the name of the collection agency and its authority to demand payment on behalf of the creditor
After sending the notice, the agency must wait 6 days before they can contact you in person or by phone.

The collection agency cannot:

Contact you on Sunday, except between the hours of 1 PM and 5 PM
Contact you on any other day of the week between the hours of 9 PM and 7 AM
Contact you on a statutory holiday
Use threatening, profane, intimidating or coercive language
Use undue, excessive or unreasonable pressure

The collection agency cannot continue to contact you if:

You send a registered letter to the agency saying that you dispute the debt and suggest the matter be taken to court.
You (or your lawyer) send a registered letter to the agency providing your lawyer’s contact information and notifying the collection agency to communicate only with your lawyer.
You have told them that you are not the person they are looking for unless they take reasonable precautions to ensure you are that person.

What should you do? The best thing to do about a collection agency and its debt collectors calling you is to deal with not only the people from the collection agency are trying to collect, but all of your debts. The best time to deal with them ideally is once you sense there is a problem and before they are referred to a collection agency.

If the debt collectors are calling you, it’s not too late to call a trustee. Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. is 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. Contact us today for a solid plan for dealing with your debts so that you can get back on track to living a debt free life.

Tags Bankruptcy, collection agencies, collection agency, Debt, debt collectors, debt collectors calling, debts, insolvency, living paycheque to paycheque, starting over starting now, trustee

Brandon Blog Post

PAYDAY LOANS TORONTO NO CREDIT CHECK

Post author By Brandon Smith
Post date August 14, 2014

Here is a very funny bit from “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” on HBO regarding the predatory lending practices of payday loan companies. It is very sad, but true. It is well worth watching this video because among the humour, are some very good lessons as to why not to get involved with payday loan companies and their related very high cost of lending.

Although it applies to the US payday loan industry, it is equally applicable to Payday Loans Toronto No Credit Check also. We also have written other blogs on the dangers of the Payday Loan Industry, including:

And now, click on the video to listen to this very funny bit by John Oliver.

Instead of perpetuating the cycle of debt, we encourage you to see a professional trustee. Contact Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. for a no fee, no obligation appointment. We’re 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. It’s time to end the cycle of debt. Say NO to payday loan companies. Say YES to a solid financial plan for moving forward to a debt free life.

Tags Bankruptcy, Debt, financial institution, financial institutions, financial plan, insolvency, interest rate, interest rates, living paycheque to paycheque, payday loan, payday loan companies, payday loans, PAYDAY LOANS TORONTO NO CREDIT CHECK, professional trustee, starting over starting now, The Cash Store, toronto, trustee

Brandon Blog Post

PAYDAY LOAN COMPANIES: THERE ARE OPTIONS

Post author By Brandon Smith
Post date July 29, 2014

Finally a financial institution has stepped up to the plate and is offering a viable alternative to payday loan companies. Sadly, people who typically turn to payday loan companies are low income earners who are barely surviving and living paycheque to paycheque. Payday loan companies are not helping them; they are creating higher debt loads and holding them hostage with insane interest rates.

The Cash Store, a payday loan company, offers a $300 loan for 14 days for $69, which is an annual interest rate 599.64% on their payday loans product. Vancity, Canada’s largest community credit union with branches in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Victoria and Squamish, launched a new financial product to combat payday loans, called Vancity Fair & Fast Loan. If a credit union member borrows $300 for minimum term of two months and pays it off in two weeks, it would cost $2.20, a 19% annual percentage rate.

The Canadian Payday Loan Association says as many as two million Canadians take out payday loans every year. There has been a lot of talk about “cleaning up the payday loan industry” but if more financial institutions follow Vancity’s lead, payday loan companies would disappear from our landscape without further government regulations.

Don’t wait for payday loans to disappear before searching out more permanent solutions. Instead of perpetuating the cycle of debt, we encourage you to see a professional trustee. Contact Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. for a no fee, no obligation appointment. We’re 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. It’s time to end the cycle of debt. Say NO to payday loan companies. Say YES to a solid financial plan for moving forward to a debt free life.

Tags Bankruptcy, Debt, financial institution, financial institutions, financial plan, insolvency, interest rate, interest rates, living paycheque to paycheque, payday loan, payday loan companies, payday loans, professional trustee, starting over starting now, The Cash Store, trustee, VanCity

Brandon Blog Post

BANKRUPTCY FAQ CANADA

Post author By Brandon Smith
Post date June 15, 2014

Bankruptcy FAQ Canada has been compiled from the questions most asked of us by people facing financial challenges.

If you’re like many Canadians who are struggling to pay the bills, living paycheque to paycheque and can’t even fathom a way out of this trouble, you need help from a professional, federally licensed trustee. Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. can help get your life back on track Starting Over, Starting Now. Contact us today.

And now, click for BANKRUPTCY FAQ CANADA

Tags Bankruptcy, bankruptcy alternatives, bankruptcy faq canada, Consumer Proposal, living paycheque to paycheque, personal bankruptcy, starting over starting now

Brandon Blog Post

CANADIAN REAL ESTATE BUBBLE BURST: WHEN?

Post author By Brandon Smith
Post date June 12, 2014

Will the Canadian real estate bubble burst has been the subject of several articles in the newspapers recently quoting Canadian and American economists. So far from what I have read, half of the economists quoted say there is not a Canadian real estate bubble, with statistics to show that there is a healthy real estate market and therefore we will not have a Canadian real estate bubble burst.

The other half of the economists, provide statistics to show that there is a Canadian real estate bubble, it has reached the same unsustainable levels as was the case in 2008 in the United States and that there will be a Canadian real estate bubble burst to drag all of us down.

Although my Firm has done many real estate receiverships, the most famous so far being the Court-appointed receivership of the highly publicized The Suites at 1 King West, built by Harry Stinson, my crystal ball is no better than yours. I cannot tell you if:

a Canadian real estate bubble burst will not happen since we are in a safe real estate market where Canada is attractive to immigrants from around the world looking for a safe haven for their money, and they truly believe Canadian real estate is it; or
real estate prices are unreasonably high and that there will be a Canadian real estate bubble burst.

As far as the economist’s statistics, which are being used to prove both sides of the argument, all I can do is quote British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli when he said there are “Lies, damned lies, and statistics“, to describe the persuasive power of numbers, particularly the use of statistics, to bolster weak arguments.

In our recent blog, FINANCIAL CRISIS IN CANADA: CAN REAL ESTATE PRICES TRIGGER ONE?, we reported that:

7.5% of the Canadian workforce is in the construction industry, while 7% of the Canadian economy is based on residential construction – both record highs;
the Canadian unemployment rate rose from 6.9% to 7.2%;
the Canadian debt-to-income ratio has soared to a record 164%, above levels experienced in the U.S. before the financial crisis; and
the Canadian Bankers Association reports that 70% of all household debt in Canada is made up of residential mortgage debt.

But there is one certainty I can tell you about. Even if there is a slowdown in the Canadian real estate industry, and not a Canadian real estate bubble burst, residential construction workers and real estate agents will suffer. A slowdown in residential construction, and less residences being sold, does not bode well for these two groups. So it will be the severity of the slowdown, and the effect on real estate prices, to know whether or not there actually is to be a Canadian real estate bubble burst.

So, what can they do to stop a Canadian real estate bubble burst? The answer is nothing. However, they should always have arranged their affairs so when there is a slowdown, they were always:

living within their means by spending less than they earn so that they would not have problems living paycheque to paycheque;
using proper budgeting techniques to make sure they were paying down a portion of their debt with every pay;
paying themselves first by maintaining a program to make sure that they were putting away a portion of every pay into savings for investment so that they would be able to weather any downward blips in their income;
making sure their income tax was paid up on time so that they would not have any large amounts outstanding from past years in a time when their incomes were reduced;
only charging to credit cards what they would be able to pay off in full every month so as not to incur credit card debt with high interest costs; and
reviewing their credit report to make sure their credit rating was accurate, and if they were experiencing any credit problems availing themselves of a proper credit counselling agency, NOT one of the debt settlement companies.

So as you can see, there is no magic pill that you can take to solve your financial problems if there is a Canadian real estate bubble burst, an illness, an emergency, or when life just throws a curve ball at you. The best time to have guarded against financial challenges, if you truly were worried about a Canadian real estate bubble burst, was before it happened.

If you’re financial well-being, and that of your entire family depends on the value of your real estate always rising, and you will be doomed if there is a Canadian real estate bubble burst, whether you wish to admit it or not, you have serious financial problems. Before disaster strikes as a result of a Canadian real estate bubble burst or otherwise, contact Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc.

We can review your situation with you, in a no charge initial consultation meeting, and provide you with real options. If we meet early enough, we can discuss various bankruptcy alternatives such as credit counselling, debt consolidation or consumer proposals, all in order to avoid personal bankruptcy. We will go over all of your options, and encourage and help you to implement the one that is right for you.

Together we can solve your problems with immediate action and the right plan so that Starting Over, Starting Now will become your reality.

Brandon Blog Post

BAD CREDIT LOANS GUARANTEED APPROVAL

Post author By Brandon Smith
Post date May 29, 2014

If you are searching for bad credit loans guaranteed approval, then you already know that one of the more frightening feelings common in the modern world is falling into debt and not knowing how to get out. Debt has a way of sneaking up and overwhelming us before we realize what is going on.

Many people have not had the training in personal financial management needed to stay out of debt, and they are in need of guidance from someone who has this expertise for resolving their financial problems. Unfortunately, people in this situation often get into more trouble by looking for bad credit loans guaranteed approval by a new creditor rather than finding the help they really need from a bankruptcy trustee.

Bad Credit Loans Guaranteed Approval

If you find yourself typing the above search term into your search engine, you may well be looking at one of the danger signs that you are in need of professional help in dealing with your debts. Other signs that debt is out of hand include:

not having any savings;
taking personal loans from family or friends;
missing payments on credit cards, mortgage, or rent;
using your credit card for buying groceries and other necessities;
relying on credit cards to get from one payday to the next;
not knowing the total amount you owe; and
not being able to manage living paycheque to paycheque.

The worry and stress created by these pressures makes finding a way out of the situation even harder. Uncontrolled debt can take a big toll on family life and reduce, or eliminate, the resources for relaxation and leisure, leaving the person with no time to even look for the light at the end of the tunnel. I can assure you from all of the cases we have handled, a bad credit loans guaranteed approval company is not a solution to your overall debt problem.

As the debt mounts, the prospect of looking at the whole picture becomes even more overwhelming. However, looking objectively at your whole situation is the most important first step for resolving the crisis, and this is exactly what you can gain by using the assistance and perspective of a professional licensed bankruptcy trustee. I can look at your situation clearly as a third party, and I will not charge you for that consultation. So all you have to lose, is your debt!

Avoiding Bad Credit Loans Guaranteed Approval

If you have found yourself seeking more bad credit loans, consider turning in a new direction that can lead you out of debt forever. Take a deep breath, step back for a moment and have a consultation with a licensed bankruptcy trustee who can help you in facing the full dimensions of your problem and then devise a plan that moves you toward a debt free life.

We have written several blogs about the high amounts charged by bad credit loans guaranteed approval companies and how they take advantage of people at their weakest moment, and you may wish to read some of them. They include: BAD CREDIT LOANS TORONTO: LEGIT COMPANIES DON’T GUARANTEE THEM, PAYDAY LOANS ARE NOT THE ANSWER TO YOUR FINANCIAL PROBLEMS, and THE CASH STORE ONTARIO: THIS PAYDAY LOAN OUTFIT NEEDED HELP AND CALLED A TRUSTEE! If you read these blogs, you will see why we say that a bad credit loans guaranteed approval company is not the way to solve your financial problems.

If debt has overwhelmed your life and you are still looking for more, that is a definite warning sign that it is time for professional financial help. Contact Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. immediately. We will evaluate your situation and provide you with a solid plan for moving forward so that Starting Over, Starting Now you can live a debt free life.

Brandon Blog Post

PAYDAY LOAN COMPANIES TARGETING YOU WITH MOBILE APPS!

Post author By Brandon Smith
Post date April 29, 2014

We’ve been making you aware of the dangers of payday loan companies in our previous blogs – Legitimate Companies Don’t Guarantee Loans If You Have Bad Credit Or No Credit and Payday Loans Are Not The Answer To Your Financial Problems. Payday loan companies will go to any lengths to take your money and now their latest tactic is to target you with mobile apps and easy online access. Technology is making it easier for these unscrupulous operators to take advantage of you. And, if you have been taken advantage of by a payday loan company you are not alone. According to Statistics Canada:

Almost 3% of Canadian families said in 2005 they had obtained a payday loan in the preceding three years.
On average, Canadians borrow about $300 for a two week term.
There are about 1,350 payday loan storefronts in Canada.
The industry is worth an estimated $2 billion a year.
Payday loan borrowers tend to be young families.
Payday loan borrowers typically have poor credit or a previous bankruptcy.

Unfortunately, there are no updated figures from Statistics Canada. However, the Canadian Payday Loan Association in its study titled Payday Loan Users Study Ontario dated April 2013, reported that in 2012, significantly more respondents (65%) would choose payday loan companies over other options if they needed $300 when compared to 2007 (55%). This shows two things: 1. as we previously blogged, many Canadians are living paycheque to paycheque; and 2. this high cost borrowing source is gaining more acceptance and usage among those with credit problems.

Payday loan companies offer you instant cash even if you have bad credit or no credit, with instant approval. With a mobile app you don’t even have to go into a payday loan storefront. You can borrow money from your phone or computer by obtaining online bad credit loans. BUT, these companies aren’t getting you out of debt; they are creating more debt. Although the rules do vary from province to province regarding borrowing, you should expect to pay 25% interest when you borrow from a payday loan company, even if you repay the loan in a few days.

There is no quick fix for serious debt problems and digging a deeper hole for yourself with a high interest payday loan is only going to make matters worse. Stop the downward debt spiral and seek out a professional trustee. At Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. helping clients deal with serious debt issues is our business. There are a variety of options available to you including bankruptcy alternatives – credit counselling, debt consolidation, and consumer proposals – and bankruptcy. Let us help you end the downward debt spiral so that Starting Over, Starting Now you can live a debt free life.

Brandon Blog Post

NEED $2000 FAST – COULD YOU COME UP WITH IT?

Post author By Brandon Smith
Post date April 15, 2014

7494423390 be1d3e7344 bankruptcy

Need $2000 fast? Could you come up with it? We all know that we should have a rainy day fund, but how many of us actually do? In Ontario 60% of the population is living paycheque to paycheque so what do you think would happen if you need $2000 fast in 30 days for an emergency situation? When the rainy day comes will you stay dry or get drenched? A new study by the National Bureau of Economic Research shows that:

28% of Americans would NOT be able to come up with $2000 in a pinch
22% said they probably would not be to able to come up with $2000
34.2% said they would have to ask family and friends for help
29.5% said they would have to resort to credit cards, a home equity line of credit, reverse mortgage or unsecured loan

In Canada Harris Decima did a similar survey and like in America, just over 25% Canadians said that they were not very or not at all confident that they could come up with it if they need $2000 fast in 30 days if faced with an unexpected financial emergency. 92% of all Canadians said they would consider some form of borrowing – lines of credit, credit cards, bank loans, and borrowing from friends and family.

It seems that we are financially fragile on both sides of the border. And what may surprise you is that this problem is not the exclusive domain of low income families. The study just published by the National Bureau of Economic Research reports that of households making between $100,000 and $150,000 annually, nearly one-quarter said they “certainly” or “probably” would be unable to come up with the money if they need $2000 fast.

The reality is that if you are earning $100,000 and $150,000 annually, need $2000 fast and would be unable to come up with the money, you are living in a house of cards. The best advice I can offer is to make an appointment to see a professional trustee as soon as possible, before disaster strikes. Before bankruptcy becomes your only option, there are bankruptcy alternatives including credit counselling, debt consolidation, and consumer proposals. Contact us today. The team at Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. will work with you to ensure that Starting Over, Starting Now you can regain financial health.

Tags Bankruptcy, bankruptcy alternatives, consumer proposals, credit counselling, debt consolidation, living paycheque to paycheque, professional trustee, trustee

Brandon Blog Post

BANKRUPTCY TRUSTEE TORONTO: HELPING YOU STARTING OVER, STARTING NOW

Post author By Brandon Smith
Post date April 6, 2014

A bankruptcy trustee Toronto understands that insolvency and filing for bankruptcy can be a very distressing time in someone’s life. Many people feel like failures at this time and need to have someone to whom they can turn to help them understand their options. People filing for bankruptcy can choose a federally regulated bankruptcy trustee Toronto they feel the most comfortable with to assist them in the process.

When Bankruptcy Becomes Necessary

When a person becomes insolvent, they cannot pay back what they owe to their creditors; in fact, what they owe may far outweigh the assets that they have. At this point, an individual may consider declaring bankruptcy. There are several clues, such as the following, that indicate that one is nearing this point of no return and should consult with a bankruptcy trustee Toronto:

▪ Garnished wages from each paycheque

▪ Contact from one or more collection agencies

▪ Utilities or household services that have been stopped from lack of payment

▪ You can no longer make ends meet living paycheque to paycheque

Bankruptcy and Its Benefits

Although it should be noted that bankruptcy is not the perfect solution for everyone because it will be quite costly and destructive to one’s credit score, it does have several advantages. Of course, there will be no more harassment from creditors or collection agencies during and following the bankruptcy process, and the person involved will be able to feel a greater peace of mind. In addition, many times people are allowed to keep their homes and property during bankruptcy. Finally, employers cannot discriminate against individuals who file for bankruptcy.

What a Bankruptcy Trustee Toronto Does

Anyone filing for bankruptcy in the GTA can choose the bankruptcy trustee Toronto they feel the most comfortable with to assist them. A bankruptcy trustee Toronto has numerous tasks. In general, the trustee is an impartial intermediary who will make sure that every part of the process is performed correctly, that there is no fraud and that assets are liquidated appropriately. Before the actual bankruptcy filing, he or she will meet with the person to review the individual’s situation, consider all alternatives to bankruptcy, including credit counselling, debt consolidation and consumer proposals.

After this initial assessment, if bankruptcy is the best option, the federally regulated bankruptcy trustee will explain the bankruptcy process to you, prepare and look over any paperwork before it is filed, if necessary will hold a meeting of creditors for the individual and will ensure that creditors are paid their pro rata share in accordance with the provisions of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.

Some people fear that a bankruptcy trustee Toronto will make their lives miserable each step of the way. However, although the trustee may have some difficult and painful tasks to fulfill, they will ensure that each step of the process is performed thoroughly, accurately and with complete professionalism. Those people who are in a position to benefit from declaring bankruptcy will find the work of a trustee to be invaluable and allow you after your discharge from bankruptcy to rebuild your credit.

Bankruptcy Trustee Toronto

If you feel you are a candidate for bankruptcy, you can first do some self-study by reviewing our bankruptcy faqs. After reviewing the bankruptcy alternatives, if the best solution for you is bankruptcy, you should feel comfortable that your choice of trustee will treat you with the compassion and respect you deserve. Contact Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. and Starting Over Starting Now you’ll be on your way to living a debt free life.

Brandon Blog Post

DEBT IS INCREASING IN CANADA ACROSS ALL DEMOGRAPHICS

Post author By Brandon Smith
Post date April 1, 2014

The last few weeks we’ve been discussing seniors in debt and baby boomers plagued with debt, but the sad reality is that debts are increasing in Canada across all demographics, and at alarming rates. In July 2013 we discussed how even high flyers can’t sustain the income to fund their lifestyles, so all demographics means the rich and famous included. According to the Royal Bank’s poll:

Canadians’ debt loads have grown 21% in the past year, and more consumers are running into the red.
For every dollar Canadians earn, they owe $1.63.
Just 24% of Canadians say they are debt free.
Canadians who are in debt have increased their non-mortgage burdens to $15,920. That’s an extra $2,779 over the past year compared to growth of just $83 in the year prior.
38% of Canadians are anxious about their debt levels.

Unfortunately Canadians are digging themselves deeper by taking advantage of low interest rates and continuing to borrow, yet wages can’t keep up leading to Canadians being anxious about their debts. As a result debt loads have skyrocketed. A new survey shows debt levels are climbing fast, to a record $1.422 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2013, according to credit agency Equifax Canada. TransUnion reported the average Canadian consumer owes $27,355 – not including mortgages. Installment loans, largely made up of car loans, were the fastest growing segment of debt, up 11% year over year. Credit card debt rose 5.9% from a year ago. It is especially true for seniors with credit card debt, as they can tap into existing credit cards to borrow where they could not longer qualify for new credit.

As Canadian sink deeper in debt, many will be living paycheque to paycheque and struggling to make the minimum payments until eventually they become insolvent. Don’t wait for disaster to strike before seeking professional help. If you are facing a debt crisis, contact a professional bankruptcy trustee as soon as possible. The earlier you seek help the more options you’ll have. Bankruptcy is not the only option for serious debt problems. There are bankruptcy alternatives including credit counselling, debt consolidation, and consumer proposals in addition to bankruptcy as solutions. Contact Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. as soon as possible and Starting Over, Starting Now you’ll be on your way to living a debt free life.

Tags Bankruptcy, bankruptcy alternatives, bankruptcy trustee, consumer proposals, credit counselling, Debt, debt consolidation, living paycheque to paycheque, rich and famous, seniors in debt, seniors with credit card debt, trustee, wages