The New Debtor Prison

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We have found that a new form of debtor prison exists and this is due to excessive phone calls, emails, text messages and mail from creditors and collection agencies.   These tactics can leave a person feeling afraid to answer their own phone and for some, it can cause undue stress and anxiety which can negatively affect their everyday life and ability to function at work.

January 2017 – Personal Bankruptcy & Consumer Proposal Statistics

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Canada – Personal bankruptcies were up 0.1% and consumer proposal filings were up 7.6% as compared to the 12-months ended January 31, 2016.

New Brunswick – Personal bankruptcies were up 1.4% and consumer proposal filings were up 4.1% as compared to the 12-months ended January 31, 2016.

Why People Delay Getting Help With Their Debt

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The longer an individual waits to get help with their finances, the harder it is to help as the number of options is greatly reduced.  By the time most consumers come to us the only choices left are to file personal bankruptcy or consumer proposal. If you are starting to struggle financially reach out for professional assistance before things get beyond your control.

Guaranteed, Co-Signed and Joint Loans

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Generally, a co-signor is usually jointly and severally liable for 100% of the debt.  This means that, if there is a default, the lender will pursue the primary debtor and the co-signer at the same time and will be happy to collect their entire debt out of whomever they can recover from first.

Dealing With Increasing Insolvency Rates

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There are lots of factors but, I think the greatest single contributor is the proliferation of easy credit combined with low levels of financial literacy.  High debt levels limit financial flexibility and the ability to weather and recover from financial setbacks resulting from job loss, reduced income, illness, separation/divorce, and other life events.

Struggling With Debt Tackle Your Finances Head On

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Hiding from the reality of your financial situation will do nothing to improve it. People have a pre-disposition to hide from the truth, particularly when the truth is ugly. Unfortunately, we see this every day.

What Is the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (“BIA)

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Generally speaking, the BIA is a federal statute that governs bankruptcy, proposal and receiverships in Canada.  It provides relief to the honest, but unfortunate debtor from the crushing burden of debt so they can get a fresh start.

Can Creditors Collect Debts After Bankruptcy?

When you receive a discharge after completing your bankruptcy, it releases you from the debts you owed before your date of bankruptcy. Once you file personal bankruptcy, your creditors cannot legally collect on those debts.

Caught in the Pay Day Loan Cycle?

The problem with this type of borrowing is that it is very expensive and can often leave the borrower, who is already in a tight financial position, unable to repay the loan. So they end up re-borrowing or getting a “roll-over” loan by paying off the current loan and immediately getting another one from the payday lender.

Will My Friends and Family Know I Went Bankrupt?

Personal bankruptcy and consumer proposal filings are a matter of public record and are kept on file with the Government of Canada through the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy.  These records are accessible for a fee but how many people, other than Licensed Insolvency Trustee (bankruptcy trustee), would incur the expense or even think or know where to look?