Can You Really Trust An Ontario Bankruptcy Trustee

Before you can determine if you can trust an Ontario bankruptcy trustee, you first have to understand what an Ontario bankruptcy trustee is and what his or her role in a bankruptcy or consumer proposal is.

An Ontario bankruptcy trustee is an individual or a corporation that is licensed by the Superintendent of Bankruptcy. Bankruptcy trustees are regulated federally. The role of an Ontario bankruptcy trustee is to administer bankruptcies and proposals, administer the estates of the bankrupts, hold in trust and subsequently distribute the assets of the bankrupt. The bankruptcy trustee must follow the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA).

The bankruptcy trustee is to be impartial and act in the best interests of both the bankrupt and the creditors. The same is true whether you are filing a consumer proposal or a bankruptcy. In the case of a bankruptcy, the bankruptcy trustee can oppose your discharge if you have not fulfilled your obligations under the bankruptcy. These obligations can change over the course of your bankruptcy and/or as a result of undisclosed information at the time you filed for bankruptcy. In layman's terms, if you incorrectly estimate the value of an asset, forget to tell the trustee that you have a particular asset or in the middle of your bankruptcy you get a better job, this may change your monthly payment in bankruptcy and the length of time you are bankrupt – the bankruptcy trustee will make this determination.

In the case of a consumer proposal you don’t have an ongoing obligation to the bankruptcy trustee like you do in a bankruptcy. With that said, the bankruptcy trustee assesses the proposal they will offer your creditors based on extracting maximum value for your creditors.

So the answer to the question “can you trust an Ontario bankruptcy trustee” is yes. They are a licensed, regulated officer of the court. However, now that you know the role a trustee plays in a bankruptcy or consumer proposal, it may not be wise to approach him or her directly, no matter how warm and fuzzy the advertising is.

Consumer proposals and bankruptcies are good options for getting out of debt and starting off on a fresh footing, but before jumping to this conclusion it is important to consider all of your financial options. Working with a qualified financial consultant that is experienced working with debt consolidation, mortgages, debt settlements, consumer proposals and bankruptcies will make you aware of these options. A financial consultant who is hired by you to represent your financial interests will ensure that you can be open and honest about all of your finances, ask questions that won't impact you and assess a host of different financial choices. He or she can also line you up with the appropriate professionals (this includes bankruptcy trustees if necessary) and represent you through the process. This takes the burden off of you and ensures that you walk away with the best possible deal. In the case of a consumer proposal you could save thousands of dollars.

If you are struggling with a financial problem and would like to review your financial options contact DebtCare Canada at 888-890-0888 or visit www.debtcare.ca.

 

How to Check Your Credit Score?

In Canada, a credit report and credit score is used by many different institutions, including banks, credit agencies, and even employers. These documents contain important information about your borrowing and repayment habits, and provide a detailed account of your past financial history. Even though these reports are so important, many Canadians are not familiar with the process of requesting and understanding the credit score.

Understanding your credit score is important for a number of reasons. One of the most important is because, whenever you apply for credit, be it a mortgage, automotive financing, or a credit card, your credit report is pulled by the lending institution and assessed. In order to qualify, you must meet certain qualifications with regard to the report, and so knowing where you stand is crucial.

What if your credit score is less than stellar? Too much credit, being too close to your limits or too many late or missed payments can severely reduce your credit score. In order to bring the score up, it might be prudent to speak with a financial debt consultant to discuss some options to reduce your debt and regain those lost credit points. Debt consolidation or consumer proposals are great options to help you get rid of your debt.

So, do you know how to check your credit score and credit report? Here is some important information that will help.

Requesting your credit score is actually quite simple. There are a few different credit reporting agencies in Canada, but the most popular are TransUnion and Equifax. Both of these agencies provide online copies of your credit report and credit score for a fee - simply visit the website, enter in some identity confirming information, and you will be able to print your credit report and credit score.

Another reason that it is important to understand how to check your credit score and credit report is to make sure that everything it contains is accurate. Credit reporting agencies can make mistakes when compiling the information, and if something is reported incorrectly this can harm your overall credit. It is important to check your report regularly in order to find any mistakes and remedy them. That being said, when a mistake is brought to the attention of a credit reporting agency you may find yourself frustrated by the amount of back and forth that takes place. If you find yourself having a hard time dealing with those credit reporting agencies and their unwillingness to accept responsibility or fix the incorrect data, contact a financial consultant who can help get the issue resolved.

If you want more information about how to check your credit score and how to understand your credit report, please contact DebtCare Canada by calling 888-890-0888 or visit www.debtcare.ca.

 

How Can I Fix My Credit?

We all know that bad things happen to good people. No one wakes up in the morning wanting to damage his or her credit. Thousands of Canadians have damaged credit, so if you are wondering “how can I fix my credit”, know that you are not alone and fortunately it can be done - and fairly quickly.

To all those who want the answer to the question “how can I fix my credit”, here are some tips:

Before you can repair credit you must deal with any past problem credit. First of all, the old adage that bad credit, even bad credit with unpaid balances, will simply fall off the credit report after 7 years is a myth and banking on that happening may leave you disappointed in the end. Before you can repair your credit you must get rid of unpaid balances associated with bad credit. Easier said than done, right? Well, actually it isn’t. There are many programs available to consumers who have outstanding balances on bad credit where you can make settlements at significantly less than what you owe and freeze the interest accruing. Debt consolidation is another realistic option. Leveraging home equity or having a co-signer can enable you to consolidate debt, paying off the defaulted balances.

Once the bad credit balances are dealt with it’s time to get to work and rebuild. The two best products that can be used to accomplish this are a secured credit card which reports to your credit report coupled with a secured loan like a GIC which will report to your credit and enable you to work towards an asset. Avoid credit products that bear sky high interest and don’t report to your credit report like payday loans.

Once new credit is arranged to rebuild, how you manage the new credit will be vital. Many misguided consumers think that when they get that secured credit card they should use it and make monthly payments to rebuild. Unlike installment credit (a loan), revolving credit can be good for your credit or ruin your credit depending how you manage it - even if you make your monthly payments on time. If you run up a large balance on your secured credit card and it is close to, at, or over the limit, this will negatively impact your credit. A good rule of thumb is to only use what you can pay in full each month and don’t exceed 50% of your credit limit as a balance. This means that if you have a secured card with a $200 limit, keep your monthly spending on the credit card under $100 per month. How you manage even the smallest credit card is an indicator to future creditors of whether or not you are a credit risk.

What to avoid: avoid store cards like furniture cards. All too often people buy furniture and get financing on a card offered through the store. If you buy $2,000 worth of furniture and then they get you approved for $2,000 worth of financing – even if it is interest free and even if there are no monthly payment obligations - this will have the impact of a maxed out credit card on your credit report. Avoid making more than 4 applications for credit in any one given calendar year. Credit applications are reported to your credit report and too many will reduce your credit score and make you appear as a “credit seeker” to new creditors. Be careful because many companies will try to look at your credit: employers, banks when opening accounts, gyms, insurance companies, etc. Generally speaking, if you are about to go into a contract with any organization and you are being asked to sign something, read the small print – it could include your permission to access your credit report.

Now that we have addressed the question “how can I fix my credit”, let's get started! Contact DebtCare Canada today at 888-890-0888 or visit www.debtcare.ca.

Spring Cleaning Should Include Cleaning Up Your Finances

The sun is shining and spring is in the air. Cars are lined up at carwashes and the parks are filled with people taking advantage of the warm weather. And, with the advent of spring comes the inevitable ‘spring clean’. From a financial perspective, the spring clean also represents the perfect opportunity to get your finances cleaned up.

Still feeling weighed down by a financial boulder? You are not alone. Canadians everywhere are dealing with rising debt loads and relying on credit to pay for everything. If you are struggling with debt, it is time to take control and clean up your finances. We’ve compiled a list of ways to help you manage this spring clean.

Financial Spring Clean Tip #1: Make a list. Sure this list won’t include things like washing all of the windows or cleaning out the garage, but it should include those financial goals you want to achieve in the coming months. It is easier to stick to something if you can physically tick things off of that list.

Financial Spring Clean Tip #2: Create a budget. Sure this seems like a band-aid solution that many individuals attempt – but if you are serious about taking out the ‘debt’ trash, creating a realistic budget and sticking to it is crucial. A budget, one that takes into account every aspect of your monthly finances, can show you exactly where you need to sweep away some of that extra spending and where you can save.

Financial Spring Clean Tip #3: Organize. Just as you would organize those closets or bins collecting miscellaneous junk, organize your debt. A great way to do this is to consolidate. Instead of having several different credit cards, loans, and lines of credit, consolidating debt merges all of these into one, neat, tidy monthly payment. The added bonus here is that this also reduces the amount of your monthly interest. So, just like purging your closet gets rid of those items collecting dust, consolidation gets rid of that extra financial burden.

Financial Spring Clean Tip #4: Call in the professionals. Rather than attempting to tackle that mountain on your own, seek the guidance of someone that knows exactly how to help you get out of debt. A professional financial consultant can give you the advice you need and present the options that will help you get rid of your debt. Whether it be budgeting tips, a consumer proposal, or bankruptcy, a seasoned financial consultant, one with your best interest in mind, will get you on the right track to financial spring cleaning.

Don’t let another year of debt build up. See spring as the perfect opportunity to get your finances under control and regain your financial independence.

To get started on your financial spring cleaning and get rid of your debt for good, please contact DebtCare Canada online or call 888-890-0888.