In entering a debt management plan with a credit counsellor, can RRSP’s / GIC’s and chequing/savings accounts be taken by the creditors? Also, if there is a joint chequing account, can this be seized without asking or does the creditor have to ask the individuals listed on the account? Posted from: Ontario
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Debt Settlement in Canada
What is Debt Settlement ?
Debt settlement is a service in Canada to help individuals who are experiencing financial distress, and is an alternative to bankruptcy.
Debt settlement might be appropriate for you if you meet the following three criteria:
- You are solvent;
- You have more than $10,000 in unsecured consumer debt;
(do not count mortgage loans, car loans or student loans); - You have an income or the ability to raise some money.
A consumer proposal and personal bankruptcy are only available to those who are insolvent—people who cannot pay their bills as they become due.
Debt settlement may be particularly attractive to those with a poor credit rating or individuals who will not be borrowing large sums of money in the next five or six years.
How debt settlement works
You can hire a firm to do debt settlement work on your behalf.
During the first few months you enroll in a debt settlement plan you will not make any payments to selected unsecured consumer creditors. During this initial phase you will be saving money that will be set aside to build your ‘debt settlement fund’. With the passage of time (1) the amount of money in your debt settlement fund will grow and (2) your creditors will become increasingly willing to accept lump sum settlements from you, typically between 30 cents to 50 cents on the dollar when an account has been in default for 24 months to 36 months. After several months your debt settlement firm will contact your creditors and attempt to negotiate very favourable lump sum settlements.
To ask a question about debt settlement in Canada:
- Post an anonymous question about debt settlement to our blog.
The latest debt settlement questions, with our experts' responses:
Posted on Monday, April 22, 2013
posted by Questions @ I lost my job and at 58 i’m finding it hard to find another. my wife has a very good job. between the 2 of us we have acombined credit card debt of approx. 77,000.00. Do we qualify for debt settlement? PS: we have never missed a cc payment but are now barely able to [...]
Posted on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Can a credit card company refuse to be part of the debt settlement by refusing to take what is offered? Posted from: Ontario
Posted on Friday, December 7, 2012
I owe $26,000 on the 407 toll route which I have not used in over a year ,does going bankrupt erase this debt so I can get a valid plate sticker for my car Posted from: Ontario
Posted on Thursday, November 1, 2012
I have outstanding debt overseas. Can an overseas creditor come into Canada and take legal action against me – i.e. garnish my wages, take away my home? Posted from: Alberta
Posted on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
i have been with a debt settlement company for 7 month and with help i was able to put in extra money i have enough to settle both credit cards i dont feel like this company is working very fast for me they havent even contacted my creditors yet should i ask for my money [...]
Posted on Monday, October 29, 2012
If you do not pay the creditors in the initial period wouldnt you get taken to a collection agency thus ruining your credit score in the future? Posted from: Alberta
Posted on Thursday, September 13, 2012
we have been with a sliverthorn law for debt and they dont seemd to be doing anything for my husband, we now have a lien on our home and he has a garnishee ,i thought they were to work on our behalves can you please help , he also has recently lost his job on [...]
Posted on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
I see the benefits of debt settlement. But I am wondering what happens to your credit rating for the time one desides to go into dept settlement and the time the company starts to make contact with your debtors to settle the accounts? Posted from: Ontario
Posted on Friday, August 31, 2012
Does the trustee file income tax returns when you’re doing debt settlement the way they do with bankruptcy? Posted from: Ontario
Posted on Friday, August 31, 2012
