Why is a consumer proposal three times less expensive than credit counselling?
It is three times less expensive for a consumer to eliminate one dollar of debt using a consumer proposal compared with credit counselling. Credit counselling agencies offer consumers the opportunity to reduce their monthly payments by enrolling in a Debt Management Plan. A consumer will typically repay the monies owing to these creditors by way of monthly installments over a significant period of time. One of the advantages of a Debt Management Plan is that a representative from the credit counselling agency will attempt to negotiate some interest relief concerning the interest accruing during the life of the Debt Management Plan.
It will cost a consumer somewhere between $1.10 and $1.30 to eliminate one dollar of debt under a Debt Management Plan. There are three different cost centres under a Debt
Management Plan:
Consumer repays 100 percent of the outstanding monies owing on the date of enrollment
Consumer pays a fee to the Debt Management Plan provider
Consumer may be required to pay some interest on the monies owing during the life of the Debt Management Plan
In contrast, a consumer will typically pay somewhere between 30 cents and 40 cents to eliminate one dollar of debt under a consumer proposal arranged through a bankruptcy trustee. Assuming a consumer proposal is accepted by the consumer’s creditors then the consumer can make monthly installment payments for a period not to exceed five years.
Retired couple discussing their financial budget at home
Bankruptcy and Age
In years gone by, a person would graduate from high school, trade school, university or a college and have a well paying job in a relatively short period of time. He or she would move out of the family house, buy a car, get married, etc. Credit was available, but it was relatively difficult to obtain. Financial difficulties would sometimes occur, but it was usually the result of a specific catastrophe such as divorce, medical issues, or some similar event.
Fast forward to 2015, students are staying in school much longer than before, graduating with a high student debt and are taking a longer period of time to find the perfect job. Many people have theorized that the lack of an available job is one of the reasons why students elect to stay in school as long as they do. Banks and other credit grantors have responded by being lenient in their collection procedures on debts owed by recent graduates. The government has even changed the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act to increase the waiting time after you ceased to be a full or part time student from two years to seven years before you can claim student loans in a bankruptcy or a (debt consolidation) consumer proposal. So, what is the issue!
Students are staying at home longer, and by the time they move out, have less time to save for their own apartment, marriage, children or even their own retirement. It was not uncommon for family to help in the purchase of their children’s first house. Now, it is becoming common for family to assist in living expenses and even a second house as their children’s family expands. This has resulted in the parents’ ability being reduced to finance their own retirement plans. As well, many of the older generation are working well past the normal retirement age of 65.
By the numbers over the past 10 years, the age of consumer debtors filing a bankruptcy or a consumer proposal has been decreasing for debtors under the age of 44. At the age of 45, the statistics start to change as the number of debtors filing bankruptcy or a consumer proposal have increased over the past 10 years. The largest increase is for seniors in the 65 + age bracket where filings have grown from 6.2% to 10% of the total filings.
Contact Rumanek & Company Ltd. for more information on bankruptcy and debt solutions. Or please fill out the free bankruptcy evaluation form. To learn more please visit our YouTube Channel. Rumanek & Company have been helping individuals and families overcome debt for more than 25 years.
Many people think that when they file an Assignment in Bankruptcy that they will never get credit again. This is, simply, not true. During the period while you are bankrupt (usually about nine months), you are required to disclose that you are bankrupt to any lender if you are asking for credit over $500. Other than that disclosure, if the lender agrees to loan you money, nothing prevents you from accepting it. During the bankruptcy, there are two counselling sessions that take place. During the second session, you will receive information on how to rebuild your credit score even during the period of your bankruptcy. Many lenders now work closely with debtors with low credit scores or a prior bankruptcy and look at your employment income, length of employment, family status as well as the cause of your bankruptcy januvia dosage. In other words, are you now rehabilitated from the cause of your financial difficulties that resulted in your filing for bankruptcy? The notation on your credit report that you filed a bankruptcy is there for a period of 6 years from the date of your discharge from bankruptcy but this is only one fact that the lender considers. A quick option after your discharge is a secured credit card. Most secured card companies will report to the credit agencies if your credit limit is $1,000 or higher. If you need a car, you should be able to obtain financing once you are discharged – but always ask if the financing company reports to the credit reporting agencies that you have obtained credit and are making payments on time. Mortgage companies will give consideration to you one year after your discharge, assuming, of course, you have stable income and have managed to save enough money for the down payment of the condo or house that you are attempting to buy.
Credit is available. You will just need guidance on obtaining it.
Contact Rumanek & Company Ltd. for more information on bankruptcy and debt solutions. Or please fill out the free bankruptcy evaluation form. To learn more please visit our YouTube Channel. Rumanek & Company have been helping individuals and families overcome debt for more than 25 years.
Our population is getting older. The need for health care services is increasing. Canadians need to be realistic about how they plan to spend their retirement and the cost. Think about retirement age and your desired lifestyle in the future. Take action to improve your finances now. The harsh reality is pension plans are failing and more and more people are deciding to work, either by choice or the alternative would be to not have enough money, until long after 65 because people are not saving enough.
Contact Rumanek & Company Ltd. for more information on bankruptcy and debt solutions. Or please fill out the free bankruptcy evaluation form. To learn more please visit our YouTube Channel. Rumanek & Company have been helping individuals and families overcome debt for more than 25 years.