You want to repay your debts, but the amount is so high that almost all your money goes toward paying interest on those debts. Is your situation so serious that you’re trying to decide whether to continue paying or to declare personal bankruptcy ?
There’s another solution that can let you repay part of your debts: a consumer proposal. Here is what it’s all about.
Consumer Proposals
A consumer proposal is an offer you make to your creditors to settle your debts.
This kind of offer lets you do several things, including these:
- repay your debts over a longer or shorter period of time, depending on your situation
- pay a lower amount each month
- repay only part of your debts.
If the offer is accepted, it becomes the repayment agreement with your creditors. The agreement must be carried out over no more than five years.
If the offer is refused, you’ll have to repay your debts on the conditions agreed to with each creditor before the proposal or choose another solution to your debt problems. In some situations, you can also make changes to your proposal and submit it again to you creditors.
Requirements for Making a Consumer Proposal
To make a consumer proposal, the total of your debts cannot be more than $250,000. The amount of a mortgage loan on your main residence is not included in this amount.
You must also be either bankrupt or insolvent. Being insolvent means that you meet all of these conditions:
- not yet bankrupt
- have $1,000 or more of debts
- reside or own property in Canada
- be in one of the following situations:
- You cannot pay your debts as they become due, for any reason.
- You have stopped paying your debts or bills (electricity,
- telecommunications, credit cards, etc.).
- The value of all your property (your “assets”) is less than the value of all your debts (your “liabilities”).
If you’re in this situation, you can make a consumer proposal by setting up an appointment with a trustee in bankruptcy (a “trustee”).
The Trustee’s Role
A trustee will examine your financial situation and help you draw up a list of your debts. The trustee then prepares a reasonable proposal for your creditors and helps you write it.
The trustee is also responsible for bringing the relevant creditors (if necessary), sending them a copy of the proposal and paying them once the consumer proposal has been accepted.
The cost of the trustee’s services are included in the agreement you enter into with your creditors. You will therefore pay for these services as you pay off your other debts.
Impact of a Consumer Proposal
Here are some advantages of a consumer proposal:
- You can repay only part of your debts and pay a lower amount each month.
- It avoids collection efforts of creditors.
- It prevents creditors from seizing your salary or taking you to court.
But a note will be added to your credit report indicating that you have used a consumer proposal to settle your debts. It could stay there until your debts are paid off and for several years after the end of the proposal.
If you fail to make three payments (in a row or not in a row), the consumer proposal can be cancelled. This gives creditors the right to demand that they be repaid on their terms.