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A big Thank you to F.J Zaleski and Associates. I highly recommend this group to help you with your financial worries. This amazing team were so friendly and helpful and we felt very comfortable with them. Being seniors and trying to deal with lives unexpected circumstances Jason and Team were able to help us feel like there was a light at the end of the tunnel and we could still live with dignity. Thanks so much!
Lana W.
Take Control and Hit the Z-Key. F. J. Zielski & Associates Is Your Trusted Friend at Undoing Debt.
Licensed Administrator for Debt Help and Consumer Proposals in Southern Ontario
The Canadian Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act supports a consumer proposal as a viable debt settlement option. A consumer proposal is a customized agreement between you and your creditors, reducing your debt by up to 70%. F. J. Zielski & Associates Inc, the trusted debt relief expert, can help you with a consumer proposal in Southern Ontario to alleviate your overwhelming debt. Our licensed administrators assess your financial situation, considering your income, expenses, and responsibilities, to devise a tailored payment plan. Book a consultation today with F. J. Zielski & Associates Inc to secure your financial future and explore the benefits of a consumer proposal.
How a Consumer Proposal Can Help You Avoid Bankruptcy
A consumer proposal is a bankruptcy alternative that, once accepted, becomes a legally binding settlement of your unsecured debts. At F. J. Zielski & Associates Inc, our licensed administrator can help you prepare a personalized consumer proposal that suits your financial situation. Here’s an example of a situation where a consumer proposal can be the solution:
You owe money on three credit cards and a bank loan. In total, you owe $25,000. You have a job and can afford to make some monthly payments, but you cannot afford to repay everyone in full with interest each month. You have tried to get a consolidation loan but were rejected because your debts are too high.
Our licensed insolvency trustee can help you file a consumer proposal in such a situation. It will allow you to make regular fixed payments equal to the agreed-upon amount instead of paying the whole sum at once, risking going bankrupt or losing your fixed assets.
➤ What Makes F. J. Zielski & Associates Inc Different?
➤ Who Is Eligible to File a Consumer Proposal?
➤ What Is the Consumer Proposal Process?
➤ Benefits of Filing a Consumer Proposal
➤ Differences Between a Consumer Proposal vs. Filing for Bankruptcy
➤ What Happens If My Income Decreases and I Can’t Make the Proposal Payments?
What Debts Does a Consumer Proposal Cover?
A consumer proposal covers nearly all types of unsecured debt, such as:
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accounts in collection
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bank/personal loans
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credit card debt
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outstanding bills
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overdrafts
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payday loans
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tax debts
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unsecured lines of credit
What Makes F. J. Zielski & Associates Inc Different?
Perhaps you have tried to make similar offers to your creditors, but they haven’t accepted them. What proposes F. J. Zielski & Associates Inc that’s any different? F. J. Zielski & Associates Inc is a licensed administrator of consumer proposals, and your creditors recognize that. If they do not accept the consumer proposal, bankruptcy may be the next thing coming their way, and they don’t want that! A proposal is better for your creditors because even though they may not get all their money, they are getting more than they would get in bankruptcy.
A consumer proposal is an excellent alternative to bankruptcy, particularly for people with student loans, and bankruptcy will not discharge the debt. So, if you need help meeting your monthly bills each month but have a good, steady income, contact F. J. Zielski & Associates Inc, a licensed administrator for debt help in Southern Ontario.
Who Is Eligible to File a Consumer Proposal?
You must meet several requirements to be eligible to file a consumer proposal.
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You must be insolvent, meaning you cannot pay your debts; a bankrupt can file a proposal.
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You must be an individual in Canada; corporations are not eligible to file a consumer proposal.
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Your total debts, excluding the mortgage on your principal residence, must be less than $250,000. If you owe more than $250,000, you can only file a proposal under Division 1 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. The debt limit increases to $500,000 if you file a joint proposal with your partner. All unsecured debts are included in the proposal. You cannot “pick and choose” the debts you include: all unsecured debts of $250 or more must be included in your consumer proposal.
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Secured debts are not generally included in a consumer proposal, such as the mortgage on your house or a car lease that you intend to keep paying. You would continue to pay these debts outside of your proposal. (Note that if you want to get out of a car lease or mortgage, you could surrender the car or the house to the lender at the start of the proposal. Once they have seized your asset, they become an unsecured creditor and can be included in the proposal).
You must have a stable income source to make monthly proposal payments.
What Is the Consumer Proposal Process?
The process starts with contacting a proposal administrator (technically, a licensed insolvency trustee). Your administrator will review your circumstances and work with you to prepare a proposal.
Once you sign the proposal, your administrator will file it with the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy, which starts the “45-day clock”. Your administrator will mail or fax the proposal to each of your creditors, and your creditors will then have 45 days to vote to accept or reject it.
On the 45th day, your administrator counts all the votes received from your creditors. Each unsecured creditor gets one vote for every dollar they can prove you owe. A majority of votes (50% + 1) is required for your proposal to be accepted. If 25% or more of creditors vote against the proposal, a creditors meeting will be held to determine the proposal's fate. At the meeting, you could increase the amount you are offering to pay your creditors so that they accept the proposal, or you could allow the proposal to be rejected, which may mean you end up declaring bankruptcy.
Once your creditors have accepted the proposal, there is a “15-day court approval” period, which allows any disgruntled creditor to apply to the court for the court to review and formally accept the proposal. In an ideal situation, the proposal will be in full force 45+15=60 days after filing, and you will begin making monthly payments.
Once in force, the proposal becomes like a contract where you must pay each month. The proposal is automatically annulled if any payment falls in arrears by three months.
Check our additional info section for more details or simply call us. We’ll address all your concerns professionally and patiently.
Benefits of Filing a Consumer Proposal
We have helped several clients with debt settlement by administering consumer proposals in Southern Ontario. Some benefits of filing a consumer proposal are as follows:
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Reduced debt: A consumer proposal reduces the amount you owe creditors to a portion of the total amount.
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Fixed installments: With a consumer proposal, you can repay your reduced debt through fixed monthly installments. These affordable payments will always remain the same, providing a clear roadmap toward debt repayment.
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Asset protection and control: One significant advantage of a consumer proposal is its protection for your assets. You retain control over your possessions, ensuring they are not at risk during the debt settlement.
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Creditor protection: Once your consumer proposal is accepted, you gain protection against creditors. It means an end to harassing collection calls and legal actions taken against you by your creditors.
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Customized payment plan: Our team will work closely with you to negotiate favourable terms and create a payment plan that suits your financial situation. This enables a win-win situation for both parties involved.
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Legally binding agreement: A consumer proposal is a legally binding agreement between you and your creditors. It ensures all parties are committed to the agreed-upon terms, providing peace of mind.
Contact us to book a consultation for a personalized consumer proposal plan!
Differences Between a Consumer Proposal vs. Filing for Bankruptcy
While both a consumer proposal and bankruptcy allow you to eliminate overwhelming debt, they are different solutions. Here’s how they differ:
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Filing a consumer proposal does not affect the ownership of your assets, whereas when you file for bankruptcy, you have to surrender your assets.
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Bankruptcy can remain on your credit rating for up to 7 years after you are discharged from bankruptcy. A consumer proposal affects it for three years, starting from the day you have fulfilled the terms of the proposal.
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You are not legally expected to surrender your credit cards when filing for a consumer proposal, while the same is not true in the case of bankruptcy.
Have more questions? Please feel free to read our blog about filing for a consumer proposal or speak to a member of our team. We will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.
What Happens If My Income Decreases and I Can’t Make the Proposal Payments?
You must report any adverse changes to your finances to your administrator. If your income decreases, you may file an amended proposal. However, filing an amendment risks your creditors not accepting the changes, leaving you with no proposal.
Schedule a free consultation with F. J. Zielski & Associates Inc today. To help your advisor assess your financial situation, download and complete the following forms.
Consider Your Alternative Options
Why Choose Us?
F. J. Zielski & Associates Inc is a licensed administrator for debt help in Southern Ontario that provides individualized debt solutions based on your financial circumstances. As licensed administrators with decades of experience, we have assisted countless people in Southern Ontario in taking back control of their finances. Below is the approach we follow:
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All-inclusive solutions: We manage debts not backed by collateral, such as tax, credit card, personal, and payday loans. It means you can address all your financial obligations under one plan for simplified management.
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Protection of assets: Unlike bankruptcy, a consumer proposal lets you maintain priceless possessions like your house and vehicle. It offers security and comfort throughout debt repayment.
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Customized plans: Our licensed administrators create tailored payment plans that can reduce your overall debt by up to 70%. These programs are designed to meet your budget and assist you in achieving financial security without compromising necessities.
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Skilled negotiation: Our knowledgeable staff bargains with creditors on your behalf to get favourable settlement terms. It can assist you in avoiding bankruptcy and its ensuing long-term effects.
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Comfort: A consumer proposal shields you from litigation and harassing creditors by entering into a legally binding agreement. It offers stability and frees you up to concentrate on repairing your finances.
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Committed assistance: We provide no-cost consultations to evaluate your circumstances and offer tailored advice. Our continuous support throughout your debt relief journey ensures you comprehend the procedure and feel assured.
Select us for a more promising financial future. For debt help in Southern Ontario, contact or visit F. J. Zielski & Associates Inc, a licensed administrator.