In Canada, Consumer Proposals are a legal solution designed by the Federal Government to help to those with substantial consumer debt. The primary characteristics of Consumer Proposals include:
- Debt reduction benefit: You to pay back just 30% (or less) of your total debt in a Consumer Proposal, effectively cutting your overall debt down by as much as 70%.
- Affordable payments: Consumer proposals span across 1 to 5 years, with monthly payments geared to what you can afford.
- No additional fees: Once the consumer proposal is agreed upon, creditors cannot add interest costs, late penalties or any other fees.
- Legally Binding: the consumer proposal is legal agreement administered through an Insolvency Trustee. Once your creditors greenlight your proposal, it becomes a legally binding agreement between you and your creditors.
- Avoids Bankruptcy: Proposals help many consumers keep personal possessions and the severe credit repercussions of filing for bankruptcy.
Simply put, Consumer Proposals allow those with high consumer debt e.g. credit card debt, to reduce the amount owed, with affordable payments spaced over a 1 to 5 year period. At the end of a consumer proposal you’re completely out of debt.