Most consumers in New Brunswick have some form of credit. It can be challenging to rent a car, book a hotel, or buy theatre tickets without providing a credit card number. We use this credit because our credit history becomes important when we consider buying a house or purchasing a vehicle. Credit has a purpose and when it is used wisely, it can be very helpful. Unfortunately, once consumers in New Brunswick start using credit, they don’t always manage it well.
Want to know how your payment history affects your credit? Find out here.
Nobody ever intends to go broke, but life happens. Maybe you learned or developed poor spending habits. Maybe you got caught up in instant gratification or disorganization prevented you from managing your spending wisely. Your current financial situation may not have even been your fault. Perhaps you lost your job, went through a divorce, or had a medical emergency that left you unable to work and depleted your savings account. The possible scenarios are endless.
Considering Filing for Bankruptcy in New Brunswick?
The reality is, if you are thinking about bankruptcy, you’re already in debt pretty deep. Payments are becoming difficult to make. Maybe you’ve already even missed a few. You may be getting calls from collections agencies, making threats if you don’t bring your accounts up-to-date immediately.
Being harassed by debt collectors? Click here to learn what you can do to avoid any further troubles.
When you are in over your head, bankruptcy can provide you with a fresh start. While this option needs to be considered carefully and avoided when possible, it can help you get back on track when there are no other options. When you declare bankruptcy in New Brunswick, your unsecured debt will be eliminated, freeing up money to pay down secured loans you may have. You won’t receive any more calls from collection agencies and legal action against you will cease. It can be a great relief for many people in New Brunswick.
Having trouble understanding the personal bankruptcy process? Take a look at our helpful video!
Who Can File Bankruptcy in New Brunswick?
If you can’t see a way out of debt and you owe at least $1000, bankruptcy might be the best option for you. You must be insolvent, meaning unable to pay your debts, in a situation where your liabilities are worth more than your assets.
When you are considering bankruptcy, you’ll need to meet with a professional Licensed Insolvency Trustee. Like in other provinces, New Brunswick insolvency trustees are trained in ethics, are government regulated, and have your best interests in mind.
Can You Avoid Bankruptcy?
When you meet with a bankruptcy trustee in New Brunswick, he or she will review your finances and help you choose the best route to take based on your unique situation.
When you file for bankruptcy, you might be able to eliminate a lot of debt and relieve a great deal of stress. You should never take the decision lightly though since bankruptcy comes with several disadvantages:
It Hurts Your Credit Rating – A poor credit rating can not only affect your ability to obtain credit in New Brunswick, but it could also affect the opinion of potential landlords and employers who can also pull your credit (with your permission).
What’s the difference between a credit score and a credit rating? Read this for the answer.
It Has Staying Power – According to Equifax, one of Canada’s two main credit reporting agencies, a bankruptcy will stay in your credit file for up to 6 years, before it is purged. With TransUnion, it can stay in your records for 7 years.
Want to know how long some information stays on your credit report? Check this out.
It Hurts Your Finances – You may have to surrender certain assets when there is equity involved. You will need to make lifestyle sacrifices in order to make consistent payments. If you make more money, your payments may also go up.
Other Options in New Brunswick?
You might end up deciding that bankruptcy isn’t for you. Maybe you want to avoid the negative impact on your credit score or you can’t file because your income is still too high. Your insolvency trustee might still be able to help you get on top of your credit issues by looking at other options.
- Consolidation – In some situations, you can take out a lower interest loan that is enough to combine all of your debt into one manageable payment.
- Debt Management Program – You might be able to hire a credit counsellor in New Brunswick to negotiate a lower interest rate or a lower debt amount on your behalf. The payments can then be consolidated into one loan with payments you can handle.
- Debt Settlement – A credit counsellor may be able to negotiate a lump sum payment with each of your creditors, resulting in a lower debt amount that you can pay off right away. You will pay a fee, usually a percentage of the amount owed or the amount that has been forgiven. This might not work for everyone, because of the upfront cost involved.
- Consumer Proposal – A consumer proposal in New Brunswick can help you avoid bankruptcy and can stop creditors from harassing you and interest from accumulating. An insolvency trustee will negotiate with your creditors to reduce or possibly eliminate your debt. Like bankruptcy, it is a legal proceeding and will hurt your credit score. On the other hand, you will get to keep your assets, so it can be a helpful alternative.
What’s Involved in Filing for Bankruptcy in New Brunswick?
With New Brunswick bankruptcies, the procedure is fairly standard. You will meet with an insolvency trustee regularly, usually monthly and you will need to attend credit counselling sessions. Your trustee will require you to gather the necessary paperwork, including proof of all your income and your tax returns from the Canada Revenue Agency. After the court proceedings, your payments will be calculated, and you will need to make them on time, every month, for the duration of your bankruptcy period.
For more information about credit counselling in New Brunswick, read this.
While bankruptcy costs vary with individual circumstances, typical New Brunswick bankruptcies cost about $1800, divided into monthly payments of about $200. Most bankruptcies are discharged after about 9 months.
Bankruptcies in New Brunswick: Which Assets Can I Keep?
When you declare insolvency, the assets you can hold on to vary by province. New Brunswick bankruptcy exemptions are based on the equity you have in your assets; that is, the difference between the asset’s value and the money you still owe on it. Some exemptions include:
- Furniture and appliances for your home, if the equity is less than $5000
- Your primary vehicle, if it’s equity, is less than $6500 (maybe exempt only for employment use)
- Tools that you use in your trade, with equity up to $6500
- Unlimited clothing
- Unlimited medical or health assistive devices
- Food for up to 3 months
- Fuel for up to 3 months
- Pets
If you own a farm, you are also entitled to livestock and seed exemptions. If you have Registered Retirement Savings Plans, you will be able to keep your investments, except for payments made within the year prior to filing for bankruptcy.
This list is not necessarily exhaustive, so you should speak to your licensed bankruptcy trustee in New Brunswick to find out what the exemptions are in your individual situation.
Fixing the Problem
Whether you choose to file for bankruptcy in New Brunswick or take a different route to get out of debt, you need to figure out how to get back on track with your spending habits. Create a budget and stick to it. Make sure you know where every dollar is going.
Looking to rebuild your credit after your bankruptcy? Try reading this.
When you manage your money well, you can find room for the things you enjoy and save for the future. Even if you need to choose bankruptcy at this time, it’s not the end of the world. You can spend carefully, save prudently and rebuild your credit score in time.
Getting The Help You Need in New Brunswick
If you’re looking to file for bankruptcy but have no idea where to start, we can help by putting you in touch with a professional in New Brunswick.
