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Do you live in Montreal? Are you looking for help dealing with excessive consumer debt or need advice on how to get back on track with your finances? Speaking with a credit counsellor could be the solution you’ve been looking for.
These professionals may work alone or as part of a larger agency, but their goal is the same; help struggling Canadian borrowers resolve their financial issues.
How can a credit counselling agency help you? Find out here.
However, before you choose a counsellor, always be sure to take a few precautionary measures, such as:
A good credit counsellor can provide you with a whole range of courses and guidance, including but not limited to:
Before we go any further, it’s important to know that credit counselling in Montreal is not a cure-all solution to your financial problems. Credit counsellors cannot erase your debt, nor can they guarantee that you won’t fall into unhealthy financial habits further down the line. In the end, you need to put in the work if you want to resolve your money problems.
That said, what you can expect from credit counselling in Montreal is:
As you will learn during your counselling sessions, your credit is a crucial part of your financial health, especially when you frequently use credit products (credit cards, lines of credit, loans, etc.). For example, it’s essential to build and maintain good credit when you want a car loan, to ensure that you get the most favorable rates and terms.
Want to know the difference between a credit card and line of credit? Find out here.
One great thing about credit counselling in Montreal is that it doesn’t affect your credit, at least not in the traditional sense. No course you take or advice you receive will have a direct impact because none of the information will be sent to Canada’s credit bureaus (Equifax and TransUnion). However, any debt relief products and services that you apply for through your credit counsellor can affect your credit report and credit score. Here’s how:
Your credit report is a detailed profile containing all your actions as a credit user over a certain number of years (dependant on the bureau). This means that every credit-related product you use, even debt relief services, get listed there. So, if your counsellor were to administer a debt consolidation program, that would show up on your credit report.
Will a debt consolidation loan look bad on your credit report? Read this to know.
Your credit score and your credit report work like a wave. What affects one will affect the other. In this case, if you were to be in the middle of that same debt consolidation program, it would alter your credit report, which in turn would change your credit score. If you’re behaving responsibly during the program, making all payments on time and in full, the positive information in your report will send your score up little by little. Contrarily, if you begin defaulting on your payments, the opposite will occur.
These are the types of debt you can consolidate with a debt management program.
Your credit health is essential when you apply for credit products because many lenders will check your credit score and credit report to calculate your creditworthiness prior to approving or denying your application. If the lender sees a high score and fine looking report, you’ll have good approval odds and reasonable rates, and vice versa.
So, if your credit counselling service ever leads to you apply for any credit or debt related service, make sure you’re well aware of this effect, and act accordingly.
Truthfully, credit counselling in Montreal can be good for anyone looking to learn about or improve their finances. You don’t have to be in bad financial health in order to benefit from or be eligible for the services a credit counsellor can provide.
However, there’s definitely a point when credit counselling in Montreal is necessary, for example:
Want more information about credit and debt counselling? Click here.
If you’re looking to recover from a past financial mistake and are thinking about seeking the help of a professional, Loans Canada can help match you with the right product and best debt or credit professional.
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