Frequently Asked Questions

All four are ways to address unmanageable debt, but they work very differently. A DMP (Debt Management Plan) is an arrangement where you repay 100% of your debt at 0% interest — the fastest notation to clear (2 years), but no debt reduction. A consumer proposal lets you repay a fraction of what you owe (sometimes as little as 20%) with full legal protection from creditors — notation clears 3 years after completion. Debt settlement involves negotiating directly with creditors — no legal protection, unpredictable results. Bankruptcy provides a full legal discharge but carries a longer credit notation (6–7 years) and is typically suited for larger debt loads. We'll walk you through which fits your situation in your free assessment.

It depends on the path. A consumer proposal or bankruptcy provides an automatic stay of proceedings under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act — this legally stops interest, collection calls, and wage garnishment the moment it's filed. A DMP or debt settlement does not have this legal protection, but we handle all creditor communications on your behalf once you're enrolled, which typically stops most of the contact in practice.

No. Consumer proposals and bankruptcies must be administered by a Licensed Insolvency Trustee (LIT) under Canadian law. We assess your situation, advise on all options, and refer you to a qualified LIT where these are the right path. We continue supporting your credit rebuilding journey throughout and after the process.

Your initial consultation is completely free with no obligation. We review your situation, walk through every option available to you, and give you an honest picture of what's realistic — before you commit to anything.

Not necessarily. In a consumer proposal, your mortgage is typically unaffected since it's a secured debt not included in the proposal — as long as you keep making mortgage payments. Vehicles depend on whether they're financed (secured, usually retained) or owned outright (depends on provincial exemptions). In a bankruptcy, exemptions vary by province. We'll walk through your specific situation in your assessment.

Yes. With written approval from your Licensed Insolvency Trustee, you can open a secured credit card during an active proposal. Starting rebuilding during the proposal — rather than waiting until after — means you'll be months ahead by the time the proposal completes. Secured cards don't require LIT approval since the deposit eliminates unsecured risk.

For most clients who follow a structured rebuilding plan, reaching 650+ typically takes 12–18 months after completing a consumer proposal or DMP, and 700+ within 24–36 months. These are realistic estimates, not guarantees — your starting score, which path you were on, how consistently you apply the rebuilding steps, and whether you have errors to correct all affect the timeline.

Very common — roughly 1 in 5 Canadians has an error on at least one credit report. Post-insolvency files are especially prone to errors because multiple creditors report the same accounts differently, balances may not update correctly after a proposal, and timing mismatches are common. A successful dispute can restore 50–100 points from a single corrected item.

Both are independent credit bureaus that maintain separate files on your credit history. They don't automatically share data, so a lender who reports to only one bureau will show up on that bureau's file but not the other. Your Equifax and TransUnion scores can differ by 20–50 points at the same time. Most lenders for major products (mortgages, auto loans) pull from both, and may qualify you based on the lower score — which is why monitoring both is essential.

Most general guidance recommends keeping utilisation below 30%. For clients actively rebuilding, under 10% before your statement date produces the strongest score benefit. Utilisation is recalculated every month when your statement closes, so a single month of lower utilisation can produce a measurable score improvement very quickly.

All three tiers include 100% of the curriculum — every lesson, PDF guide, handout, and worksheet. The difference is advisor time. Foundation is fully self-serve with lifetime access. Rebuilder adds the four highest-impact coaching sessions (bureau audit, dispute filing, rebuilding plan, budget build) plus email support and check-ins. Accelerator adds a coaching session at every module milestone across all four phases, priority messaging, dispute letter reviews, quarterly score reviews, and milestone readiness assessments.

Yes. If you start on Foundation and decide you'd like coaching sessions, you can upgrade to Rebuilder or Accelerator at any time and pay only the difference. Contact your advisor to arrange.

Yes. The 8-stage rebuilding roadmap and all four curriculum phases cover every debt relief path — DMP, consumer proposal, debt settlement, and bankruptcy. The path-specific notes in Phase 4 address what's different about each situation. The rebuilding mechanics themselves (secured card, credit-builder loan, utilisation discipline, error disputes) are the same regardless of which path you took.

The installment amounts shown represent the total program fee spread over the payment period. Confirm payment terms with your advisor at signup — payment processing fees may apply depending on the method used.

Yes, in many cases. You'll need written approval from your Licensed Insolvency Trustee under BIA Section 66.12 first. Several lenders — including 401 Auto, Peel Chrysler, and Shift Happens in Alberta — specialize in financing active-proposal clients. Rates typically run 15–29% during an active proposal, improving significantly after completion. Getting pre-approved from a credit union or online lender before visiting a dealership consistently produces better rates.

Yes, and more successfully than most people expect. Landlords are individuals making judgment calls, not automated lending systems. The most effective approach is the "proactive package" — a short professional explanation letter, your Certificate of Full Performance showing the proposal was completed in good standing, proof of current stable income, and references if available. This consistently outperforms hoping the landlord doesn't notice.

Most B-lenders (alternative mortgage lenders built for exactly this situation) will consider applications 12–24 months after proposal completion with a clean payment history and a score in the 620+ range. A-lenders (prime banks) typically want longer clean history and stronger scores. New mortgages are essentially unavailable during an active proposal, but existing mortgages are unaffected. Homeowners with equity may be able to access home equity products even during an active proposal.

Yes — for Accelerator-tier clients, we provide referrals to vetted financing partners across our network for auto financing, mortgage brokers, personal loans, and secured cards. All partners have been selected specifically because they work with clients at the rebuilding stage, not just prime borrowers. Our Resources page also lists many of these partners for self-serve reference.