Standing Together After a Life-Changing Injury
Life had been good to Susan and Bob (not their real names). They had successful careers, three wonderful grown children, and a lovely home in Pickering.
And then, it all changed in an instant.
At 53, Bob got into a car accident, severely injuring his spine, resulting in extended hospitalization, multiple surgeries, and years of therapy.
While Susan was initially able to take time off from work to be with Bob, eventually, she had to give up her job and focus full-time on Bob’s recovery.
Bob had insurance, but it didn’t provide the financial relief to cover all their costs. As a result, during the first three years following the accident, the couple used up their savings, cashed in their RRSPs, took out a second mortgage, ran up an unsecured line of credit, and maxed out their credit cards.
Luckily, their adult children stepped in and began paying their mortgages. And while Bob and Susan were grateful, they hated being a burden to their children.
Even with the mortgage payments covered by the children, Susan and Bob struggled to keep up with their credit card payments. They began receiving collection calls that added pressure to their already stressful lives. So, they decided to see if filing for bankruptcy could solve their mounting debts.
All three of their children expressed concern over their parents losing their home (even though there was no equity left) and were deeply worried about how declaring bankruptcy would affect their parents’ self-esteem. They made it clear to Bob and Susan that they were able and willing to continue paying the mortgages for as long as needed.
Susan and Bob set up an appointment at David Sklar & Associates to explore their options.
How David Sklar & Associates were able to help Susan and Bob tackle their debts
Susan and Bob met with Jackie Stanley, an experienced and caring licensed debt counsellor, who reviewed their finances and debt relief options.
Bob and Susan were delighted to discover that they could file a consumer proposal, which, if accepted, would stop the collection calls, enable them to keep their home (as long as the mortgage payments continued) and pay of f a portion of their unsecured debt. And they could avoid bankruptcy.
At the time of the meeting, they had no assets beyond the basic exemptions and had a monthly net income of $2,000 from insurance. Their unsecured debt obligations were as follows:
Licensed Debt Counsellor
Credit Cards | $41,850 |
Line of Credit | $21,500 |
Total Unsecured Debts | $63,350 |
Here's how much Susan and Bob were able to save by filing a consumer proposal
After reviewing their options with the trustee, the couple decided a consumer proposal was the ideal debt relief solution.
They offered to repay their creditors $20,100 of their unsecured debts of $63,350.
The creditors accepted the offer, leaving Susan and Bob with a much lighter debt load to pay down. Over 60 months, the couple’s monthly payments would be $335, which works out to a debt reduction of nearly 68%.
One year into their consumer proposal, Susan returned to work and took over their children’s mortgage payments. Bob eventually found a part-time job that allowed the two of them to speed up the repayment of the proposal.
Being able to avoid bankruptcy and stop the collection calls made a significant difference to Susan’s and Bob’s ability to cope and get on with their lives.
To protect our client’s privacy, aspects of this case study have been altered.
Photo by Mikhail Nilov, Photo by Agostino Toselli, Photo by Mikhail Nilov
Calculate savings
Consumer Proposal - 0% Interest
Debt Consolidation Loan - 30% Interest
Do Nothing - 19% Interest
* Calculations above are made over a 5 year period at a rate of 80% savings. This calculator provides an estimate of the total savings you may receive when filing a consumer proposal. Actual results may vary. Your payments will depend on your income, assets, and debts.
Here to support your financial recovery
Learn how we can help you find debt relief with a consumer proposal or personal bankruptcy. Our passionate and experienced team at David Sklar and Associates has helped thousands of individuals break free from crippling debt payments. Our experts can answer any questions about your debts and recommend a solution based on your unique needs and goals.
Let us help you pave the way for a brighter financial future, starting with a free, no-obligation consultation
Real-Life Success Stories Of People We've Helped
Getting into debt is easy
Getting out is a different story — but it’s possible
Did you know there is a debt relief program federally regulated by the Canadian 🇨🇦 Government, designed to help you avoid bankruptcy? This program can only be administered by a Licensed Insolvency Trustee (LIT).
If you’re struggling to make payments and creditors won’t stop calling, we can help you with a consumer proposal.
5,500+ Top-Rated Reviews
4.9 stars based on over 3600+ reviews
4.9 stars based on over 2000+ reviews
Here to help you
Our federally 🇨🇦 regulated team of Licensed Insolvency Trustees in Ontario can help you get out of debt and in control of your own financial future.
We’ve helped thousands of people and we can help you too.
We know this is stressful, but you’re not alone