THE CREDIT COUNSELLOR

You’ve been a “good risk” and getting credit is easy: banks will lend you tons of money and even provide overdrafts and lines of credit – all for your convenience, of course. And who hasn’t been deluged with tempting credit card applications through the mail? As a consequence, most of us devote ever more disposable income to satisfying those monthly payments. But some of us have fallen behind.

Which highlights what has been a huge disconnect in the money business. Happy to extend credit, banks, finance companies and card issuers have not always been quite as understanding when things go sour. Collection agencies pursue the once-valued customer with sometimes ugly consequences: judgments, garnishee orders, seizures and bankruptcies. The borrower becomes embittered and the lender loses both a customer and a sizeable chunk of money.

Both sides are now coming to rely on private credit counsellors. In the past, counselling was a largely haphazard affair, with well-meaning intermediaries cobbling together a budget and being the debtor’s advocate in trying to negotiate with creditors. Until recently the provincial government operated the “Orderly Payment of Debts” program; it enjoyed some success, but had limitations.

These days, credit counsellors are seasoned professionals who formerly worked on the other side – at banks, finance companies, Canada Customs and Revenue and credit card companies. Desperate debtors are stunned to learn that their monthly payments can be dramatically reduced and consolidated into one, and significant interest relief is available.

For many counselling clients, simple peace of mind is the best reward: they’re no longer afraid to answer the phone.

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