Margaret Johnson

Credit Solutions

A column by Margaret H. Johnson. As featured on MyTelus.com and Shaw: Finance.

Margaret H. Johnson ACE, RQIC, has over 35 years of financial industry experience in both lending and collecting. She is an Accredited Insolvency Counsellor, Registered by Industry Canada.

 

Our Newsletter
There is no debtor prison E-mail
There is no debtor prison
No you cannot go to jail for not paying your debts

 

One of Janice and Larry’s creditor’s has obtained a judgment against them. This couple have heard many collection stories and Janice is afraid the judgment creditor is going to garnish their wages, she thinks they may lose their jobs, or worse, that they might be put in jail. They are both relieved to hear there is no such thing as debtor prison.

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Stop Creditor Harassment E-mail
Stop Creditor Harassment
Consumer Credit Laws

 

There are a lot of laws out there that can benefit you. Although you may not be aware of them, the laws are in place to protect you. There is a law that requires collectors to clearly identify themselves when they contact you. A collector may contact you by mail, telephone, or fax. However, a debt collector may not contact you at unreasonable times or places, such as early in the morning or late at night. Check your provincial laws to see what time frames apply. A collector may contact you at work unless you have told tell them not to.
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Say it isn't so E-mail
Say it isn't so
Bullies in the debt collection industry

What can a bill collector really do to you if you owe a debt that you are unable to repay? Well, some in the collection industry would say that depends on who the collector works for – the credit grantor, which makes the collector a first-party collector, or a collection agency, which makes the collector a third-party collector.

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Inherited Debts? E-mail
Inherited Debts?
No Way! Show me my signature.

 

What if someone dies, can they leave their debts to you? The short answer is no.

Debts do not transfer by virtue of marriage or death – not without your signature.
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Even in Debt.. E-mail
Even in Debt..
You have rights too…

 

Last week I received a telephone call from Jessie, a 31 year old, single mother of three. She was sobbing hysterically because a debt collector had told her he was going to garnish her wages. Jessie was afraid that if he garnished her wages and thereby deprived her rent money she might be thrown out on the street with her kids. After several minutes I managed to reassure her that the debt collector, calling on behalf of a finance company, could not garnishee her wages. At least, not without having obtained a judgment first.

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