Debt relief and credit counselling in Canada
Safe, secure & confidential
Expert credit counselling for a stress-free financial future
Credit issues can be confusing and stressful. But the good news is that you don’t have to figure it out by yourself. At Harris & Partners, we’re here to make things clearer.
Credit counselling helps you understand and manage your debt better – we’ll chat about your money, see where the problems are, and find a way to make things easier for you. With us at your side, you’ve got the helping hand you need to find financial independence with dignity.
Credit counselling - it’s a simple process
Let’s have a sit-down and get to know what you’re dealing with. We’re here to listen without judgment and provide a safe space for open conversation. To offer the best help, we’ll need to know about your income, what you owe, and who your creditors are. Don’t worry, our chats are always free and confidential.
After we fully understand your financial situation, we’ll start putting together a plan that’s right for you. We’ll look at all the ways to manage your debt, but we’ll only go ahead with what you’re comfortable with. We’re here to guide you, not push you into anything. Our goal is to customize our services to fit your specific needs – with Harris & Partners, you’ll always get the help you need.
Once you’re happy with the plan, we’ll make it happen. Your financial health is what matters most to us, and you can count on us for consistent support and solid advice all the way. We’re here to ensure your financial journey is as stress-free as possible, because your peace of mind is important to us.
What is credit counselling?
Credit counselling is a service that helps people manage their debts and improve their financial situation. They can also negotiate with your creditors on your behalf to reduce interest rates, or create a payment plan that you can afford.
The goal of credit counsellors is to help you get out of debt and improve your financial stability over the long term.
What sort of debts do Canadians struggle with?
It’s common to feel like you’re the only one with debt but nothing could be further from the truth. Statistics show that in Canada:
- 40% have a mortgage
- 29% have credit card debt
- 28% have a vehicle loan
- 13% have HELOC, where you borrow against the available equity in your home
And while it’s true that not everyone may be struggling with these repayments, these figures do show that debt is a significant part of everyday life for a lot of Canadians.
What solutions can credit counsellors offer me?
There isn’t a one-solution-fits-all fix when it comes to personal finances. There are plenty of different avenues to consider and it can be daunting knowing which one will serve you best. That’s where the advice of a credit counsellor can be invaluable.
They’ll know about all the latest products and resolutions and have established working relationships with the people who can help reduce your debt to a manageable level (or even make your debt a thing of the past).
Initially, credit counsellors will take you through the process of:
- Working out how much debt you have overall
- How much gross money you have coming in
- How much you have going out in deductions
- How much you have leftover at the end of each month
Once they’ve established your financial situation, they can recommend the appropriate course of debt relief.
Alternatives to credit counsellors
If your debts are more severe and a debt management plan won’t be an adequate solution then you should consider talking to a Licensed Insolvency Trustee instead. They have more legal powers than a credit counsellor and can act on your behalf to instigate consumer proposals and even bankruptcy.
Harris and Partners have been helping Canadians with debt problems for over half a century, so if you need credit counselling or any other form of debt consolidation then complete the callback request form below today.
Meet our licensed insolvency trustees: expert credit counsellors
We know how overwhelming the weight of debt can feel. But, with our Licenced Insolvency Trustees, you don’t have to face it alone. Backed by years of experience in helping Canadians just like you, we are here to offer judgment-free credit counsel support every step of the way.
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![Jay harris]( "Jay-150×150-1.png")
Jay T. HarrisFCPA, CIRP, LITLicensed Insolvency Trustee -
![kyle]( "Kyle-150×150-1")
Kyle HarrisLL.B., CIRP, LITLicensed Insolvency Trustee -
![adam]( "Adam-150×150-1 (1)")
Adam FisherCPA, CIRP, LITLicensed Insolvency Trustee -
![Joshua Harris]( "josh-NEW")
Joshua HarrisBCOMM., MIB, CIRP, LITLicensed Insolvency Trustee -
![advisor]( "circle-cropped-150×150-1")
David AdamsLicensed Insolvency Trustee -
![doug]( "doug-1.jpg (1)")
Doug LoiselleLicensed Insolvency Trustee -
![Rob McLernon]( "zz")
Robert McLernonBComm, CIRP, LITLicensed Insolvency Trustee -
![shelley]( "1050_Shelley_Koehli.jpg")
Shelley KoehliLicensed Insolvency Trustee -
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Jill StruebyLicensed Insolvency Trustee
Debt management plans
This is where a credit counsellor will negotiate on your behalf with each of your creditors to accept a reduced payment to make your monthly repayments more affordable. This is usually achieved by extending the length of time that your debts are paid over, up to a maximum of five years.
Credit cards, loans and lines of credit can all be covered by debt management plans and, occasionally, secured debt can be included too.
It’s important to know that this can negatively impact your credit score for up to two years once the debt management plan has been completed, but you’ll also be out of debt.
Credit counselling FAQs
How much do debt counsellors cost?
Fees for credit counsellors are regulated in some Canadian provinces but credit counselling companies can set their own prices. There may also be additional indirect fees so make sure you do your homework on fees before signing up with a credit counsellor.
Our credit counsellors are here to help you
A credit counsellor will work with you to review your income, expenses, and debts, and then help you create a budget and a plan to pay off your debts.
They know that your financial situation is unique to you, so they’ll work with you on putting together a completely bespoke solution to your financial issues. It makes no difference to them how you accumulated your debt, so there’s no need to feel embarrassed or ashamed.
If you don’t feel comfortable speaking about credit problems, fill out the form below and we will get back to you.
It's never too late to obtain debt help. Book your free consultation today
- Phone number
- 888-376-8488
- hello@harrispartners.ca
Contact form
Where you can find our credit counselling services in Canada
We operate across all provinces in Canada except Quebec, so help is always close by at a Harris & Partners office near you.
Why Harris & Partners
Our Licensed Insolvency Trustees provide a customized service that could remove up to 80% of your debt and stress, so you can breathe easier.
Our multilingual team provides support in many languages, from Farsi and Portuguese to Italian and Tamil, leaving out complicated jargon, so you understand everything, every step of the way.
Want to speak to someone in person? Our team is on hand to help at a Harris & Partners office near you.
