Welcome to Mosaic Counselling and Family Services

Is 4Pillars legitimate?
Yes, however, I would suggest that you be very aware of the contents of any contracts you are asked to sign, unless you feel fully confident of the outcome, etc. Remember, organizations, like 4 Pillars, are for profit. Organizations, like Mosaic, are non-profit.

How can you get out of debt when your partner keeps spending on credit?
You should both come in for a counselling session, and we can provide some guidance. If not, you need to be sure your name is not involved in your partner's debts, otherwise, you are responsible. It is important that both partners in a relationship are on the same page money-wise in order to have a successful life. For a more detailed response, you can call us at 519-743-6333.

What happens when you are stuck with phone bills above $1000.

We would need more detail. Is this a cell phone, and how many phones are there? You need to arrange with the phone company to pay this bill; not all at once, but over a time period. I would then suggest you find out why the bill is that large and put some controls on the phone use. If you are finding that you are struggling to pay your bills, call us at 519-743-6333 and we can discuss your situation and explore your options.

We have credit cards which are maxed out and are just able to make all payments including the mortgage, my wife had to give up her job and we have lost that income. Can Mosaic help?
We would be happy to try to help you. Call us at 519-743-6333 and we can discuss your situation and explore your options.

The company I owed money to and named in bankruptcy and discharged from is still harassing us after six years. Can they sue us?
No, they cannot sue you. You should send them a copy of your discharge and the document listing them as a creditor, or call the trustee if you need additional help.

Hi, I have a $9,000 credit card debt. I am coming into some money of about $5,000. Can I call the credit company and offer them a pay out of $5,000 to wipe out this debt and how long will it be on my record. I fany? We are having trouble making the monthly payments.
Yes, you can offer the settlement and negotiate, and be sure to get their agreement in writing before you pay the debt out. It may remain on your bureau file for 6-7 years.

Your situation is a little too complex to address on-line.

Does Mosaic Counselling and Family Services handle bankruptcy?

We don’t handle bankruptcy, but we can refer you to a trustee. Visit our webpage that provides more information about bankruptcy as well as a list of bankruptcy trustees to help you.

Are there any programs or companies that offer buy outs of current loans to reduce payments overall?
Yes, there are some options in this regard.

I cannot maintain any cash flow. My debt has escalulated immensely. I have no choice but to declare bankruptcy. What are my options?
Call us and, if appropriate, we can refer you to a bankruptcy trustee.

Should I claim bankruptcy?

You may want to make an appointment to see a credit counsellor, or see a trustee regarding bankruptcy if you are having serious problems. We offer no fee services, so if you would like to see a credit counsellor locally, call us at 519-743-6333. If you live in Canada, but not in our Region, visit the Canadian Association of Credit Counselling Services to find a member organization that is nearest to you.

If you have outstanding debt on a credit card, lost your job, but have told them you can only make a certain payment (amount), do they have to accept that payment or can they still send you to a collection agency?
They have to accept the money you send in, but it does not mean they are happy.

I have an excellent credit rating and own a home but have two credit cards with high interest rates which I would like to consolodate. I am employed full time but because of my wage - I am unable to receive a bank loan without a co-signer. Can Mosaic help me?
I suggest you seek a lower interest credit card and use it to pay off the two high interest cards

Will consolidating my debt negatively impact my credit rating??
That depends on a few variables.

I need help with consolidation. I have high credit cards from my seperation. I can make payments but it's never enough. I own a house with my ex in which he currently resides. He will be be accommodating with my financial needs. Can you help?
Yes, we probably can help. Please call us at Mosaic with more details or make an appointment to see one of the credit counsellors. Call 519-743-6333 and ask for credit counselling.

Can I do debt consolidation if I own a house?
I am assuming that you are referring to a bank loan consolidation. In this case, the answer is "yes, if the bank approves." If you are referring to our Debt Repayment plan at Mosaic, you can do that too.

Is it a good idea to use my credit card when I need cash?
Though credit cards can get you what you want as soon as you need it - the cheapest way to borrow is to get a loan from a bank, trust company or credit union.

How can I get a free credit rating as to what I owe and to what company?
There are three ways to obtain a bureau report and two bureaus that you can contact.

I have credit card debt in excess of 30 K. I gave 20K to my husband to put into RRSP's 3 years ago and he has never paid me back; I accumulated 10K of debt using my credit card to survive when my husband and I split up. What should I do?
You need to talk with a credit counsellor to explore your options.

I have been served papers over a credit card issue; what do I do next? It says I have 20 days to respond can you help with this?
Immediately call the Small Claims Court, or visit the court office and offer a payment plan to the people who are suing you.

I heard that if you do a credit check on yourself (like through equifax or trans union) it could bring up old debts/bills and that by doing the credit check, collection agencies could start calling you. Is that true?
It is possible, but hard to predict.

I am getting harrassed at work by a creditor who says that he can garnishee my wages tomorrow. Can he do that?
No creditor (except Revenue Canada) can garnishee your income without going through a 21 day suing process.

If I do credit counselling with Mosaic, can creditors still call looking for payments?
If you do a Debt Management Program with us, your creditors will stop calling you.

My common law husband has a private debt history that has not seemed to have gotten better, even when I bailed him out last year and am paying a two year loan for him to help. Who can I talk to? Who can we talk to in order to bring things out in the open?
First of all, you need to obtain your credit bureau reports and see what is actually showing as negative information.

I have a $35,000 debt. I have been trying to pay it, but am not too successful. I don't want my husband to know because that would just ruin our marriage and I don't want that. Can you help me with this situation?
To help you with your situation, we would require more information.

My concern is my credit card debt. What can I do about it?
This is a difficult question to answer without more details. Please provide information regarding the amount of your debt, your income, whether you own or rent your residence, etc. You can also give us a call at 519-743-6333 for more assistance.

If I do credit counselling with Mosaic can creditors still call looking for payment?
If you do a Debt Management Plan to repay creditors, the creditors we are paying will not normally bother you if you are up to date. The fact that you have simply been in to see us, of course, will not be known to creditors unless you do the Debt Management Program.

If we do a Debt Management Plan, will that affect our mortgage when we go to re-new?
How your Debt Management Plan affects a mortgage renewal depends on the mortgage holder, ie the bank.

I am on EI parental leave and my wife is back to work. We got behind in all of our debts and now we are forced to ignore the calls and we just need to consolidate it all. I can't keep track. Can you help?
Yes, we can help. You need to call for an appointment at 519-743-6333, x235.

Can you help stop a mortgage foreclosure?
Once a mortgage goes into foreclosure it is very difficult to stop...

If I don't pay my credit card monthly payment can they freeze my bank account?
If your credit card is with the bank where you have an account in which money is deposited, they can take funds from your account if your VISA or Master Card is past due. They can do this anytime, without notifying you.

Can an individual garnishee wages? How do they do so?
Yes, but you have to obtain a Small Claims Court judgement first. This can be done by visiting the SCC office at 20 Weber St E in Kitchener, or call for info to 519-741-3270.

If my creditors are threatening legal action and wage garnishee, how likely is this to occur if they have been threatening for 3 years? Where can I file bankruptcy for the second time without it costing me money I just don't have?
The court action is unlikely.

Where can I procure financial assistance using my house as equity without having to sign it over?
This could be asked of your bank, but it may be difficult to use equity in your home to obtain a loan unless you take a second mortgage or a line of credit secured by your home.

Does a small claims judgement against me affect OSAP? Can declaring bankruptcy wipe out the judgement against me?
The judgement should not affect OSAP as it has no real connection.

Is there a limit on the legal fees charged to homeowner when it's gone to legal? e.g. power of sale notice?
Thank you for your question, however, I would suggest your best resource would be to contact a lawyer with this question. The lawyer referral service is at 1 800 268 8326 and they can refer a person to a lawyer for 30 minutes of free consultation.

How can I lower my payments from a personal bank loan?
The first thing to do is to contact the bank and ask.

Can my mortgage lender change any terms or interest rate when I do a consumer repayment plan, when some of my debt is with the same bank that holds my mortgage?
I doubt it, but cannot say with certainty. You should ask your bank. As I see it, the mortgage is fixed, and could only be altered if it came up for renewal in future. Please check with the bank to make sure that you have the correct answer.

I opened a new business, I cannot pay my payments; what to do?

We would need to see your situation in detail in order to answer your question. We offer no fee services, so if you would like to see a credit counsellor locally, call us at 519-743-6333. If you are out of town, visit the Canadian Association of Credit Counselling Services to find a member organization that is nearest to you.

I am $17,000 in debt, my husband lost his job 5 months ago, we have 3 boys to feed and a mortgage. I have a meeting with Ontario Debt; their site looked good. Do you know who they are? Is this a wise choice?
I would suggest you see us first, as we are non profit and will not charge you any fee to provide you with options.

I am concerned that dealing with my debt will affect my eligability for OSAP.
How your debt will affect your eligibility for OSAP will depend on a number of things...

Do you offer other types of financial counselling in addition to credit? Could you help to make a budget and figure out how much rent I could afford?
Yes, we can go over your income and expenses and provide guidance re the rent etc.

The details of your situation are somewhat involved, and you would need to speak with a credit counsellor to obtain the guidance you need. If you are in the Kitchener area call our office. If not, call us anyway and we can direct you to your local non profit counselling agency. 519-743-6333

Please help me. I need someone to call the collections agency for me so they can lower my payments. I am unable to reach the minimum payments. I have no money. My welfare cheque cannot cover it. Help me. Don't let them take me to court.
Please stop paying this debt from your welfare cheque. Please call us as soon as possible and we will tell you how to handle the collections agency. Call 519-743-6333 and ask for credit counselling. DO NOT PAY DEBTS FROM YOUR WELFARE CHEQUE.

I am curious what training your credit counsellors have. I am an accountant and really enjoy helping people think through financial issues. I wonder if I might be well-suited for a career in credit counselling.
Our Credit Counsellors are certified through the Ontario Association of Credit Counselling Services (OACCS). You can learn more about how to become a certified Credit Counsellor by contacting the OACCS or visiting their website: http://www.oaccs.com/

What qualifications do your credit counsellors have?
Some have university degrees, some have vast credit industry experience, (in one case, about 43 years), one has an AFCC designation (Accredited Financial Counsellor Canada).

I have three credit cards. If I pay off one and keep the other two will that help my credit rating?
We usually recommend limiting the number of credit cards to one or, at a maximum, two credit cards.

Regarding your need for money to pay first and last months' rent, you can call the Rent Bank at Lutherwood. If you live in Cambridge, call 519-623-9380. If you live in Kitchener-Waterloo, call 519-743-2460. If you need budget help, call Mosaic credit counselling at 519-743-6333 x235.

We have a baby and it looks like the condo townhouse we have might need to go up for sale. We want to live off my spouse's income in order to invest in raising our child. Is it better to rent or buy again?
There are too many variables in the answer, so we would need more detail regarding income, debts, etc., to provide the best response. Buying will provide equity and this is always good, but to give a more detailed answer we would need more info. Do you currently own?

If I claimed personal banktupcy before, how will that affect my doing so again? I have tried to work with a Credit counselling firm 3 years ago who only took my money and didn't solve any problems. My income has dropped drastically and I have no assets or investments. Please help.
You can file bankruptcy more that once, but the 2nd time it will remain on your credit report for 14 years. The firm with which you worked before was not a non-profit firm. If you need specific assistance and more questions answered, please call us. Do not deal with a for-profit firm for credit counselling.

I am a secondary card holder, can a collector come after me for the unpayed debt, garnish my wages and put a lein on my house?
The secondary card holder is fully responsible for the full amount of the debt. He/she can be sued, etc., and the lien, garnishee can be utilized to collect.

How do I get a settlement and payment plan for credit card debts?
A settlement plan and a payment plan are two different things.

I was told that I was being sued over a credit issue. What is the process?
The process is lengthy to explain in a written response, so your best source is to contact Small Claims Court (SCC)...

When getting a payment plan from your credit cards, I understand that this affects your credit rating for 3 years. Can one spouse do this without affecting the other spouse's credit rating?
I am not sure, in this situation, what you mean by a payment plan. In any case, your file and your spouse's file are separate at the bureau, so should not affect each other.

You need to provide more details and we can then advise you. Call us and we can either set up an appointment or advise you by phone if appropriate. Are creditors calling and mailing you? We need to know your total debt and your income. Are you renting or buying a house?

The balance of the student debt may affect the decision to file for bankruptcy.

I have a student loan. I graduated in 1999 and filed for bankruptcy in 2003. Is it true that a student loan discharge 178.11 can be filed to eliminate the remaining debt?
Check with a bankruptcy trustee for the answer. They may know. Are you currently working and able to pay the debt? You can call Hoyes Michelos in Kitchener at 519 747 0660.

I have debt in the amount of $30000, but I'm on employment insurance and cannot seem to get a consolidation loan to ease the payments. What can I do?
Depending on whether you own a house or not, you may consider bankruptcy, but I would need more details to give you a final answer. If you can call us at 519-743-6333 and provide a few details, a credit counsellor can provide you with a better idea of what to do.

Is there a waiting list for credit counselling?
Not usually. In most cases, if you call today, we can make an appointment to see you in the near future. We can be reached by phone if you have an immediate need to get information, etc. Call 519 743-6333 and ask for credit counselling.

My husband and I are now finished as a couple. The credit cards and bills were in my name and I won't have enough to make the payments. Is there something you can help me with to take care of these payments, like getting them reduced monthly?
You can make an appointment to see a counsellor here and we can review the situation. If appropriate, we can help to reduce payments and interest in most cases.