For most of the people who call us, making an appointment with a licensed insolvency trustee (also known as a trustee in bankruptcy) is a deeply intimate process. There are often months – sometimes years – of worry, of mental calculations at 3 a.m., of envelopes we no longer open. When the phone finally rings at home, we rarely hear a calm voice. We hear relief mixed with apprehension.
That’s normal. And it’s precisely for this reason that the first meeting at BRESSE doesn’t resemble any stereotype inherited from cinema or public rumor. No judgment. No pink slip. No decisions to be made on the spot. Just a frank conversation, structured by a professional who’s seen it all before – and knows exactly where to start.
Before you come: what you need to know
The meeting is free, confidential and without obligation
That’s probably the first thing to remember. The initial meeting at BRESSE is free of charge. You won’t leave the office (or the videoconference) with a bill, or with any additional debt to us. You won’t sign anything you haven’t freely chosen to sign.
Anything you tell us is also strictly confidential. Licensed insolvency trustees are professionals supervised by the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada. We are bound by strict ethical rules and a duty of confidentiality that protects your entire file.
What this means in concrete terms
You can come to us just to understand where you stand. Many of our clients leave the first meeting without filing any proceedings: sometimes the solution lies elsewhere (consolidation, direct negotiation, revised budget, sale of an asset), and we’ll tell you. Our role is not to sell you bankruptcy. Our role is to give you the straight goods.
The BRESSE approach: Recognize, Assess, Act
This first meeting is the hinge between the first two stages of our approach: recognizing the signs of financial difficulty, and clearly assessing your situation to turn uncertainty into a concrete plan.
Step 01 – Recognize. Calls from creditors, late payments, mounting tax debts. You’ve already recognized the signs when you booked your appointment.
Step 02 – Evaluate. During the meeting, we’ll work together to draw up a complete picture of your income, debts and assets. Lucid, non-judgmental.
Stage 03 – Taking action. If a procedure is the right way to go, you file it when you’re ready. Calls stop as soon as you file.
This first meeting is the hinge between the first two stages of our approach: recognizing the signs of financial difficulty, and clearly assessing your situation to turn uncertainty into a concrete plan. What to bring (and what not to bring)
Ideally, you’ll come to the meeting with a picture, however imperfect, of your situation. But let’s be clear: we don’t expect a perfect record. If you don’t know what you owe, or to whom, just say so. A good part of our job is to work with you to build that picture.
Useful documents, if you have them to hand
- Your most recent pay stubs or income statement (self-employed, benefits, pension, etc.)
- Your credit card, line of credit and personal loan statements
- Your notices of assessment (Revenu Québec and Canada Revenue Agency)
- Any letter of formal notice, notice of seizure, judgement or lawsuit received
- An approximate statement of your assets: vehicle, house, RRSPs, bank accounts
- Your latest mortgage notice, if you are a homeowner
And above all: don’t empty your RRSP to pay off your credit cards before talking to us. It’s one of the most costly mistakes we make. RRSPs are largely protected in the event of insolvency in Quebec. Liquidating them to pay off unsecured creditors can literally leave you tens of thousands of dollars poorer. A five-minute call before such a move can change everything.
Minute-by-minute coverage of the match
First portion: listening
Meetings rarely start with numbers. It begins with your story. How did you get here? Divorce? An illness? A business that didn’t take off after the pandemic? A slow accumulation over ten years? Context isn’t a detail: it directly guides the solutions that are right for you.
Second section: portrait
The trustee then reviews your complete financial situation with you. Income, expenses, debts, assets, family status. This exercise generally takes between 45 and 75 minutes, depending on its complexity. At the end, you’ll have a clearer picture of your situation than you’ve probably had in a long time.
Third section: options are presented
Based on this portrait, the trustee will explain the solutions that are really applicable to your case. Depending on your situation, this may include an informal agreement with your creditors, a consumer proposal, personal bankruptcy, or sometimes none of the three if another route makes more sense.
Each option is presented to you with its advantages, disadvantages, costs, delays and real consequences on your credit file, your assets and your daily life. No gray areas. No exaggerated promises.
Three myths we hear every week
Myth: “Going to see a trustee means going bankrupt. Reality: Bankruptcy is only one of several solutions. Many of our customers resolve their situation through a proposal or agreement, without ever filing for bankruptcy.
Myth: “The trustee works for the creditors, not for me. Fact: The trustee is an impartial officer of the court. But during the initial meeting, his role is to advise you on the best course of action. And our values – accessibility, listening, thoroughness – guide this relationship every step of the way.
Myth: “It’s better to wait for things to settle down on their own. Reality: The sooner you act, the more options you have. A situation that’s manageable today can crystallize into a wage garnishment or lawsuit in six months’ time. Time is almost never your ally when it comes to debt.
The earlier you act, the more options you have. A situation that’s manageable today can crystallize into a wage garnishment or lawsuit in six months’ time. Time is almost never your ally when it comes to debt.
What you leave with at the end of the meeting
On exit, you should have three things in hand, even if you decide not to do anything immediately:
- A clear picture of your financial situation, validated by a professional.
- A realistic understanding of your options, without embellishment.
- A renewed sense of control. Not because everything’s settled – but because you now know what you’re looking at, and what you can do about it.
That’s what the BRESSE signature is all about: Support. Structure. Relaunch. Support, from the first call. Structure, from the first meeting. Relaunch, when you’re ready.
