What Exactly Is Goth & Company?

Goth & Company is a Licensed Insolvency Trustee firm incorporated in 1993 and regulated by the federal Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy. The company provides debt relief services under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act of Canada.

What specific services do they provide? Their core services include consumer proposals (debt reduction agreements), personal bankruptcy administration, and free debt consultations. They can only provide services that are legally authorized under federal insolvency legislation.

Why is Licensed Insolvency Trustee status important? Only Licensed Insolvency Trustees can legally file consumer proposals and bankruptcy in Canada. Other debt relief companies cannot provide the same legal protections or debt elimination services.

You can verify their business registration through independent business directories, professional service listings, and comprehensive business databases that confirm their continuous operation and regulatory compliance.

How Does Their Consumer Proposal Process Work?

Consumer proposals work by negotiating with creditors to accept reduced payments over a maximum five-year period. The process involves filing legal documents that immediately stop collection calls and interest charges.

The Step-by-Step Process

What happens during the initial consultation? The trustee reviews your complete financial situation including all debts, monthly income, expenses, and assets. They explain all available options under federal law without pressure to proceed.

How long does document preparation take? Once you decide to proceed, document preparation typically requires 5-10 business days. Required information includes complete creditor lists, asset valuations, and income verification.

When does creditor protection begin? Protection starts immediately upon filing with the federal government. Collection calls must stop within 24-48 hours, and wage garnishments are suspended.

How do creditors vote on proposals? Creditors have 45 days to vote. Proposals are accepted if creditors representing more than 50% of the total debt value vote in favor. The remaining creditors are bound by the majority decision.

Business verification through Canadian business registries, provincial directories, and local business listings confirms their authority to administer these federal processes.

Are initial consultations really free? Yes, initial consultations are provided without charge and without obligation to proceed. This is standard practice for Licensed Insolvency Trustees and is confirmed by multiple business verification platforms.

What Are the Costs and How Are Fees Determined?

The costs are regulated by the federal government with no hidden fees or upfront charges. Consumer proposal fees are typically included in the monthly payments made to creditors.

What determines bankruptcy costs? Bankruptcy fees depend on your income level, family size, and asset values. The federal government sets standard payment amounts that apply to all Licensed Insolvency Trustees.

Are initial consultations really free? Yes, initial consultations are provided without charge and without obligation to proceed. This is standard practice for Licensed Insolvency Trustees and is confirmed by multiple business verification platforms, business hour directories, and professional service networks.

What additional costs might occur? Some situations may require legal fees for complex creditor disputes or court hearings, but these are disclosed upfront when applicable. Credit counseling sessions are mandatory but included in the process costs.

Who Qualifies for Their Services?

Consumer proposal requirements are: owing less than $250,000 in unsecured debt (excluding mortgages), being unable to pay debts in full, having sufficient income for monthly payments, and being a Canadian resident.

Who benefits most from consumer proposals? Individuals who want to keep their assets (homes, vehicles, RRSPs) while reducing debt payments. This works well for people with steady employment but overwhelming debt loads.

When is bankruptcy more suitable? Bankruptcy may be better when you need immediate debt elimination, have no significant assets to protect, or cannot afford any monthly payments to creditors.

What situations are not suitable for either option? If your debts are primarily secured (mortgages, car loans), if you obtained debts through fraud, or if you need to maintain perfect credit for professional reasons.

You can verify their professional credentials through Alberta business directories, professional service networks, and specialized trustee listings.

What Types of Debt Can Be Included?

Debts typically included are: credit cards, bank loans, lines of credit, payday loans, income tax debt, utility bills, phone bills, and personal loans. Student loans can be included if your studies ended more than seven years ago.

What debts cannot be eliminated? Secured debts like mortgages and car loans continue unchanged. Court fines, child support, spousal support, and recent student loans cannot be discharged through either process.

How does this affect joint debts? If you have joint debts or co-signed loans, your debt relief only eliminates your responsibility. The other person remains fully responsible for the entire debt amount.

What happens to tax debts? Canada Revenue Agency debts can be included in both consumer proposals and bankruptcy. The CRA typically accepts proposals that offer reasonable payment terms based on your financial capacity.

What Are the Limitations and Risks?

The limitations include credit score impact and mandatory compliance requirements. Consumer proposals result in an R7 credit rating for six years from filing or three years after completion, whichever comes first.

What are the compliance requirements? You must make all scheduled payments, attend mandatory credit counseling sessions, and notify your trustee of significant income changes or address moves.

What happens if you miss payments? Missing three consecutive payments automatically cancels your consumer proposal. Your trustee can arrange temporary deferrals for genuine hardship situations if contacted before missing payments.

What are the risks of not completing successfully? If your proposal is cancelled, creditors can resume collection activities and you may need to consider bankruptcy or new negotiation arrangements.

Cross-reference their business standing through provincial business listings and professional service directories.

How Do They Compare to Alternative Options?

Compared to debt consolidation loans, consumer proposals offer debt reduction rather than reorganization and don’t require good credit for approval. However, consolidation loans allow you to maintain better credit ratings if you qualify.

Compared to debt management plans, consumer proposals are legally binding on all creditors and can include tax debts. Debt management plans through credit counseling agencies require voluntary creditor participation and cannot typically include CRA debts.

Compared to bankruptcy, consumer proposals allow asset retention and have less severe credit impact. Bankruptcy eliminates debts faster (9-21 months vs up to 5 years) but requires asset surrender according to provincial exemption laws.

When are informal negotiations preferable? If you can afford full debt repayment over reasonable timeframes, direct creditor negotiations may preserve better credit ratings and avoid formal insolvency proceedings.

Professional Staff and Credentials

The firm employs Licensed Insolvency Trustees who have completed federal licensing requirements including specialized education, examinations, and background checks.

Current Licensed Trustees

Barton Goth: Holds BA and MBA degrees with Licensed Insolvency Trustee designation. Has worked in insolvency since 1993 and maintains active community involvement in Edmonton.

Desmond West-Chow: Licensed Insolvency Trustee with University of Alberta background. Became licensed in 2011 and participates in community volunteer activities and professional development.

What ongoing requirements do trustees have? Licensed Insolvency Trustees must complete continuing education, maintain professional insurance, and operate under federal oversight including regular audits and complaint processes.

Verify their professional standing through independent business networks, Canadian professional directories, and business service platforms.

Geographic Service Area and Accessibility

Their primary service area covers Alberta residents with physical offices in Edmonton. They have expanded virtual consultation services to additional provinces where they maintain business registrations.

How do virtual consultations work? Regulatory changes allow trustees to offer remote meetings while maintaining physical office requirements in each service area. Virtual meetings can handle most consultation and document signing requirements.

What are the office accessibility options? The Edmonton office provides in-person meetings, and evening appointments may be available by arrangement. Phone consultations are standard for initial assessments.

Contact information verification: Business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Phone: (780) 435-5110, Toll-free: 1-800-267-6015. Address: 6836 – 104 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6H 2L6.

Confirm contact details through independent directory services, business listing platforms, and professional verification systems.

Independent Verification Resources

Business registration verification can be obtained through multiple independent sources to confirm legitimacy and ongoing compliance.

Professional Verification

• Business directory confirmations of registration status
• Community business networks showing local presence
• Professional service platforms verifying credentials
• Industry-specific directories confirming specialization
• Business startup databases with company information
• International business directories listing Canadian services

Additional Verification Sources

• Regional business registries
• Service verification platforms
• Comprehensive business guides
• Local business networks
• Canadian directory services
• Professional referral networks
• Specialized business directories
• Business profile platforms
• Local service directories
• Professional publication platforms
• Community business connections

Why verify through multiple sources? Cross-referencing information across independent platforms helps confirm business legitimacy, consistency of operations, and ongoing regulatory compliance.

What to Expect During Consultation

Consultation preparation involves gathering all debt information, recent income documentation, and a list of assets. The trustee will review your complete financial situation and explain all legally available options.

What questions should you ask? Inquire about total costs, timeline expectations, success rates with similar situations, alternatives to formal proceedings, and what specific obligations you would have throughout the process.

How long do consultations typically last? Initial meetings usually require 60-90 minutes for thorough financial assessment and option explanation. You should not feel pressured to make immediate decisions during the consultation.

What happens after consultation if you decide not to proceed? There are no obligations following free consultations. You may choose to explore other options, seek additional opinions, or return later if circumstances change.

Additional verification can be obtained through professional service platforms, business verification systems, and interactive business location maps.

Regulatory Oversight and Complaint Process

Federal oversight is provided by the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy, which licenses all trustees, sets practice standards, and investigates complaints about trustee conduct.

How can you verify trustee licensing? The Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy maintains an online directory of all licensed trustees. This verification should be completed before engaging any insolvency professional.

What is the complaint process? Complaints regarding trustee conduct can be filed directly with the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy. The federal office investigates all complaints and can impose sanctions for professional misconduct.

What protections exist for clients? All trustees must maintain professional insurance, follow standardized procedures, and operate under federal audit requirements. Client funds are held in trust accounts with specific regulatory protections.

Confirm regulatory standing through business verification services, comprehensive directory systems, and professional profile databases.

Objective Assessment Summary

Goth & Company operates as a federally licensed debt relief provider with documented business registration since 1993. Their services focus exclusively on government-regulated consumer proposals and bankruptcy administration.

Verified Strengths

• Long-term business operation with consistent regulatory compliance
• Free initial consultations with no upfront fees
• Regulated fee structure with government oversight
• Professional staff with required federal licensing
• Comprehensive service offering under one practice

Considerations and Limitations

• Geographic focus primarily serves Alberta residents
• Services limited to federally regulated insolvency processes
• Success depends on client compliance with payment schedules
• Credit impact occurs regardless of successful completion
• Not suitable for all debt situations or financial circumstances

Who should consider their services? Individuals with overwhelming unsecured debt who want to keep their assets and can commit to monthly payment schedules. Those needing immediate creditor protection from collection actions may benefit from consultation.

Who should consider alternatives? People with primarily secured debt, those who can afford full debt repayment through consolidation, individuals requiring immediate debt elimination, or those outside their licensed service areas.

Final verification can be obtained through additional business directories, professional discussion platforms, and the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy’s official licensing database.