Marcus Chen
Founder, CollectorHQ — Canadian debt-relief writer since 2016
Author profile last updated: May 12, 2026
About Marcus
I'm Marcus Chen, the founder and primary writer behind CollectorHQ. I've spent the last nine years researching and writing about Canadian debt relief — consumer proposals, personal bankruptcy, CRA collections, wage garnishment, mortgage renewal stress, HELOCs, and credit rebuilding. I started doing this because the existing information was either watered-down corporate marketing or commission-driven sales pitches dressed up as advice. Canadians making the most consequential financial decisions of their lives deserve better than that.
Everything I publish is built from primary sources — federal and provincial statutes, the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada (OSB), Statistics Canada, the Bank of Canada, CMHC, CAIRP, and direct consultation with Licensed Insolvency Trustees across the country. Where the law is unsettled or numbers are estimates, I say so. Where I've changed my mind on a topic, I update the article and note the change.
"I don't sell debt solutions. My job is to give Canadians the same information a Licensed Insolvency Trustee would give them in a free consultation — but in plain language, available at 2 a.m. when most people are actually sitting with their debt."
Experience & Subject-Matter Focus
Experience
- 9+ years researching and writing about Canadian consumer debt and insolvency
- Founder of CollectorHQ (2024–present), the most-trafficked independent Canadian debt-relief education site
- Hundreds of long-form articles, calculators, and city/province guides published
- Direct consultation with Licensed Insolvency Trustees across all 10 provinces
- Source material drawn from OSB directives, BIA case law, and provincial consumer-protection statutes
Areas of Expertise
- Consumer proposals and personal bankruptcy under the federal Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act
- CRA tax debt collections, section 164(2) set-off, and RC4288 taxpayer relief
- Wage garnishment and Requirement to Pay (RTP) procedures
- Provincial debt collection regulations and consumer-protection bulletins
- Mortgage renewal stress, HELOC strategy, B-lender and private mortgages
- Credit rebuilding after consumer proposal or bankruptcy discharge
- Licensed Insolvency Trustee selection and free-consultation process
What I Am Not
I am not a Licensed Insolvency Trustee, lawyer, accountant, or licensed financial advisor. I do not file consumer proposals, administer bankruptcies, give legal advice, or provide individualized financial recommendations. Where any of those things are required, I direct readers to the appropriate regulated professional. See the editorial policy for the full statement.
Published Work Off-Site
In addition to CollectorHQ, I publish on the following platforms:
Contact & Corrections
- Editorial: [email protected]
- Corrections: [email protected] — every correction request gets a response within 48 hours and a public note on the affected article if the change is material.
- Press / interview requests: [email protected]
Recent Articles by Marcus Chen
Most recent 24 articles. Browse the full CollectorHQ blog archive.
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Canadian Government Benefit Payment Dates 2026: Every Deposit Date and Amount
June 11, 2026
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Canada Child Benefit (CCB) 2026: Payment Dates, Maximum Amounts, and Income Limits
June 11, 2026
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Canada Disability Benefit 2026: Amount, Payment Dates, and Income Limits
June 11, 2026
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Canada Workers Benefit 2026: Amounts, ACWB Payment Dates, and Thresholds
June 11, 2026
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CPP Payment 2026: Maximum and Average Amounts, Payment Dates, and Early vs Late Rules
June 11, 2026
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GST/HST Credit 2026: Amounts, Payment Dates, and the New Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit
June 11, 2026
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OAS and GIS 2026: Payment Amounts, Income Thresholds, Clawback, and Dates
June 11, 2026
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ODSP Payment Dates 2026: Schedule, Amounts, and the July Rate Increase
June 11, 2026
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Ontario Trillium Benefit 2026: Payment Dates, Amounts, and 'Canada PRO'
June 11, 2026
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Why Did I Get Money From the CRA? Identify Any 2026 Deposit
June 11, 2026
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State of Canadian Debt 2026: The Complete Data Report
June 10, 2026
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Consumer Proposal Calgary: Costs, Process, and Licensed Trustees (2026)
June 5, 2026
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Consumer Proposal Edmonton: Costs, Process, and Licensed Trustees (2026)
June 5, 2026
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Consumer Proposal Ottawa: Costs, Process, and Licensed Trustees (2026)
June 5, 2026
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Consumer Proposal Toronto: Costs, Process, and Licensed Trustees (2026)
June 5, 2026
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Consumer Proposal Vancouver: Costs, Process, and Licensed Trustees (2026)
June 5, 2026
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Consumer Proposal While Separated in Canada: Can You File Alone?
June 5, 2026
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Debt and Divorce in Canada: Who Owes What When a Marriage Ends (2026)
June 5, 2026
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What Happens to Joint Credit Card Debt in a Divorce in Canada
June 5, 2026
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Ontario Got an F: Why 71% of People on Government Support Can't Pay Their Bills
June 1, 2026
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DTI Ratio for Debt Consolidation Loans in Canada (2026): What Lenders Require
May 31, 2026
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Rebuild Credit After Debt Settlement in Canada (2026 Guide)
May 31, 2026
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Canada Is Officially in a Recession. Here's What the Numbers Actually Mean for Your Debt.
May 29, 2026
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Consumer Proposal vs Student Loans Canada: What Actually Gets Forgiven
May 26, 2026