When life suddenly changes
“I've lost my job, and the bills haven't stopped.”
Understand what you can afford and use your report to support a realistic repayment discussion while you get back on your feet.
Explore repayment plans →Welcome to Smartie
Struggling with bills, debts or accessing credit?
Understand your financial position. Discover your options.
Smartie securely reviews your income and spending, shows what you can realistically afford and helps you explore options for debt, rent, bills and credit.
✓Understand your financial position
✓Understand what you can realistically afford
✓Find a solution and a path forward
Request free access and we’ll email you the next steps. Completing an assessment does not guarantee credit, benefits or financial assistance.
Free to use · No impact on your credit score · Secure & private
See what Smartie can do for you
A simpler way to prove what you can afford.
Watch how Smartie helps you understand your finances and take the next step — without hours of paperwork.
Sign Up Now for Free
Free to use · No impact on your credit score
Real-life situations
It's not just advice. It's about finding a solution.
Life changes. Money gets tight. Sometimes you don't know where to start. Smartie helps you understand what you can realistically afford and explore practical next steps — from repayment plans and more affordable credit to rent, energy and mortgage support.
Your finances. Your understanding. Your next step.
No judgment. Less paperwork. More confidence.
These are illustrative situations, not actual customer testimonials. Financial assistance, credit and repayment arrangements depend on eligibility and provider approval. Smartie is free to use, secure and private, with no impact on your credit score.
What you receive
Your financial picture, in one place.
Your Smartie report brings together money coming in, essential bills, everyday spending and borrowing, so you have a clearer starting point for deciding what to do next.
- See your income and spending together.
- Prepare for conversations about repayments, credit or support.
- Use your report again without starting from scratch.
Illustrative sample report. Your figures and available options will depend on your circumstances. Support providers make their own eligibility decisions.
Find a way forward
Real help. Real options.
Once you understand your financial position, choose the next step that fits your situation.
Escalator Loan
Struggling with payday or loan debt under $18k? Check whether you may prequalify for a lower-cost Escalator Loan.
Check to prequalify →LEAP or OESP support
Need help with energy bills? Start an application for emergency financial assistance or energy support.
Apply for support →Help paying rent or mortgage
Explore whether rent or housing support programmes may be available for your circumstances. Specific offers depend on programme availability and eligibility.
Ask about Home Relief Bank →Repayment plan
Owe money to a lender or utility? Understand what you can afford and work towards a sustainable repayment plan.
Start with Smartie →Collections repayment or settlement
Use your financial position to support a short-term repayment plan or settlement proposal with a collection agency.
Understand what I can afford →Debt advice or insolvency
Prepare a clearer financial picture before seeking debt advice, a consumer proposal or insolvency support.
Prepare my position →About us
Built in Canada for Canadians.
🍁 Built in Canada for Canadians
I built Smartie because people should not have to explain their financial situation over and over again just to get help.
I have spent more than 25 years working in credit, collections, lending, open banking and customer resolution across the UK and Canada. I have seen first-hand how difficult it can be for people to get the right support — even when they are willing to engage.
When I moved to Canada, I experienced another side of the problem. Despite having a career and income, I had very little Canadian credit history. It showed me how much a traditional credit file can miss about a person's real financial position today.
Built in Canada for Canadians, informed by global best practice. Through our wider consulting network, we have access to experience and best practice from the UK, Australia and Europe — helping us bring proven ideas into the Canadian market rather than starting from scratch.
Our founder also contributes to the Prosper Canada Debt Help Roundtable, a cross-sector initiative bringing together government, community and business leaders to improve access to affordable, appropriate and trustworthy debt help. Participants include representatives from FCAC, the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy, Finance Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada, BDO, Equifax, DUCA Impact Lab and Credit Canada.
That experience helped shape Smartie. A simpler, more human way to understand your financial position once and use it to access the right support, products and solutions — while staying in control of your information.
Do it once. Use it again and again.
Meet the team
The people behind Smartie.
Simon Howard
Founder
More than 25 years across credit, collections, lending, open banking and customer resolution in the UK and Canada. Simon created Smartie to make financial understanding simpler and help people reach the right resolution faster.
Kerry Howard
Co-Founder
More than 20 years in customer service and client management across the UK and Canada, with a focus on making financial support feel clear, respectful and human.
Built with experience around us
Supported by research, innovation and expert advice.
Partners who helped develop Smartie
Smartie has been developed with support from Georgian College Centre for Innovation and Research and the Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre.
Fintech programs
Smartie is a graduate of Fintech Cadence Ascension, IFH Lab and Fintech Hub programs.
Global affordability expertise
We draw on expert UK affordability advice from RO-AR, including Chris Warburton, alongside broader best-practice insight from the UK, Australia and Europe.
Canadian advisory panel
Our Canadian advisory panel brings practical experience from lending, data, collections and financial services.
Pedro Maya · Tangerine Bank
Blair DeMarco-Wettlaufer · Kingston Data
Michael Ohler
Greg Maitinsky
Start your journey
One simple financial assessment. More ways forward.
Smartie is designed to make getting help simpler, faster and less stressful.
Free to use
No charge to complete your Smartie.
No credit score impact
Using Smartie does not affect your credit score.
Secure & private
Your financial information is handled through a secure consent-based process.
