Freezing in a crisis
Wesley Mission’s research shows that 11 per cent of people freeze in a financial crisis and that only 3 per cent of people who seek help go to a financial counsellor. Combined, these two results spell heartbreak for those in crisis and the counsellors.
“When somebody rings up and says ‘I’ve received a notice from the Supreme Court to quit my home in seven days’, for us that’s almost too late,” said Jennifer Gracie, Co-ordinator of the National Financial Counsellors’ Resource Service, who works at Wesley Creditline in Sydney.
“Prior to that, they’ve had reminder letters from the banks asking them to catch up on their arrears. Then they’ve had more serious threats, and then they’ve received papers to say they face eviction in 30 days if they don’t do something about their debt.
“Quite often, all these warnings have happened over six months or more. When it gets to the Supreme Court notice, seven days is all they’ve got, and often that’s when they come to us.
“We are so overstretched at Creditline that there’s a two-week waiting list to see a counsellor. For the person on the front desk to have to tell someone with a seven-day notice to quit their family home that it is too late, to let them realise that they will be kicked out of their home – that’s a really, really hard thing to do.
“As much as we can, a counsellor fits these clients in because they’re so desperate. Then we have to get legal advice to help because it’s the Supreme Court they have to answer to. We need time and we never get it – well, only very rarely.”
“We have to job-share the front desk here to handle the phone calls,” said Jeff Lucas, Operations Manager of Wesley Counselling Services. “One person could not do this five days a week – listen to people desperately needing help and telling them that they’d have to go on a two-week waiting list.
“With the situation the way it is now – and it’s going to get worse – we’re under a lot of stress here just managing the calls.
“And just think of the people in trouble out there: if only 3 per cent of people are seeing a financial counsellor we’re actually only seeing 3 per cent of people with problems, and we’re overstretched and under the hammer.”
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Learn more about managing your finances in our Financial Help section, where you can find an easy to use budget planner as well as videos and tips from the Wesley Mission Financial Counsellors some of the common problems that can lead to financial stress.
DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this information sheet is of a general nature only, and is not intended to be legal advice. There may be errors or inaccuracies or the information may not be completely up-to-date. Always check the information provided before relying on it. The information relates to consumer law in New South Wales, Australia
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