When the corona crisis plunges into financial misery

Anyone who is in debt is not a person of questionable character. Ain’t someone who frivolously wastes his money. But it is precisely this prejudice that is circulating. How wrong it is will be highlighted during the 22nd week of action on debt counseling from June 7th to 11th under the motto “The man behind the debt”. “I think it’s very good that this motto was chosen,” says Christian Maltry, who heads debtor and insolvency counseling in Main-Spessart.

Many people are currently worried about their jobs, and many have already lost their jobs. This includes Maltry’s client Heinz B. (name changed). The 45-year-old chef has lived quite normally so far. He paid the child support on time. He took out a car loan without hesitation.

Without perspective

He was sure that he would be able to repay the installments as agreed. Then came Corona. Heinz B. was sent to »short-time work 0«. Eventually his boss had to fire him. Suddenly he found himself in financial chaos. He could no longer service the loan – and no longer pay maintenance.

Heinz B. knows that he won’t find a job again anytime soon. Even if the pandemic situation improves. “The big problem is that he no longer has a car,” says Maltry. The likelihood that Heinz B. will find a job that he can reach with public transport during the special working hours in the catering industry is not too great. The lack of prospects puts Maltry’s clients down. He finds it helpful that he can speak to the debt counselor. “We don’t focus on debt, but on the person who is in debt,” says Maltry.

Numbers are still increasing in 2021

Adapting to changed financial circumstances is difficult for many people. Yesterday you could still afford anything. Today you have to cut corners with every penny. That stunned. “Heinz B. also felt completely run over when he came to us at the end of last year,” says Maltry. He hasn’t slept well for months. He often has a stomach ache.

It’s not just for him: “Lately, many of our clients have been very open about the fact that they suffer from symptoms of depression.” Many feel left alone. They see themselves being catapulted to the edge through no fault of their own, while others are still doing well and some are even better off than before.

Christian Maltry is worried that the crisis plunged so many people into financial misery. “According to our observation, there are more and more people who no longer have any assets,” says the social worker. It can currently be assumed that around 1000 people are in debt in Main-Spessart. Around 800 clients are advised by Maltry and his two colleagues annually in the district office. This year, a look at the numbers shows, there will probably be even more.

For years it has been complained that social cohesion is being increasingly lost. Those who have a lot get richer and richer. Those who have little find it increasingly difficult to get enough money to finance what they need to finance. Attention will also be drawn to this during the debt counseling week.

Children in poverty

The frustration of those who feel thrown out of their existence by the crisis is dangerous. Maltry: “It can easily get the feeling that those up there ‘are worth nothing.” Which is why citizens stopped voting. Or they made their mark on radical parties. During the week of action, debt counselors urged that some things urgently need to flow. “More definitely needs to be done to combat child poverty,” Maltry urges. Too many children still grow up in poverty because the subsistence level is so low. For a large number of Maltry’s clients, children are also affected by debt.

According to his observation, boys and girls who grow up in poverty have little chance of escaping the poor conditions: “Child poverty often leads to adult poverty.” What else annoys Maltry is the fact that the Schufa continues to have data from may save ex-debtors discharged from residual debt.

In this way, landlords can gain knowledge of previous debts: “That’s why those affected do not get an apartment.” The new debt collection law does not change anything in the unfortunate practice, regrets Maltry. In the course of the reform, a limitation of the storage period to one year was requested. However, the debt collection industry was able to prevent this through massive lobbying.

PAT CHRIST

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