How debt advice is like a football match
Posted by Paul Culshaw, Editor | Posted in Advice, Credit Cards
I’ve just been taking a walk around the debt advisers’ floor at Debt Free Direct and I can only describe the scene as one of pre-match preparation. I relate the atmosphere like the debt advisers gearing up for a massive match ahead, which will test their defences, see them exploiting their skills to the max and scoring for the team. As it happens, they are not pulling on their boots for a footie match, but bracing themselves for the calls that may be looming on the horizon.
The team they will be playing for is that comprising folk in personal debt, in deep distress over the results of the last few months and truly upset about decisions made by ‘referees’ working for their creditors – officials who by now have probably given them more than a few financial yellow cards, in terms of charges for late and missed payments, going over their credit limit and maybe bouncing cheques and who are now threatening red cards that will see them facing much sterner penalties.
Our debt advisers are the coaches of these personal debt players, who are trying to out-manoeuvre the opposition, but just coming up against a stalwart defence comprising the financial rules governing their credit cards, personal loans and other debts.
Debt Free Direct’s debt counsellors are also the physios, as they help restore the mental balance of people turning to them for help once they have realised the extent of their financial injuries. Debt advisers can take away the stress, help promote better sleep and restore peace of mind to those who’ve had agents incessantly banging on the door wanting answers, payments and goods.
Above all, the debt advice team are managers, taking control of situations, seeing what the opposition expect of their debtors and coming up with a strategy to keep both sides happy. They take on board the ability of their players, in terms of what they can afford to pay to their creditors, and then take control of the game by presenting a financial proposition to those creditors. If both sides agree, which they often do, the final whistle is called on all the debt stress that has been bringing debtors down for months and possibly years. A bright new chance to start climbing up the financial table again is suddenly presented and a much lower level of transfer money is paid over to the creditors.
As I said, the debt advice team know that the phones will soon be red hot with requests for debt help and debt solutions. The January window is pretty much open and the Christmas euphoria has mostly slipped away. While debt charities may struggle to cope with the demands of the debt fixtures at this time of the year, with diaries full and advisers in short supply, the Debt Free Direct team will be able to tackle issues instantly and start achieving some goals for those in distressing debt situations. Pass the ball on today and tomorrow could become a whole new ball game for you and your family.
If you fancy playing your way out of debt and getting on the offensive, rather than the defensive, when it comes to facing up to your personal debts and your ‘opposition’, get in touch with a Debt Free Direct debt adviser and at least have a team talk that will give you some options to mull over. Whether you then proceed as advised is entirely down to you. After all, you’re the one on the pitch and only you can decide whether you want to get things clear with help, go it alone, or carry on scoring financial own goals.