Members in Financial Difficulty

Are you experiencing Mortgage repayment Difficulties?

At St. Francis Credit Union we understand that when lending money to our member’s it is probable that the members’ financial and personal circumstances are going to change during the term of the loan. The longer the term of the loan the greater the probability of the change in circumstances. While we hope that member’s circumstances will always change for the better, we accept that there will be occasions during the term of the loan that some members will experience financial and personal difficulties that affect their ability to meet their loan repayments as expected.

If you are worried that you won’t be able to meet some or all your next mortgage repayment it is critical that the first thing you do is contact the Credit Control Unit of St. Francis Credit Union to update us on your circumstances and consider the various options that are available to help you through this difficult time. Contact us at (065) 6828305 and we will listen and guide you through the options available to you.

St. Francis Credit Union has a Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process in place, please click here for more details.

Non Co-operation

As previously stated, we at St. Francis Credit Union wish to assist our members, especially if they find themselves in financial difficulty. It is therefore very important that you co-operate with all stages of the MARP as outlined in this book. The CCMA has provided guidelines for us to classify members as not cooperating.

You will be considered non-cooperating if –

1. You fail to make a full and honest disclosure of information relevant to your current financial situation
2. You fail to provide requested information in the specified period.
3. There has been a 3 month period during which

a. You have not entered an ARA and you have failed to meet your mortgage payments in full, or you have met your mortgage payments in full but your account has been in arrears for 3 consecutive months or
b. You have entered an ARA but have not made repayments as agreed in the ARA
And
c. You have failed to make contact with or responded to any communication from the Credit Union or
d. You have made contact and responded to our communications but have not engaged in any meaningful way to allow us to complete an assessment of your circumstances

If the circumstances above prevail we will issue a warning letter advising you that you are considered non-cooperating, advising you of the implications if you are classified as non- cooperating and giving you a specified period to submit the required information or take the required steps as appropriate.

In the event that you fail to take the required steps within the specified timeframe the Credit Control Department will inform you in writing that you have been classified as Not –Cooperating and that you will no longer enjoy the protections afforded you by MARP under the CCMA.

MARP

Independent Financial Advisory Services

The Irish government together with the Central bank of Ireland have brought in a number of laws and regulations to assist people experiencing financial difficulties.

At this time you may have many questions about your specific circumstances. The following are a list of information sources which may be of assistance to you.

Central Bank of Ireland

The Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) are responsible for regulating the financial services market. The Code of Conduct on Mortgage arrears is an example of such regulation. A full copy of the code is available to download from their Website  www.centralbank.ie

The CBI can also be contacted by calling 0818 681 681 or +353 (0)1 224 5800

Citizens Information Board

The Citizens information gives information and advice on the broad range of public services available to Irish citizens from the state. These cover rights under being made redundant, social welfare entitlements and other rights as a consumer. They can be contacted on 0818 07 5260 or visit www.citizensinformation.ie

Mabs – Money Advice and Budgeting Service

Mab’s is the state’s money advice service. They provide free advice and assistance to people experiencing financial difficulties. They can also provide information on the recent Insolvency legislation and can assist members in preparing Prescribed Financial Statements. The can be contacted at 0818 07 2000 or visit www.mabs.ie

Abhaile – www.mabs.ie/abhaile/

This website is provided jointly by Mabs and Abhaile and is a very important source of information for members who have a mortgage and are experiencing financial difficulties, or believe that they will in the near future due to changing circumstances.

Department of Social Protection

Any member who has experienced a change to their personal or financial circumstances should make an appointment to meet with a representative at their local Intro office. To find out where the closest office to you visit  MyWelfare Homepage

Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC)

FLAC provides basic free legal services in the areas of social welfare, credit and debt and public interest law. It is important when considering an Alternative Payment Arrangement, or other alternative solution that members seek  independent Legal advice  as well as  financial advice. FLAC can  be contacted on tel:+35319061010 or visit www.flac.ie

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC)

The CCPC is a statutory body which is charged with protecting the interests of consumers. The CCPC is a source of useful information that helps consumers understand their rights when purchasing goods and services and may assist members in managing their money and making more informed consumer decisions. They can be contacted on  01 402 5555 or visit  www.ccpc.ie

Insolvency Service of Ireland – (ISI)

The ISI is a state body that is charged with the responsibility for all matters concerning the Personal Insolvency legislation 2012. They are charged with informing borrowers of their rights and informing them of the legal remedies available to borrowers who find themselves in financial difficulty. They also maintain the various Registers for each of the Insolvency Protocols. A register of approved Personal Insolvency Practitioners is also available on their website. They can be contacted by visiting www.backontrack.ie  or Freetext GETHELP to 50015 or for more information: www.isi.gov.ie

Information line: 01 764 4200

Financial Services & Pensions Ombudsman

The Financial Services & Pensions Ombudsman is an independent body which deal with complaints from consumers about their dealings with regulated financial service providers such as St. Francis Credit Union Limited. It is a free service and they can be contacted on tel: +35315677000 or by visiting www.fspo.ie

Office of the Revenue Commissioners

It may be helpful for members who have experienced a change in their circumstances to contact the revenue commissioners to ensure that they have maximised their entitlement to tax credits. To find relevant numbers visit www.revenue.ie