Trots
After more than 10 years of experience with all kinds of people and companies with problematic debts, I shouted last week: “I can write a book about it”, “Do it! my colleague shouted, or write the column to introduce everyone to the work we do ”.
How often I don't hear from customers in the first conversation, I can't anymore, I don't like it anymore and I don't know how to proceed. They have lost their courage and often they are so tense towards me that I try to break the ice. There are so many people in debt and they are not alone. Only with that remark I can not get there, and then I can only think of a difficult period 8 years ago. And with more than pride in my voice I tell about this period.
In 2006 my parents enthusiastically started their dream, their own business. The first few years went well and there seemed to be a good upward trend. It went completely wrong in April 2009 for several reasons. Initially, the plan was made to restart the company. All steps to get here were taken, the file was started, the documents were collected and the municipality was called in to screen the company.
Unfortunately, it has never been able to restart. The business and my parents were filed for bankruptcy. A period of uncertainty started; what will happen now, should a new home be arranged, how do we get income and in what order should all this happen? Little by little, all necessary matters were requested.
One fine day in July 2009, thanks to our office, my parents were admitted to the Natural Persons Debt Rescheduling Act (Wsnp). My parents and my brother had to get used to the new situation. Living on benefits, under administration and sticking to those rules that would make them debt-free in 36 months.
And then I come to a point that so many people struggle with: applying for jobs. How do you get back to work after the age of 50? Surely no one wants me anymore? I am always overqualified, no one hires me . I can only say that perseverance is the word you should put on a tile and hang by the front door. And I can say with so much pride that my father tackled every opportunity to get back to work. After training provided by the municipality where he lived, he got a salaried job again at the age of 59 and has been working ever since. My mother, too, has never been idle and has always been able to find work, and she is still working as well.
36 months later came the redeeming word, the termination sentence came in. The scheme was successfully completed. Was it easy, no. Did they make it, yes!
I proudly tell this story to my customers, I know what they are going through, I know what they feel and what uncertainty there is. We try as best we can to help our customers through this difficult period. But in the end they have to do it themselves, be proud of what they have achieved and work on a new future.
Kelly Vinck
