Debt and Money Advice (DRAMA)
What is it?
The Debt Redemption and Money Advice (DRAMA) scheme was set up to address the problem of debt and financial exclusion in some of the most disadvanteged areas in Wales. Since 2007 the scheme has provided a Specialist Money Adviser to work in areas where advice was difficult to access or non-existent. The advice provides links directly between the services of Local Credit Unions to provide opportunities for safe savings and responsible and affordable lending. This service has been provided with funding support from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and the Oak Foundation.
DRAMA Case studies
Case Study 1
Miss x had over £16000 in debt with credit cards, banks, catalogues and store cards as well as rent arrears of £1000 and a letter from the council tax threatening legal action. After having a budget prepared for her an agreement was made to pay the rent plus an affordable amount off the arrears which stopped the possession action being taken. The council was contacted and an agreement was made with them to clear the council tax and no legal action was taken. Letters were provided to Miss X to send to her creditors offering a token payment until her situation changes.
The action that these creditors could take against her was explained and Miss X said that she felt much better knowing what could happen and the steps she could take to rectify matters. Miss X felt extremely depressed and was stressed out at the thought of the debt that she had and the actions that she faced. However, once the budget was prepared for her and the debt collection and court procedures that these creditors could take against were explained together with the actions she could take to deal with these, she felt relieved. Miss X said that she felt happier than she had for ages and could now sleep as the stress had been removed because she had faced up to her problems and got help to deal with it. Miss X said that she only wished that she knew this help was available a long time ago as she would not have got into such as position and been so stressed and that going forward she knows that help is at hand if needed..
Case Study 2
Miss Y had council tax debts that had gone to bailiffs and had rent arrears at possession stage. She had been in hospital with a nervous breakdown and did not know what to do. The Housing Association arranged for her to take advice on her debts through the Drama scheme. When Miss Y had her appointment and a budget was prepared for her it showed that she also owed an overpayment of benefit which was being deducted from her current benefit at £25 per fortnight and had nearly £1000 in welsh water charges outstanding. Working with Miss Y the deductions from benefit were reduced to £10 per fortnight, the debt with the bailiff was set up for a manageable fortnightly payment as was the rent.
The specialist money adviser applied to the Welsh Water trust on her behalf and an agreement reached that should she pay the current charges for the next 6 months with out fail, 50% of the debt would be written off and if she continued for twelve months the balance would also be written off. In the initial meetings Miss Y could not open mail and struggled to talk about her debt. Now she is on top of her debts opens all the mail she receives and says that she has never felt better. Miss Y regretted that she did not ask for help before as she felt that she could have avoided months of depression. Miss Y says that she can cope with her bills now but knows that if she has any queries or worries then help is only a phone call away.
If you wish to find out further information or find out if you can be assisted by the scheme. Please contact DRAMA's Specialist Money Adviser:
Stuart Locke - 07960 877268
or contact us direct on - 029 20 675800
