Bank handouts
Can't pay your mortgage? How about three months suspension of payments without penalty, fees and charges or compounding interest? Sounds too good to be true? Not in Australia!
The fires currently wreaking havoc on Australia and its people have not done with us yet; Many burn unabated and uncontrolled and each day more stories of loss, anguish and death emerge from the fire-affected areas. The nation struggles to cope with a disaster of this enormity and the strains it puts on emergency services, volunteers and the community on general. Of course, together with the bad,there's also many good-news stories of lives saved, (human and animal), property saved and of aid flowing through to where it's needed most.
That's the good part of a situation like this...Seeing Australians, resilient, tough and tenacious Aussies, pull together, roll up their sleeves and help their fellow citizens.
Today I spoke with a friend of mine who works in a bank making and taking calls in respect of debt...Her role is in debt collection essentially.
She has been whining to me all week via WhatsApp about how difficult it has been with all the inbound calls from fire-affected customers and I didn't really understand until we spoke tonight.
So, in response to the influx of calls, the bank have removed the operators quotas for the next few weeks meaning that their calls can be longer, more understanding and compassionate. Apparently people are calling and venting in emotional and sometimes illogical ways; The government, neighbours, their partners, the army, the police and fire crews...And of course the bank are all on the hit-list for them it seems and some delicate work needs to be done to facilitate those calls.
Callers range from people who have been displaced, evacuated or left voluntarily, to those whose incomes has been taken away through business's burning down and even volunteer firefighters who have been on the line for weeks - With no pay of course... These people are struggling to make payments on cards, personal loans and mortgages too.
Many of these people have only what they escaped the flames with...The clothes on their back, a few personal effects and a pet. Many have little, or no, available money and with credit cards maxxed out as tends to happen these days...Well you can see the problem. It's important to remember that a lot of these places are small rural towns with small populations and a lower socio-economic profile.
My mate was telling me today that the bank is offering to suspend mortgages, and certain other payments, with no penalty or additional interest for a period of three months...This means the mortgage payments simply just stop then resume from that exact same point after the three elapsed months. This small gesture is the least they can do I think and should go some way towards alleviating some of the financial and emotional burden.
My friend has struggled through this week, and there's more to come...However she understands that as difficult as this period may be for her, it's a hundred times worse for the victims on the ground, the volunteers and those affected by the tragedy.
Fires like this, indeed any disaster of this nature, has immediate implications and whilst they often get the attention of the media the spin-off ramifications that effect everyone, the country as a whole, deserve some thought too. Here's a bank doing the right thing in my opinion, and whilst I'm generally critical of banks I feel glad to see this one (and possibly others) lending a hand. The donations that pour in are also welcome I'm sure.
We will get through this and life will resume. Sure, for some life will never be the same through personal loss and emotional strain, however life will resume. I think it's a perfect reminder of the importance of the phrase I end my posts with...Nothing is promised in life so live it the best you know how and be grateful for each and every day and everything you have.
Tomorrow isn't promised - Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default*
