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Debt relief assistance in the Netherlands
Martijn SchutAdvisor at Stimulansz
Contents
• How we do it
• New Municipal Debt Relief Assistance Act
• Cuts on government budgets
Current situation
1. Voluntary debt settlements by municipalities
2. Binding settlements in court (Wsnp: Debt Rescheduling Act)
Outcome ≈ 3 years on 90-95% of minimum income. Rest of debts is remitted
Problems
Differences between 418 municipalities despite code of conduct
Inefficiency, waitinglists, different approach of creditors, clients, court and other stakeholders…
Problems
‘Some municipalities neglect their duty to have regard for the welfare of their citizens’
(Municipal debt relief assistance is/was not obligatory)
Problems
‘Soft approach to clients’
Problems
Pressure on (expensive) court
Municipal debt relief assistance act(Wet gemeentelijke schuldhulpverlening)
Municipalities responsible for finding solution for the relay of debts if reasonably can be foreseen that a person cannot continue paying his debts or if he has already stopped paying. Including aftercare.
(not: prevention)
Municipal debt relief assistance act(Wet gemeentelijke schuldhulpverlening)
• 4-year-plan (policy, actions, proposed results, securing quality, max. waiting time, family with children,
• Max. waiting time first consult 4 weeks (3 days if urgent)• Assistance can be refused in case of fraud • ..or if person had assistance before• Explain cliënt what results are to be expected en when• Homeless must be offered social assistance first• Immigrants or foreigners only allowed with residence permit• Moratorium (creditors cannot claim for 6 months)• Bankaccount
Municipal debt relief assistance act(Wet gemeentelijke schuldhulpverlening)
• Notice that: the Act does NOT tell municipalities HOW to conduct debt relief assistance
Wet gemeentelijke schuldhulpverleningMunicipal debt relief assistance act(Wet gemeentelijke schuldhulpverlening)
Municipal debt relief assistance act(Wet gemeentelijke schuldhulpverlening)
Civil law > administrative law
1. Important to define products and conditions
2. Monetary penalty for municipality if it decides too late
What else is up?
• More clients
• More complex problems
• Cut down municipal budgets
Winston Churchill
Gentlemen, we have run out of money…
Now we have to
think
• Only help low incomes
• Do not help self-employed
• No 2nd chance
• More selfhelp
Do more with lessSmaller targetgroup
• Larger scale
• Volunteers
• Group intakes en courses
• IT
• Internet
Do more with lessMore efficiency
• Tailormade assistance / differentiation• Less supervision on expenses• Clear delimitation of debt relief assistance• What’s in the name:
Schuldhulpverlening > Schulddienstverlening
Do more with lessLess service
E-mail: [email protected]: http://martijnschut.wordpress.comWeb: www.stimulansz.nlLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/martijnschut1