Orla’s and Dave’s story

In their own words 

The kids used to ask us what’s wrong and we’d say it’s hard to pay bills. Now it’s a relief that money is available for school. 

When we first heard about meeting MABS, we thought we’d be meeting a guy in a suit who would judge us. But he talked to us like two human beings. 

If you’re in any way like we were, don’t be afraid to look for help. It’s so much better than facing it alone. 

We’d been in arrears for a good few years on both the mortgage and our credit union loan. We tried to pay a little off each to keep everyone happy, but we were getting calls mostly about the mortgage. It’s a vicious circle when you are trying to pay as much as you can. 

My husband suffers with depression a bit but the banks didn’t want to know. One day I received a letter from the bank threatening us with repossession. I rang and pleaded with them saying “I don’t want my husband in the grave”, but there was no change in their approach. 

The worst thing is you’re made to feel like criminals. We’re just an ordinary family doing the best we can. When I realised things were not going to get better, I got in touch with MABS. Almost immediately we felt a sense of relief. After our first meeting, where our options were explained properly to us, we came out feeling hopeful… we had initiated a process. We were doing something. 

They dealt with the bank for us and they were off our backs. I could actually see the relief in my husband’s face – that some weight had been lifted. The wait to see if it would all go through was hard but when we found out it had been accepted, it was like winning the lotto! 

We were nearly in tears thinking. It seemed surreal. When we first heard about meeting MABS, we thought we’d be meeting someone in a suit who would judge us. But he talked to us like two human beings. If you’re in any way like we were, don’t be afraid to look for the help. It’s so much better than facing it alone. 

After our first meeting, where our options were explained properly to us, we came out feeling hopeful.

Does this story sound familiar? We hear stories like this every week. There is hope.  

By getting help from Abhaile, you can find solutions to your mortgage arrears. 

Call 0818 07 2000 and speak with an adviser today.