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Vicki’s story: A GetControl Loan enabled her to spend more time with her granddaughter.

General Manager of Ngā Tāngata Microfinance discusses the effect of lockdown on financially vulnerable families with Radio Waatea.

Nearly 40,000 borrowers who used the Harmoney online lending platform over the past seven years are in for refunds.
The Commerce Commission and the company have struck a $7 million deal over unreasonable fees charged.

Budgeting services are warning people not to get carried away with buy now pay later products if they’re struggling to get by during the lockdown.

A GetControl Loan helped Ian to pay off spiralling credit card debt.

“Ngā Tāngata Microfinance general manager Natalie Vincent is annoyed the Australian actor [Rebel Wilson] has chosen to front advertising for buy now, pay later loans, which she’s seeing turn up again and again in the debit column of families who can no longer make ends meet.”

“Alleviating the stress of high interest debt can have a lifechanging impact on people’s lives – a story some of Aotearoa’s microfinance lenders know only too well.”

CPAG First year of Covid Initial outcomes of our collective care for low income children in Aotearoa NZ

At age 28, Sonam discovered she was pregnant to her long-term partner – however, he didn’t want the baby at the time and was planning to leave the relationship. On top of that, her family couldn’t support or help her as they don’t live in New Zealand and their Visas were rejected when trying to come here for her baby’s delivery. “I had to go on the ‘single mum’ benefit. I was very grateful for it, but it wasn’t enough,” she explains. “I had previous debts from when I was working – things like the car, insurance – all of the things that come with life and children.” Fortunately, WINZ put her in touch with a financial mentor at Pakuranga and Howick Budgeting Service. He recommended that Sonam apply for a GetControl Debt Relief Loan from Ngā Tāngata Microfinance – and helped her with her application. “The $2,000 loan helped me to pay off my overdue bills and some debts. My financial mentor also helped me apply for emergency funds from my KiwiSaver and referred me to a local foodbank for help. I can’t thank him enough - he really helped me to get my money sorted,” she says. Sonam says...

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