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A woman who fled a violent partner while saddled with thousands of pounds in debt did so out of concern that assistance would enable him to locate her.
Helen (not her actual name) came to the realisation that having her £10,000 debt written off would result in the publication of her address on a register of individuals unable to pay. She stated that if he found her, he would kill her.
Helen prevented this from occurring after receiving guidance; she has since urged others in comparable circumstances to do the same. She continues to experience flashbacks and visions related to the abuse, which included her ex-boyfriend killing her pets and forbidding her to eat.
Helen, who was in her forties at the time, made multiple attempts to terminate the relationship by stating, "He threatened my family." "I allowed him to re-enter out of fear," she continued.
She stated that her ex-partner possessed "absolute control" over her credit cards and that no invoices were paid. She added that he would also forbid her to eat. He first killed one of her pets, and then the other.
Helen fled to a refuge and relocated five times in an effort to evade the pursuit of her persecutor. Subsequently, a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder was made for her.
Helen was £10,000 in debt despite having escaped the violence; a portion of this debt had been accrued in her name by her ex-partner. Domestic abuse frequently involves financial and economic control, according to Stephanie Grimshaw of Welsh Women's Aid.
Helen solicited counsel and arrived at the conclusion that obtaining a Debt Relief Order (DRO) was her most favourable course of action.
A DRO allows you to have your personal debts discharged if you have a monthly disposable income of no more than £75 and a total debt of less than £30,000, excluding items with a value exceeding £2,000.
This is a type of insolvency in which an individual or business is formally acknowledged as being incapable of fulfilling its financial obligations. The identity and address of individuals who are officially declared insolvent are typically included in the insolvency register, an openly accessible document.
Helen was informed, however, that she could petition the court for a PARV (Person At Risk of Violence) order to prevent the display of her address.
While some courts do impose a fee for submitting an application for a PARV order, it is possible to request that the fee be waived.
Helen expressed how wonderful it felt to have reached the conclusion of the process. She stated that It was a bit of a cliche, but it lifted a burden from her shoulders.
A DRO is not appropriate for all individuals who are grappling with debt issues, as it is subject to stringent eligibility requirements and restrictions. Donors concerned about their finances are therefore encouraged by debt charities to seek free, confidential advice.
A debt advisor for Caerphilly Blaenau Gwent Citizens Advice, Rhys Edwards, stated that assistance was individualised. "I have had clients with extremely large amounts of debt as well as those with negligible amounts." "There is always an alternative, irrespective of one's expenditures or income," he stated.
Helen recently moved into a new flat in September and her health is improving, according to sources.
