Emma's empowerment story

Emma faced significant financial challenges after a period of unemployment and a change in personal circumstances, leading her to seek support for managing her debts.

Emma’s background

Emma, a mother of two, was employed in the banking sector. She found herself in a difficult financial situation after her personal circumstances changed. She took leave without pay for a long period for her mental health, during which time she had to withdraw money from her investments to cover her living expenses. "I ended up having to pull out my profits to fund my time without work, without earning," she shared. Her professional circumstances also changed when she was made redundant from her job. Despite her efforts, she struggled to manage her financial situation effectively, with increasing costs affecting her quality of life.

Emma ultimately found managing her finances in this way wasn't feasible in the long term. "I wasn't making ends meet... I had no choice but to go into debt eventually."

The debt

Like many, Emma found herself juggling various financial commitments and trying to stay on top of loan repayments. Emma attempted to consolidate her debts, "I tried with a couple of banking institutions for debt consolidation, but I was declined," she recalled.

Journey with Pioneer

Emma originally had a payment plan in place. One day after thinking about her situation, she decided to reach out to discuss her options. "I thought, I need to get this under control... I just want to stop worrying all the time."

“I thought, I need to get this under control… I just want to stop worrying all the time.”

Her experience was overwhelmingly positive. She emphasised how the empathetic support from her Account Manager helped ease her anxieties and stress: "She was supportive, flexible, and very happy to negotiate." Emma appreciated the personal approach, noting how comforting it was to have someone on her side during a stressful time. "It made me feel like you were treating me like a person and not a number."

“It made me feel like you were treating me like a person and not a number”

The outcome

After 18 months with Pioneer, Emma managed to settle her account. "I knew I'd get a payout, and my first goal was to pay my debts. "She said.

Emma felt the experience empowered her to handle her finances more effectively, highlighting the importance of seeking help and taking proactive steps to manage debt. She shared "Life is short... if you need to make decisions to help yourself and ensure a better balance in your life, that's more important than wasting days or years stressing."

“Life is short… if you need to make decisions to help yourself and ensure a balance in your life, that’s more important than wasting days or years stressing”

Her final message to others facing similar financial struggles is simple "Don't be afraid to ask for help. It's actually courageous."

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It’s actually courageous.”

This account was closed in August 2024. Names in this story have been changed to protect the privacy and confidentiality of individuals involved. The image is for illustration purposes only, captured by Benjamin Manly.