according to the NAB (for you non aussies, the NAB or National Australia Bank is one of our ‘big banks’).
This morning I’m sitting at the bus stop checking my Facebook while I wait (as you do) and my girlfriend has posted this -
I’d really like to know what they define as hardship too?
Because if having your husband in (mostly) and out of hospital for over six months while undergoing weeks of intensive radiation therapy treatment then having had multiple operations including a full laryngectomy to remove his voice box and swallowing mechanism and to reconstruct a new oesophagus from part of his bowel as treatment for Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma or Throat Cancer isn’t a freakin’ hardship then I don’t know what is!
As if they haven’t had enough on their plate fighting for Andy’s life, the bank feels it necessary to deny them hardship status and rings them every day wanting to know where their money is.
What is Lindy meant to do? Dump her husband in hospital 5 hours away from all their family and friends to fight this horrible disease on his own then go back to work like nothing is wrong? Like her partner and the father of her children may not have died and isn’t seriously ill? All so that the NAB can make more record profits?
Where is your heart NAB? Where is the compassion for people who are genuinely doing it tough because of something beyond their control?
Boo. Hiss.
For shame NAB. For shame.
(as much as I love comments… to leave messages of support for Andy and Lindy, visit Andy’s page at Facebook)
Entries (RSS)
That is bad publicity for NAB. Well done.
Andrew recently posted..Usurious Origin
Beet (191 comments.) Reply:
January 27th, 2011 at 11:39 pm
It got their attention too
I’d be calling Channel Nine or Seven…
Wendy recently posted..Blueberry Lavender Muffins – Skywatch Friday
Beet (191 comments.) Reply:
January 27th, 2011 at 11:40 pm
*grins* Thanks for your support with this Wendy
Honestly, what IS hardship status? If such status exists, surely there’s a definition.
This is so sad. Sending prayers of healing and comfort to this family.
Wanderlust recently posted..Australia Day Quiz
Beet (191 comments.) Reply:
January 27th, 2011 at 11:49 pm
It’s this thing they have where if you are experiencing illness you can have your repayments varied for up to 12 months to help you manage and get back on your feet. The bank kindly agreed today to fully review their case and find a way to work with my friends.
All prayers gratefully accepted and thanks for commenting
In the past couple or three years, I’ve heard so many bad things about the NAB on a Current Affair. In particular where they would skim unnecessary fees off little used accounts, other cases where they would raise interest rates on people’s loans but “forget” to tell the people concerned, just take the extra money as scheduled from the accounts, and so on. I’ve never banked with them and never will, no matter what.
river recently posted..pesky caterpillars
Beet (191 comments.) Reply:
January 27th, 2011 at 11:50 pm
Oh my, that’s disgusting. We don’t use any of the big banks. Local credit unions offer great service.
This is just disgusting. How is that not hardship?
Sending love and prayers to Lindy and Andy.
Glowless recently posted..Australia Day 2011
Beet (191 comments.) Reply:
January 27th, 2011 at 11:51 pm
Thanks again for your help with this.
Will pass on your love and prayers
There are several conditions under credit law to be considered in a hardship claim – as well as the hardship experienced by the borrower, they need to satisfy the lender that if the relief is given, they will still be able to repay the loan in a reasonable time. I would expect the bank accepts your friends are suffering hardship but that they are not going to be able to get back on top of their mortgage within what they consider a reasonable time, and in that position, does the bank just defer the inevitable default they believe is coming, or cut their losses immediately?
Regardless of that, I hope Andy and Lindy do get through the crap situation they’ve found themselves in. All the best for the future.
Beet (191 comments.) Reply:
January 28th, 2011 at 12:02 am
Thanks for your comment Ian. A phone call today revealed that a heap of paperwork had been ‘misplaced’, notes and documents not included in files etc. The bank has asked for Lindy’s copies of everything and is doing a review next week.
But even if that does not go my friends way, nothing, in my mind, justifies ringing them 2 or 3 and sometimes 4 times a day harassing them.
Will pass on your well wishes
Ian (2 comments.) Reply:
January 28th, 2011 at 6:48 pm
Nothing justifies the bank harassing people several times a day. I wonder what they think it achieves?
Ian recently posted..Lady- choose your weapon
That is appalling !!!!!
Good on you for bringing it to everyone’s attention. How many other people struggling are going through the same?
Nikki aka Widdle Shamrock recently posted..In Limbo
Beet (191 comments.) Reply:
January 28th, 2011 at 12:03 am
I wouldn’t have even known you could apply for hardship consideration.
they filed bankruptcy papers on my parents while my father was in hospital having a brain tumour removed.
Pure, unadulterated EVIL.
Beet (191 comments.) Reply:
January 30th, 2011 at 2:23 am
OMG Kelley! That is just disgusting!
That is disgusting. NAB should really be giving them a break.Sending my prayers of healing and comfort to this family too
Trish recently posted..Wordless Wednesday – Happy Australia Day Let us Rejoice
Beet (191 comments.) Reply:
January 28th, 2011 at 1:41 am
Thanks for your support and prayers and tweets Trish. The NAB is now going to review their case next week and try to find a way to work with Lindy and Andy.
So glad to hear thier case is to be review. But shouldnt have come to this in the first place.
Casdok recently posted..On the looking glass
Beet (191 comments.) Reply:
January 30th, 2011 at 2:25 am
No it should never have come to this in the first place. But I guess it’s like any other service – you’ll get some employees who will bend over backwards to help and some that just want you out of their hair with minimum effort regardless of whether or not it’s any help to the customer. I’m guessing the initial decision was made by one of the later type of ppl.
I don’t think big companies have a conscience. I really don’t.
Beet (191 comments.) Reply:
January 30th, 2011 at 2:27 am
Neither do I… but it was funny how quickly they found one after we started tweeting all over the place
Really? That is awful? I feel a little sick thinking about it… just read your update and glad to see they are reviewing the case. Wonder if it was the power of the blog/twitter?
Thanks for visiting me too.
BB
Bush Babe recently posted..Who Needs Venice
Beet (191 comments.) Reply:
January 30th, 2011 at 2:34 am
I keep seeing your name around blogs I visit but hadn’t been to yours so I thought it was about time I did (and I’m glad I did!) lol
Watching everything my friends have gone through with this makes me painfully aware of just how well we wouldn’t cope if faced with a similar diagnosis. It certainly makes you count your blessings and sort your priorities.
As for the bank – we started tweeting around midnight on Australia day and the bank had figured out who they were and rung them by midday the next day as well as replying to everyone who had tweeted about it. Never underestimate the power of twitter