Will the health crisis cause the number of over-indebted households to explode?
This is what fears the association Le Souffle, based in Argenteuil, in the Val-d'Argent-Sud district, which supports residents in their administrative procedures such as the constitution of an over-indebtedness file.
Its president, Antoine Roger Sala, evokes a "catastrophic" situation for many of them.
“There are people who no longer work,” he emphasizes.
A lot of companies have closed.
There are people who can no longer pay their rent.
"
The association helped six households to build their debt overhang last year.
"We have five cases in progress for the month of January alone", specifies Antoine Roger Sala.
These files are sent to the personal over-indebtedness commission through the Banque de France.
The latter noted a decrease in the number of cases between 2019 and 2020 at the national level.
Detailed figures by department are to be published during the first quarter.
Argenteuil.
Antoine Roger Sala is president of the association Le Souffle which helps individuals to put together their over-indebtedness file.LP / Thibault Chaffotte.
Cancel all ticket debts
The personal over-indebtedness commission can proceed with the cancellation of the debt, subject to conditions.
The association pleads for this measure to be extended due to the economic context which affects the most fragile households.
Antoine Roger Sala evokes the overpayments paid by Pole emploi or the Family allowance fund.
People find themselves having to pay back money they have already spent.
Traffic fines also sometimes exacerbate fragile financial situations.
People who fail to pay them see their amount increased.
"Cancel all debts for contravention in 2020, that, the State can do, especially the increases," said Antoine Roger Sala.
"I have that to pay, that to pay, that to pay ..."
Naiman, 85, breaks down in tears, talking about her financial difficulties.
She put together her over-indebtedness file with the help of Le Souffle.
She has accumulated a large rent debt.
“I had to pay € 6,700 because otherwise they would put me on the street.
I had to borrow, ”she says.
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She managed to repay her landlord.
Its debts now amount to € 11,721.
“I had the ushers at home.
They are expected to come back and pick up things.
I'm frankly fed up, ”she admits, sobbing.
She has a pension of € 1,200, plus € 80 per quarter for her husband's survivor's pension.
She has to pay rent of € 686.
She has three children, two do not work and live with her, a third went to look for work 200 km from Argenteuil, in IT.
“Once they took € 400 from my account, another € 200.
When I was hospitalized I had to pay 140 €, where do I find them?
she sighs.
I do not sleep.
I wake up saying to myself: I have this to pay, that to pay, that to pay… ”
Each month, € 1,000 overdraft
Belkacem, 51, has always worked hard but had to give up his job as a security guard.
“I have never been unemployed.
I started at 14 years old, I worked in building, fishmonger, fisherman, and even footballer, ”he says.
Last February, an operation for a herniated disc did not go as planned.
“We had to do another one, but I refused.
There were risks.
I prefer to stay with my pain, ”he says.
He cannot sit or stand for long.
"Since I have been on sick leave, each month I have found myself uncovered by € 1,000", he testifies.
He can only count on his daily allowances.
His wife does not work.
He now owes € 13,000 to the bank.
“My advisor told me to lower my overdraft, but it's not possible,” he emphasizes.
"The problem is the rent"
He made an over-indebtedness file which was sent to the Banque de France.
"When the file is declared admissible, normally the debts are frozen", indicates Antoine Roger Sala.
"This was done on October 20," Belkacem indignantly.
And on November 13th and 29th, they took € 400 and € 432 from me, which is not normal!
"
“The problem is the rent,” says 69-year-old Anthony.
He couldn't pay it for a long time because he found himself without income.
"I had submitted my file for retirement, but for a year and eight months, I did not touch anything," he laments.
The first partial payment dates from April 2018 and amounts to € 227.
Today, her pension is € 820 per month.
Her rent is € 593.
“I pay my rent but the old debt, I cannot pay it,” he says.
He currently owes € 10,700 to his landlord and electricity supplier…
A slight increase in rent debts to AB habitat
Main social landlord of Argenteuil, AB habitat saw an increase of € 50,000 in rental debts in 2020, ie a 2.28% increase. This cooperative indicates that it has put in place measures to help tenants in difficulty. A Covid 19 unpaid commission has been set up to examine the situation of unpaid tenants impacted by the financial crisis and to propose adequate solutions. Clearance plans can now extend up to 30 months, down from 18 previously. Support measures for the most difficult households have also been created.