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Subscribe to RSSLONDON -- Irresponsible lending and intimidating debt collectors are pushing thousands of people in Britain into depression and suicide, a report said Wednesday. Separate data showed more people are taking their own lives.
Many, already struggling with the economic slowdown, wage freezes and benefit cuts, were overwhelmed by tactics used by some money lenders, including persistent phone calls and threatening letters, the report by researchers at England's University of Brighton found.
"Debt clients frequently feel humiliated, disconnected and entrapped, with the process of debt collection having a clear impact on people's mental health," the report said.
"The government must take urgent action to tackle the problem of irresponsible lending and intimidatory collection tactics which has left thousands of people trapped in a spiral of debt and at risk of depression and even suicide," it said.
Separately, figures from the Office for National Statistics released on Tuesday showed a "significant" rise in suicides in 2012.
The Brighton report, launched on Wednesday by British parliamentarian Molly Meacher, said there were cases of individuals not eating properly and asking their young children for money to tide them over.
One individual who owed money described the effect of his wife's credit card lapsing.
"I was very close to calling the doctor to her because she is that close to breaking because of ... these continual phone calls," the man was quoted as saying.
The total number of suicides in the U.K. hit 6,045 in 2011, a 7.8 percent increase over 2010 with deaths among men accounting for the largest proportion, according to figures from the national statistics office.
A total of 4,552 men took their own lives in 2011 compared with 1,493 women.
British mental health charity SANE said the downturn in Britain, which is struggling to maintain economic growth, was behind a "significant" rise in the number of suicides, reflecting a trend seen in other Western countries.
"These figures ... reveal the profound human consequences of the economic downturn, in which unemployment, debt and the relationship breakdowns that often follow can push people who may be already vulnerable to take their own lives," said Marjorie Wallace, SANE's chief executive.
Suicide rates in the United States have also risen more steeply in recent years.
"It is also worrying that the group most at risk should be middle-aged men, who are not usually perceived to be at risk," said Wallace, commenting on the statistics office figures.
Among men aged between 45 and 59 years old, the suicide rate increased significantly between 2007 and 2011 to 22.2 deaths per 100,000 people, the statistics office said.
Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.
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Sad greedy world
Best way to make money is start your own business.
It doesn't have to be anything spectacular tailor, painter, house painter, cartoon producer.
You dont have to spend decades in schools, web page designer, social media on the web.
If there are only lemons make lemon juice.
when I bought my house six years ago, I was assigned a phone number by the phone company, and for six years I kept getting calls from various bill collector's looking for some chick that used to have that number, so I had my number changed,, guess what,, these bill collectors are calling my new number looking for that same bitch,,,,
When are we going to do the right thing and help the British again? Our government should be paying the money owed by these people and part of the money given to the royal family. We will call it lend lease.
The UK's trying to do something for it's people. The GOP, Tea Party, and the we-protect-the-bankers Obama and the Democrats say, "You're on your own America. Despicable tactics? Too bad. They fund our campaigns."
I had a great job and saved as much as I could, but was laid off better than a year and a half ago. It has become very difficult to keep monetary obligations paid. Florida unemployment maximum is 275.00 weekly. Try paying bills with that. It's a flippin' joke. Then when the unemployment rate hit 7.9, the idiot governor cut everyone on extended benefits off that week. Too funny, when it's being told that unemployment is dropping, because I know many people still unemployed that aren't on unemployment compensation and can't find jobs. Where are those statistics? Have those people just been dropped off the radar. Thank God my husband still has a job, but without credit, we wouldn't be able to buy groceries. So it's a catch 22, charge groceries and get deeper in debt. I feel bad for people with money issues and I'm writing this to say there are responsible people in the US that have simply lost their jobs and can't find work. Is it a very sad time when people can write on these subjects and not have any compation for ones that have lost jobs due to no control of their own. All I want to say, is don't throw someone under the bus unless you have walked a mile in their shoes. If you have a job, appreciate it, don't take it for granted because it might be gone tomorrow. There are no guarantees in this life. I hope that the ones writing that people should live within their means, are never unemployed, because it's very hard to make ends meet when there is too much month at the end of the money. Just saying...
I believe this article. I do think that relentless harassment can drive people over the edge. If you are afraid to answer the phone, if your pulse pounds with every ring, if you actually feel fear every time a car slows down out front or somebody you are not expecting knocks at the door---you a candidate for suicide. And it doesn't matter if you are guilty or innocent or guilty with extenuating circumstances or just unfortunate enough to have the same name as someone else being sought. That panic, dread, fear it will never end . . . can push you to do what you never imagined you might do, what your friends and family would not think you are capable of, etc. etc. Fear is a killer. A constant state of fear, with its attendant symptoms, including the often joked about insomnia, is a killer. Perhaps the collector has the same sort of fear---somebody is standing over him, threatening to fire him if he doesn't make his quota this hour. Hideous situation. Class against itself---the collectors who can't get other jobs chasing one rung below, the people who can't even get collecting jobs. There is indeed something Dickensian about it all.
First off, third party bill collectors are nothing more than cockroaches searching for crumbs, they are not the party that you owe money too and paid pennies to harass you, your debt has already been written off, anyone in defense of them is a complete moron, JIMBOZO.
Also if you are so simple minded that you need to feel better about yourself calling others deadbeats(when you have no idea what brought them into a situation, could happen to anyone really)rather than accepting the reality that what banks bring in by rippiing people off far outweighs their little losses by so called little deadbeats, lol, and god knows all and more than any of you. this is why most of you will be slaves to banks forever.
I had the same problem for years. I borrowed 24K and by the time it was sold to collection agencies time after time after time... the loan added up to $148,000. They ruined my credit, garnished my pay, and even prevented me from getting certain jobs because of my credit score. I even filed bankruptcy and it didn't make a difference since student loans can't be negotiated off your credit history. But thank GOD i finally find a solution with legal shield. The consumer lawyers contested the validity of the loan with the Dept of Education and the loans were zero out. My wage garnishment of $1400 a month was removed, entry removed from my credit report, and my credit score jumped 100 points. If you like more information about how to get these debt collectors that's practicing illegal tactics off your back.. please email me jasonsd92103@gmail.com and i can point you in the right direction.
Sorry for the duplication