Clause 9 - Notice of sums in arrears under fixed-sum credit agreements etc.
Consumer Credit Bill
2:00 pm
Charles Hendry (Shadow Minister, Trade & Industry; Wealden, Conservative)
I am sure, like me, that the Minister is aware from his constituency experience that people who are in debt—particularly the category that we are talking about—are frightened. They are deeply anxious about how they are to repay the money. All too often they tuck the letter away. They do not even open it; they just put it away in a drawer and think, ''Well, perhaps if I do not open it, it will go away.'' The whole nature of the situation is bound to be worrying; indeed, it is intended to be, because it is about being told, ''You are in arrears'', even though, as we said earlier, many of these people are not in arrears.