Gemma survives financial abuse

January 22, 2025

For Gemma, aged 35, her $26,000 debt didn’t accrue overnight. Gemma’s debt was the culmination of years of financial abuse, coercion, bullying and betrayal. Over many years, Gemma’s ex-partner would use her car, without permission and refuse to pay road tolls. He knew very well that the fees and charges were being incurred in Gemma’s name. As the debt grew to a crushing total of $26,000, Gemma was left helpless, lost and vulnerable. Gemma rebuilt her life with the support of CatholicCare’s financial counselling service, a compassionate creditor and a team of stakeholders working together.

“Gemma’s debt was the result of the appalling abuse she was facing,” says CatholicCare Financial Counsellor, Simon. “Gemma had tried to talk to the toll company to explain the unpaid bills, but it wasn’t until she fled and got support from a women’s refuge, that she realised support was available through CatholicCare to approach the toll company. With supporting evidence provided by a Case Worker from the refuge, we advocated on Gemma’s behalf and asked the toll company to waive the debt on compassionate and financial hardship grounds.” 

To the credit of the toll company, they accepted that Gemma had suffered unacceptable economic abuse and cancelled all her debt. “She was genuinely shocked and there were lots of tears,” says Simon. “It was a big relief for Gemma to finally forget about that horrible burden. She has a good full-time job, but she certainly couldn’t afford to pay the debt. This outcome has made a huge impact on her financial position and mental health.” 

Advocacy is central to the work of Financial Counsellors. “Ultimately, we want to empower clients to know what to say to creditors they owe money to, but some clients just don’t have the skills or would prefer someone to do it on their behalf,” Simon explains. “There are some creditors who prefer to deal with someone who is independent of the client. They know the job of a Financial Counsellor is to act in the best interests of the client, but they also know we value our relationship with the creditor and tell the truth. When we presented Gemma’s case and provided supporting documentation, the creditor trusted that the debt wasn’t caused by the client.” 

Simon emphasises that no problem is too big or small to bring to a financial counsellor.

Our team works with many women like Gemma who are survivors of domestic and family violence and are dealing with the harrowing impacts of financial abuse. Financial abuse occurs when someone uses money to control you, have power over you, scare or restrict you. Someone who is financially abusive might also use things you own, or things you both own (such as property), to cause problems for you.

Despite ongoing issues with her perpetrator, Gemma has been able to move on with her life knowing that she is debt free. “Seriously, this has been a massive worry for me and all I could think about was making payment plans forever and a day to pay this back,” Gemma says. “I am still gobsmacked and absolutely relieved.”