Support Services

It can be very difficult and stressful when your circumstances change and you find yourself unable to meet financial commitments. This can happen if you lose your job, become ill or find your personal circumstances have changed.

Having Difficulty Meeting Your Loan Repayments?

It can be very difficult and stressful when your circumstances change and you find yourself unable to meet financial commitments. This can happen if you lose your job, become ill or find your personal circumstances have changed.

We try to be flexible to help individual members and can often agree an alternative arrangement if your circumstances change. However, we have a duty and legal right to recover monies borrowed, as these are the savings deposited by other members.

You are not alone in finding yourself in this situation.

It is very important that you cooperate with us as we work to assist you in any way possible. Please do not ignore our letters or phone calls, as failure to do so may affect your credit rating and may result in legal action.

With legal action, fees may be imposed on your account.

If you are worried about loan repayments please contact our Credit Control Officer for advice on your Credit Union Loan.


Credit Control Officer Contact Details:

Phone: (091) 844306 Extension 558

Email: lisa@athenrycu.ie

Mortgage Support

For information on our Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP), please click here.

Other Support Services: Do you want to stay in control of your spending?

Try this budgeting aid from MABS to help you calculate how you are spending your hard earned income. If you are paid weekly do up a budgeting plan over a six week period or a three month period if you are on a monthly income. This will give you a guide line as to where you are overspending and where you can make cut backs.

Budgeting Tool

MABS

MABS, the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, was established by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs in 1992, and there are now over 50 offices nationwide.

MABS provides a free and confidential money management and advice service to everyone. Its main purpose is to assist people in dealing with their existing debt difficulties and to help them manage their finances.

To find your local MABS office please click here or call 1800 283438.

Who can the service help?

If you have:

  • Lost your job
  • Become separated
  • A low income
  • Fallen behind in loan repayments
  • Suffered a bereavement and find it difficult to make ends meet.

What does MABS do?

  1. Assists a client in devising a suitable budget plan
  2. Negotiates with creditors
  3. Gives advice and support to people with financial difficulties
  4. Works in partnership with the credit unions
  5. Provides on-going support to people who successfully overcome their financial difficulties
  6. Talks can be organized for groups on money management, budgeting skills and other related issues

Special Accounts

The Special Account Scheme is a bill paying service operated in partnership between you, your Money, Advice and Budgeting Service and Credit Union.

A client opens a Special Account with their local credit union and lodges an agreed amount every week/month.

The money is distributed by MABS to various creditors on a monthly basis.

Advantages of the Special Account Scheme

  • Service is free
  • Local and convenient
  • Introduction to savings
  • User and Creditor orientated
  • Introduction to low interest borrowing
  • All creditors catered for

If you find yourself in debt

  • Don't panic
  • Do not ignore the problem; it will not go away
  • Take immediate action
  • Contact your local Money Advice and Budgeting Service

What you can expect from MABS

  • A free service. A professional and efficient service
  • To have your confidentiality respected
  • To be listened to in a non-judgemental manner
  • To act on your behalf and with your consent
  • To have your options explained fully so that you can make your own decisions
  • To keep you informed of progress

Support services contact details

> Money Advice & Budgeting Services

Call: 1800 283438
Visit: www.mabs.ie

MABS provides a free and confidential money management and advice service to everyone.

> Samaritans

Call: 1850 609090 (24 hours)
Visit: www.samaritans.org

Providing confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide.

> Aware Free

Call: 1890 303302
Visit: www.aware.ie

10am- 10pm 7 days a week

Providing support and assistance to people whose lives are affected by depression.

> Let's Get Talking

Call: 091765500
Visit: www.letsgettalking.ie

Let’s Get Talking is a charitable Counselling & Psychotherapy Service providing accessible, professional, non-set fee counselling and psychotherapy in Galway.

> 24/7 Text Service

Anonymous free 24/7 text support service funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Text: HELLO to 50808

> Age Action Ireland

Age Action offer five hours tutoring, remotely, to anyone who needs support using their smartphone, tablet or laptop. Covering topics like how to set up an email, how to download an app, how to use video calling to see your loved ones etc.

Call: 014756989
Visit: www.ageaction.ie
Email: gettingstarted@ageaction.ie