Calls for a law change to protect survivors of domestic abuse left on the verge of financial ruin

After hearing countless shocking stories from domestic abuse survivors and witnessing firsthand the bravery it takes to start again, Money Wellness is spearheading a campaign calling for a change in the law.

Domestic abuse survivors often flee with little more than the clothes on their backs, but a whole lot of debt. It’s not uncommon for abusers to borrow money and put bills in their partner’s name, decimating their credit score and saddling them with unmanageable debt.

According to Surviving Economic Abuse, six out of 10 people who suffer coercive control have been forced to take out debt by their abuser, and figures from Women’s Aid show a third of survivors have to give up their home to escape.

• The Traitors’ Ash Bibi on fleeing a violent home for a women’s refuge at 16: ‘There’s always hope’
• Compulsory domestic abuse lessons for over 16s could help ‘prevent misogynistic murders’, MPs told
• Chav Solidarity author D Hunter: ‘My violent childhood left me without role models for parenting’

And the economic abuse doesn’t necessarily end when they leave. Research by Sharp-Jeffs found a quarter of women who experience domestic abuse report that their partner continues to control, exploit or sabotage their finances or standard of living even after they flee.

For some, trying to rebuild their lives involves insolvency options like bankruptcy, debt relief orders (DROs) or individual voluntary arrangements.

But this is where survivors face a huge barrier, as getting an insolvency solution means their details – including their addresses – are added to a public online register, putting their safety at risk.

We hear from two debt experts at Money Wellness about how the crippling fear of their abuser finding them can stop survivors seeking the debt relief they so desperately need.

‘We need to smooth the path for survivors of domestic abuse’

In his six years at Money Wellness, Matt’ Sheeran has come across countless cases of financial hardship caused by domestic abuse. He explains why the law needs to change.

Currently, domestic abuse survivors can apply to have their addresses withheld from the insolvency register by applying for a PARV order. PARV stands for persons at risk of violence. But there are a number of problems with this.

Firstly, there’s a £308 fee. Not ideal if you’re already drowning in debt. Secondly, to get a PARV order, you have to submit an application form, a witness statement and supporting evidence – and reliving the abuse can be extremely traumatic for survivors.

Thirdly, applying for a PARV order can delay getting a debt solution. Anyone who’s had money worries knows how heavily it weighs on you. Every day in debt wears you down that little bit more. This seems especially unfair for abuse survivors.

That’s why we’re calling for change. Ideally, we want to see the insolvency register made private so only organisations with a legitimate interest, like lenders and employers, can see it.

Alternatively, we think the debt professionals setting up insolvency solutions could decide when it’s appropriate to withhold addresses from the register. That way, there would be no need for court involvement.

Or, the £308 PARV order fee could be scrapped. One way or another, we need to smooth the path to a stable financial future for survivors of domestic abuse.

‘Change is long overdue’

Sonny Singh has also worked at Money Wellness for six years and regularly hears harrowing stories from survivors of domestic abuse. He talks about one case that stands out in his mind.

Sarah* suffered years of torment at the hands of her partner before she found the strength to flee, but not before the abuse took its toll on her health and finances.

She couldn’t afford essential prescriptions and would go without food just to make sure her daughter had enough to eat. And all the time, her debts were building up. When she came to us, she owed around £14,000 and, honestly, she was so worn down by life.

After looking into her finances, we recommended a DRO, which meant her debts would be frozen and then written off if her situation didn’t improve significantly in 12 months.

But first, we had to help her navigate the PARV order process, as she lived in constant fear ofher violent ex tracking her down. Before she could even start the PARV process, she had to apply for funding to cover the £308 fee, as there was no way she could raise that kind of money herself.

And this wasn’t the only stumbling block. Really, it just felt like one issue after another. Once she got the funding, it turned out there was a court backlog, and then they wanted more evidence.

The strain of having to chase up her application and send in more witness statements, which meant reliving the abuse all over again, nearly broke her. It didn’t, and now she’s got the PARV order and the DRO, but it really shouldn’t have been that hard. Change is long overdue.

*Some personal details have been changed to protect the identity of the person mentioned.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. This Christmas, you can make a lasting change on a vendor’s life. Buy a magazine from your local vendor in the street every week. If you can’t reach them, buy a Vendor Support Kit.