More and more Dutch people have money problems and debts. Alarming. And angry, because the dirty industry of toxic debt collectors benefits from it.
We live in one of the most prosperous and happiest countries on earth. But many people live in a bubble and do not see all walks of life. Such as the group with serious money problems. Which are growing even more thanks to collection agencies that have made it their revenue model.
Money problems among Dutch people
More and more people are looking for help to solve their money problems. Humanitas, the largest Dutch volunteer organization for debt assistance, has noticed this based on research. Director Jerzy Soetekouw finds the figures “alarming”. “Our volunteers and coordinators see Dutch people at their lowest point. They are the first to notice the signals that the problem is many times greater than before.”
Humanitas conducted a survey among coordinators within the organization. 63 percent of respondents reported that demand in their department has increased. 44 percent also said that existing money problems have worsened. Last year, the volunteer organization supported more than 24,000 people with serious financial problems or debts. In 2021 and 2022, these were more than 13,000 and more than 17,000, respectively.
Aggressive collection agencies make money from debts
One of the causes that Humanitas points to for this increase in money problems among Dutch people is the industry that makes money from debts, such as “aggressive” collection agencies. If people cannot pay their bills, these agencies increase the original amount due.
“A small debt can grow into a monster debt,” Humanitas explains. “In this way, good money can be made from people with debts within the framework of the law and there is an industry around debts.”
‘Government also guilty’
According to Soetekouw, the government is also guilty of this, “when it collects taxes, excessive surcharges and fines with little regard for the human dimension”.
The director also claims that there is insufficient legislation to protect Dutch people against the debt industry. Soetekouw also called on the government in January to adjust policy and “dramatically” change its own working methods.
Many more Dutch people with debts
The actual number of people with problematic debts is much higher. Humanitas points to figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). This shows that more than 726,000 households have such debts.
