Free aid

Krzysztof

Krzysztof is 33 and single. He used to work as a baker after graduating from a vocational school, but was fired because of his heavy drinking. Since he was unemployed and had no revenues, Krzysztof stopped paying the rent of his public housing flat. In the end he got evicted. A couple of months ago he was taken to hospital in critical condition and ended up staying there for a few weeks. After leaving the hospital, he decided to fight his addiction and started therapy. He is in a poor condition, had a stroke, and has to use crutches because of the thrombosis in his legs. He was assessed with a moderate level of disability.

After the eviction, Krzysztof stayed at a homeless shelter, where he first heard about citizens advice. He showed up at the facility on the day of his consultation. At the beginning, he was presented with an action plan, with a potential solution for his debt, and then, together with the adviser, they looked for a way for Krzysztof to become financially independent by asking for a permanent allowance from a social welfare centre. They then discussed the options for him to get a job and find a place to live.

Krzysztof managed to obtain the necessary documents, received a permanent allowance from a social welfare centre, and his consumer bankruptcy declaration was approved. Throughout the whole process, Krzysztof was assisted by the advisor, who motivated him to keep going. Krzysztof applied to an activation project for people with disabilities, consisting of physical therapy and professional reactivation.

Wiesława

Eighty-year-old Wiesława came to an unpaid citizens advice consultation convinced that she had to transfer her assets to her children. Her son and daughter have a very conflictual relationship, and they asked Wiesława to transfer them her assets during her lifetime, which she finally did in her will, convinced that she had to.

The lawyer explained to Wiesława the will regulations, pinpointing that a will could always be changed or fully revoked. He also explained what testamentary provisions and reserved portions were and informed her that she had no legal obligation to transfer her assets to her children. She could only do so if she wished.

Wiesława was surprised to discover that she did not have to appoint her children as her successors. Had she decided to transfer her assets during her lifetime, she could make a donation while maintaining personal servitude until her death, and imposing certain obligations on the beneficiaries. She was even more surprised to learn that she could actually cash in her assets during her lifetime.

At the end, the advisor asked Wiesława about the relationship in her closest family. Wiesława gained new insights on her situation and decided to talk to her children to solve their issues, so that she would both feel comfortable with the final results and protected financially.

Anita

Anita, a middle-aged woman, showed up at a consultation worried by a contract she signed with a private financial entity offering quick-cash loans. Unfortunately, a thorough analysis of the contract revealed that there were many strings attached in the form of liabilities.

Anita realised that she was lured into placing her money on a shadow-banking account with supposedly more lucrative interest rates. She did not realise that shadow-banking entities were not entitled to run saving accounts. Instead of getting awfully rich as promised, her account was wiped out.

At the citizens advice consultation Anita was informed that there was no obligation to sign a given contract and that she could chose its form. Furthermore, she was shown that the contract she had signed was at her disadvantage: there was a huge disproportion between her rights and obligations. The contract included prohibited clauses, violating the broadly understood principles of social cohabitation.

Anita understood how important it was to diligently read any contract before signing, and in case of doubts, ask a lawyer for advice, for example through the free legal aid or citizens advice.