Neice in a financial mess

[Twinklelittlestar1]

Hi all,

I wondered if anyone could offer any advice. My Neice is 19 and is in a mess. She is at university and recently started working part time for a sales company which pay on commission.

I've recently learned that she has accumulated a lot of debt- she is £60 over a £1000 overdraft, maxed out her credit card and has had several direct debits bounce this month.

The job she has seems ludicrous. They pay commission only and have her travelling up and down the country paying for her own travel expenses. I think she's working over 20 hours a week but earned only £70 last month! Several family members have advised her to quit but she's been told by the bosses that she's 'one of the best they've seen' and advised that soon she will be taking it in! She's so adamant that this job will work out that now she's thinking of quitting uni to do it full time! I've advised her that if she quits uni she may be liable for tuition fees and most certainly repayment of the student loan.

Lots of family are trying to get through to her, the bank have been calling her mum due to direct debits bouncing but my Neice stays out til late doing the sales job and refuses to address it!

She is being totally irresponsible and delusional and says that she doesn't want 'negative input' from anyone else. Yet the debts continue to build...

We are all so worried about her. I'm trying to offer advice without being too harsh as she may just turn against me and refuse to talk to me. My feeling now is that there is nothing I can really do while she remains this stubborn. I just dread to think what will happen to her, it's such a mess. Can you think of any way I can help?

[Twinklelittlestar1]

*that should say raking it in.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

You cannot help anyone who does not want to be helped.

BTW why are the bank calling her mum re these direct debits bouncing?.

It will all come crashing down around your niece's ears soon enough but she must not be bailed out by family then either. Such enabling behaviour helps no-one, particularly your niece. Its not your fault either this is happening to her; she has acted out of her own free will and choice here.

[Twinklelittlestar1]

Yes it's true, she's an adult now (if only in the eyes of the law)

She owes several family members money. I've told my mum that she should not lend her anything as my Neice really needs to wake up to this. I think everyone else is far more worried than she is!

[Twinklelittlestar1]

*The bank call her mum because she still lives at home

[EarthboundMisfit]

She sounds like every student I've ever known except myself, who was given loads of money through uni and only got into a financial mess later on! By all means suggest a different job. Perhaps she could move home over the summer...she could easily pay off the overdraft at least.

[Trills]

The bosses sound like manipulative twats.

[MyKingdomForBrie]

The bank spoke to her mum?! Complete breach of client confidentiality, I would have gone nuts at them if I were your niece.

[Twinklelittlestar1]

No, the bank just called looking for my Neice, I don't think they discussed anything with her mum.

Yes, totally manipulative Trills. Neice does have to make her own decisions but I'm almost tempted to contact the company to speak to the boss who keeps telling her she will be rich soon!

[MargaretRiver]

What's the neme of the company?
Sounds like an MLM
Take a look at the Timeless Vie threads in the MN Money topic

[BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted]

She's being conned. You know that but she doesn't. Yet. Any "employer" who gets someone to travel up and down the country at their own expense while paying commission-only to the degree that a month's earnings is a risible seventy quid is a ruddy crook! If people are that naive they need to be left to get on with it.

There really isn't anything you can do except to warn her that she's being taken advantage of. If all family members decline to lend her a penny she'll wake up to the truth soon enough.

[throwingpebbles]

Is it an MLM type set up??

Sounds like it is the job that is the problem?

[Twinklelittlestar1]

Sorry pebbles, what is MLM?

[Twinklelittlestar1]

The company is called Fortitude Plethora', I've been looking through their jargon-filled website

[darceybussell]

Hi OP, from my googling (so not necessarily fully reliable) it sounds like they come under a company called credico, which it appears operate like an MLM (multi level marketing company - forever living, younique, arbonne etc.) and are basically a pyramid scam and a cult.

There's a blog about it with some more information here:

thedevilcorp.wordpress.com

It will be difficult to talk sense into her if the organisation is cultic. They will tell her to cut out people who are 'negative' and who 'obviously are jealous and don't want her to be successful'.

[Twinklelittlestar1]

That article describes exactly what is happening here! She won't listen to mum/ sister talk negatively, is now involved with a coworker and is talking of moving out with coworkers too. I've sent the information to my brother.

[SoThatHappened]

She sounds like most students i know regarding the overdraft.

If she is spending beyond her means though a ruined credit rating and bailifs might boot her up the arse.

Leave her too it. Shes an adult now.

[SoThatHappened]

How did someone that stupid with regards to basic maths in terms of working out income v expenditure get a uni place im the first place.

[SoThatHappened]

*in

[throwingpebbles]

Oh gosh, yes credico sound awful! Have heard of them. Your poor niece.

[Bolograph]

You can't reason people out of things they didn't reason themselves into, sadly.

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

I'd be looking at an intervention. That is a cult that she has got herself involved in, almost masquerading as legitimate business but it's obviously not. Your niece is young and inexperienced and she'll fallen for it.

If it were my niece, I'd had a meeting with her family and look at getting her away by any means necessary, including abducting her and trying to get her some expert cult-breaker help. Now that is worth contributing to financially.

[MaybeDoctor]

I think as she is just 19 it is not enough to leave her to get on with it - she needs support to get out from the clutches of this unscrupulous organisation. Just as if she was being physically or sexually exploited.

Police? Does it come under slavery laws in some way?

[newname99]

Actually here is a girl who is working hard and has been sold to.I was coming on to say it's a cult.

I got caught in a scam a similar age, thankfully not so much money but signifant considering my low income.It catches out people with a compelling story, especially those vulnerable and needing cash.

[MaybeDoctor]

I had a uni friend who got involved in the Landmark forum. She ended up working several days a week for them for years, unpaid. All time and effort she could have been focusing on her own career.

I think this needs nipping in the bud now or it could be a really long term thing.

[Bolograph]

Police? Does it come under slavery laws in some way?

No. Not in any way. Get a grip.