Client Stories
From overwhelming debt to peace of mind
— our clients share their journeys.
Real stories of hope and freedom. Every journey is different, but they all show: there is a way forward.
“Without HMAC, I would have had a breakdown.”
When a change in work circumstances meant I could no longer repay my loans, my debts were passed to collectors. The worry and the feeling of failure was overwhelming. I couldn’t manage my finances anymore and ended up relying on family just to keep afloat.
Everything changed when I found HMAC. They were understanding and sympathetic and really listened. They took over communication with the debt collectors, helped me work out my expenses, and arranged a repayment plan that I could actually manage.
Seven years later, I am finally debt free. Without help from HMAC, I honestly don’t think I would have got through that time without having a breakdown. Words cannot express how thankful I am — the work they do really is life-changing.
Rebuilding after sudden debt
A client pushed to breaking point
“I felt trapped in a dark hole I couldn’t escape.”
After a change in income, followed by my child becoming seriously ill, my finances stretched beyond what I could cope with. Hospital trips, travel, and day-to-day costs all went on credit cards that were already maxed out. I knew there was no way out without some sort of miracle.
The calls, the threats, the letters — I couldn’t face any of it. So I ignored it, hoping it would somehow go away. It didn’t. It affected everything: my sleep, my health, my mood. I felt stuck in a very dark hole.
An IVA helped at first, but when my income dropped again it failed, and the debts all came back. That’s when I finally went to HMAC. I was ashamed and worried about being judged, but they were amazing — patient, kind, and completely non-judgemental.
They set up a plan, dealt with creditors and the council, and even came with me to open a new bank account. I’ve now been debt free for nearly a year. Where I am now wasn’t even imaginable two years ago. Without HMAC, I would still be drowning in fear and debt.
A client pushed to breaking point
A parent overwhelmed by debt and illness
Intimidated single mum
“They gave me a safe place.”
I was a single mum and completely intimidated by creditors. I didn’t know how to deal with them and felt overwhelmed by it all. HMAC explained the different options, spoke to my creditors for me, and set up a payment plan.
I am still paying off my debts, but my life now is so different. I don’t live with the constant stress and worry anymore. The staff always made me feel relaxed, even when I had to bring my son to appointments. That was never a problem.
It felt like a safe place. Without their support, I don’t think I would ever have found a way forward.
A single mum who needed a safe place
“For the first time, we could see light at the end of the tunnel.”
We took out a bank loan to invest in a business we had real hopes for. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned. Month after month, paying the loan and bills became harder, until it all escalated and we simply couldn’t keep up.
HMAC was recommended to us, and from the very first conversation it felt like a huge weight had been lifted. For the first time since taking the loan, we could finally see light at the end of the tunnel.
They dealt with all correspondence with creditors, which removed so much pressure. Everything was handled in a caring, personal, and professional way. Today we are debt free, and the relief is hard to put into words. We will always be grateful to HMAC.
Recovering after business failure
A couple carrying the weight of a failed business
“I was at a point where I felt almost suicidal.”
I was paying debts every month but then had nothing left to live on, so I took out more loans just to get through. It became a vicious cycle I couldn’t escape. At the same time, my tenancy was ending and I had nowhere to go.
With HMAC’s help, an affordable repayment plan was put in place. They didn’t just help with the debts — they also helped me find somewhere new to live.
Two years ago, I felt I was drowning. I was almost suicidal. Now mentally and emotionally I’m in a completely different place. Without their help, I dread to think where I would be.
Escaping a vicious cycle
A client trapped in a cycle they couldn’t escape
“You passed me a rope and pulled me out of a very deep pit.”
Debt after my divorce completely took over my life. I was scared of the post, the phone ringing, the future. The shame and stress was constant, even though I was working full time and just trying to survive.
From my very first meeting, HMAC gave me hope. They listened, understood, and dealt with banks and lenders instead of me having to do it. That kindness and non-judgement meant more than I can say.
Eight years on, my life is completely different. I found myself again — and that started from the very first month I came to HMAC.
Recovering after divorce and debt
A client rebuilding life after divorce and debt
A parent finding courage to ask for help
“There is no magic wand — but with HMAC on your side, things become manageable.”
I’m a lone parent on a low income with twin boys, and I was struggling to manage the basics. Childcare, school costs, bills — every month there was a shortfall, and the debt kept growing. I buried my head in the sand and stopped opening letters. It all became too much.
My boys’ school recommended HMAC. I was very upset at my first appointment and felt ashamed that I hadn’t managed better. I expected to be judged, but nothing could have been further from the truth.
They listened first. They were patient, even when I struggled to provide all the information. They gave advice, but the decisions were always mine, and that helped me feel in control again.
There’s no magic fix, and I know this is a journey. But with HMAC on my side, it feels possible. I can only say: make an appointment, no matter how bad things seem.
A lone parent learning not to cope alone