Client Stories Topic: Debt and rebuilding credit

Anita deals with debt and gets new wheels

High-interest debt meant Anita didn’t have enough to save for a new wheelchair. A small grant combined with a new interest-free loan from Good Shepherd allowed her to consolidate the debt, work herself to financial freedom, and get mobile again.

Anita (*) is a senior living on a pension. Her mobility issues were making everyday life increasingly difficult. They were limiting her independence, her ability to get around, and her confidence to participate in daily activities, social events and errands on her own terms.

She had wanted to save for years for a life-changing foldable power wheelchair, but there just wasn’t enough left over each month to ever have enough on her own. With simple joystick controls and a lightweight, compact design, it would have given her the freedom to move without relying on others and provided flexibility to travel easily.

Separately, Anita had gotten a “quick” loan from a high-interest lender that turned into a nightmare. She had borrowed $3,000 for an emergency. After paying $125 every fortnight for a full year – more than $3,200 in total – she was shocked to learn she still owned more than the original loan amount. The interest trapped her in a cycle where her repayments barely touched the principal, leaving her with little disposable income and even less ability to save for the wheelchair she desperately needed.

That’s when Anita met a Good Shepherd NZ Community team member. Together, they reviewed her budget and identified areas where she could reduce expenses. A small Good Shepherd Hardship Relief Grant helped cover an essential expense, easing some of the pressure. 

A new Good Shepherd no-interest loan then allowed her to consolidate her existing debts into one manageable payment. With affordable, sustainable payments, Anita was finally able to include the cost of the wheelchair in her loan. Her fortnightly payments dropped from $125 to just $60.32, and for the first time in three years her balance is actually going down. 

Today, Anita moves freely around her home, her neighbourhood and her life.  She is so happy with the outcome that she tells all her friends and family how she found her way back to financial freedom, confidence and renewed sense of control.

* name has been changed.

Belinda’s journey home to safety and dignity

Belinda arrived back in New Zealand with nothing after fleeing family violence in Australia. Good Shepherd NZ helped get $7,500 of unjust debt waived, enabling her to afford a car loan and start rebuilding her life on her own terms.

Belinda (*) was living in Australia with her baby daughter and partner when his physical abuse escalated. Fearing for her safety, she made the courageous decision to leave and return to Aotearoa to rebuild her life.

Because she left so suddenly, Belinda left almost all her belongings behind. Her ex-partner returned to the rental property, took everything that remained, refused to pay child support and kept her possessions rather than selling them to help settle outstanding power, gas and internet bills.

Arriving back in New Zealand with nothing, Belinda received emergency housing support from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). After several weeks she secured a rental property and once her Sole Parent Support benefit was in place, MSD helped with recoverable assistance for her bond, rent in advance and essential furniture for her and her baby.

But she had no transport, a major barrier to finding work, accessing childcare and attending appointments. Hoping to buy a car, she approached Good Shepherd NZ for a loan.

Our family violence economic harm team worked alongside Belinda with care and without judgement. Multiple debts across both countries were limiting her ability to afford a loan. Some debts her ex-partner had coerced her into taking on in her name, including household bills and a buy-now-pay-later account. A credit check revealed even more defaults she hadn’t known existed. 

Good Shepherd NZ contacted creditors across New Zealand and Australia on Belinda’s behalf. Four unjust debts totalling $7,500 were waived and a monitoring alert was removed from her credit file. Payment arrangements were set-up for the remaining balances while other solutions were explored. With most of the unjust debt behind her, Belinda was finally in a position to afford a loan for a car, a crucial step toward rebuilding her life on her own terms.

With a stable home, reliable transport, and relief from oppressive debt, she can now move forward with renewed confidence and dignity.

*name has been changed.

Sera recovers from fraudulent debt

Fraud by her ex-partner left Sera crippled with $55,000 of unjust debt and a damaged credit rating. Good Shepherd NZ helped get ever dollar waived and the defaults removed, giving her the freedom to rebuild and move forward.

Sera(*) had survived a violent relationship that left her with physical injuries. ACC supported her while she recovered and worked through the mental health challenges that followed. After she left the relationship, she discovered her husband had fraudulently taken out five credit cards in her name, accumulating $55,000 of debt. Her credit history was shot.

Shocked by what she found, Sera immediately started making repayments. But the debt was so large that, even with help from a budgeting service, she was advised that bankruptcy might be her only option. She was referred to Good Shepherd NZ and met one of our economic harm specialists.

We helped her review her financial situation. Prioritising her safety at every step, our Specialist contacted the credit institutions holding the fraudulent debts and advocated on Sera’s behalf. Every dollar of the $55,000 debt was waived and the associated defaults removed from her credit report.

With the unjust debt lifted and the right support around her, Sera finally has the space to focus on rebuilding her physical and mental health and to move forward with her life. 

*name has been changed.

Katy rebuilds her life and a safe home for her daughter

I was married for three years. When the relationship began, I had inherited $100K from my mother — money I had no idea would disappear so quickly. My husband wasn’t a New Zealander at the time we met, and I helped him get his residency.

This is Katy’s story, edited to keep her safe and help you read. Names have been changed.

I worked as a personal trainer, and many of my clients paid in cash. Throughout our relationship, money would go missing from my purse. He also used my credit card to buy things for himself without my knowledge and regularly sent money overseas for his first child.

When things weren’t going well for him, he would give me the silent treatment, start screaming or smashing things. Sometimes I had to leave the house with our daughter because it got too much. Over time, the abuse escalated to threats and physical harm.

“Around two years ago, he decided to purchase a brand-new car and arranged an $80,000 loan through UDC Finance. What I didn’t know then was that he had taken out the entire loan in my name, without my knowledge or consent. He used my passport ID and even forged my signature. All the paperwork went to his email, so I didn’t know anything about it until much later.”

The repayments were extremely high, and we struggled to pay them. We had a joint account for household bills, but he would limit how much he put in. I ended up covering most of the rent, food, and our daughter’s daycare fees with my money. Things became harder and harder; eventually, he stopped paying the car loan altogether.

“One day, he told me to call UDC Finance and ask them to reduce the payments. I said I couldn’t because the loan was in his name — and that’s when he admitted it actually was in my name, as he had bad credit. I was shocked and devastated. When I asked him to fix it and remove my name, he constantly refused. Not long after, our relationship finally broke down.“

The day he left, I went to buy a $7 pizza for my daughter and me. My card declined. The man behind the counter quietly handed it to me and said, “Come back and pay when you can.” That same day, my ex drained the remaining money from our joint account.

About a month later, he returned and assaulted me. I was left bruised, terrified, and genuinely unsure if I would survive that night. It was one of the darkest moments of my life.

I was supported by Shine and the Police. I got a Protection Order, and the Police installed a Police Safety Alarm at my home.

While trying to recover emotionally and rebuild life as a single mum, I also had to deal with the financial damage he caused. UDC Finance advised that the loan was legally in my name and that if I wanted to keep the car, I would have to take responsibility for it – but he had the car, and I was scared of what he might do if payments weren’t made. He left me with debt, and I was struggling to afford food and basic living costs for myself and my daughter.

That’s when I found Good Shepherd and spoke with Vanessa. From our first conversation, she was kind, understanding, and genuinely wanted to help.

“She contacted UDC Finance on my behalf and managed to have the loan completely removed from my name. She also supported me with emergency funds for food when the final car payment came out of my account by mistake, leaving me with no money at all for groceries.”

Thanks to Vanessa and to Good Shepherd, that heavy debt and the constant anxiety finally lifted. I can now focus on rebuilding my life and creating a safe, stable home for my daughter.

I will always be deeply grateful for their support and compassion. Without them, I would still be trapped under that loan and the stress it created.

“Thanks to Vanessa and to Good Shepherd, that heavy debt and the constant anxiety finally lifted. I can now focus on rebuilding my life and creating a safe, stable home for my daughter.”

Katy’s storyDownload

Maria gets a car just in time for her new baby

Quick thinking and an interim grant enabled Maria to afford a loan for a car. This made sure she could get to the hospital for her new baby and support her kids’ throughout.

Maria was nearly 40 weeks pregnant with her baby due any day. She was under stress caring for several children already while waiting for the birth of her third. She desperately needed a reliable car to ensure she could get to the hospital safely and for ongoing transport for her children.

On top of all that, she had been left with a $1,600 debt with a telecommunications company caused by a previous partner. She hadn’t been able to pay it, and it had been sent to a collection agency.

Maria needed a car for her family. But the reality was the coerced debt was preventing her from being able to get, or afford, a loan. With a baby nearly here and time of the essence, Good Shepherd worked quickly to find a solution. We determined that Maria was eligible for an immediate hardship relief grant to cover the coerced debt. That tipped the scales in her favour to afford a car loan. A $5,000 loan was issued immediately, helping her get a car before the baby arrived.

While the car loan was being sorted with the guarantee of a grant, the grant itself was held. This bought some time for our Family Violence team to work with the telco on Maria’s behalf and undo the unjust debt.

Eventually it was forgiven, making the car loan affordable without the need for the grant. Good Shepherd redistributed the funds back into the grants pool, making it available for the next person experiencing significant harm or hardship.

Our Family Violence Economic Harm team didn’t stop here. They also negotiated some assistance with Maria’s bank related to her overdraft, creating even more breathing room for her to care for her new baby and family.

*name has been changed

Car repairs help Hine fuel her fledgling business

Hine was disheartened when her car failed its warrant of fitness. Living rurally meant every trip – to get her mokopuna to school, reach the supermarket, or keep her young business afloat – was a challenge without reliable transport. A grant put her back on the road to financial stability and able to support her whānau.

Hine was recently given custody of her two mokopuna, a life change she hadn’t expected. She was living rurally and in the early stages of a small business when a sudden car repair bill became an impossible hurdle.

For Hine, a car isn’t optional. She needed it to get her grandchildren to school, reach essential services like the supermarket, and sustain her fledgling new small business that was helping her build her way out of a vulnerable situation.

Her business was slowly growing. She had completed courses, sought mentoring, invested in equipment, was planning future growth and building momentum.

When her car failed its warrant of fitness needing new tyres and work on the brakes, the $1,500 bill was far beyond what she could manage.

Hine tried every avenue to solve it on her own, but all doors were closed. Then she found Good Shepherd. We recognised that Hine just needed someone to cut her a break so she could stay on her feet. We provided a grant to help pay the mechanics bill on her behalf.

Once Hine got her car back, the pressure lifted immediately. She could keep her grandchildren in their routines. She was able to continue serving her new clients without losing any business and so she could keep strengthening her ongoing financial stability.

Hine later told us this “lifted a huge burden…and restored a sense of hope and encouragement during a very challenging time”.

Hine carries that kindness with her as she moves forward.

*name has been changed

Anna finds strength beyond relationship and financial abuse

After enduring years in a violent relationship marked by economic abuse, Anna was left with significant debt. Good Shepherd NZ helped her access multiple services and get more than $35,000 of coerced debt waived. Now, Anna is free from that weight and has the space to rebuild her resilience and chart a brighter path forward.

Anna* is single with no children. She was isolated living on a rural farm and had survived a violent relationship that lasted over a decade.  

Women’s Refuge provided support to help Anna get safe including installing a new house alarm. But he had also controlled all her finances, racking up over $35,000 of debt in her name. He had spent money on her credit card, used her fuel card, and obtained a personal loan in her name and used it to go overseas.  

When Anna first came to Good Shepherd NZ she was looking for a no-interest loan to help her work her way out from under that mountain of debt. But our Family Violence Economic Harm team listened to Anna’s situation and recognised that she needed support first.  

Anna had experienced a brain injury as a result of relationship violence. Good Shepherd NZ reached out to the Ministry of Social Development to ensure she was placed on the most appropriate benefit for her circumstances, including securing a financial back payment. Then, we supported Anna to connect with Wayfinders to navigate ACC and confirm she was receiving the right entitlements following her injury. To help Anna plan for her future, we engaged Brain Injury Trust, who provide guidance around her life, work and income.

We also contacted several different banks and credit institutions regarding the coerced debt in Anna’s name. Good Shepherd NZ worked on Anna’s behalf to have the unjust debt waived – over $35,000 in total.

With the right support and freedom from coerced debt, Anna has been able to pause, rebuild her resilience, and begin charting a positive path forward.

* name has been changed

Ariana keeps connected

Ariana’s phone was damaged when she was applying for an interest-free loan from Good Shepherd. A small grant paid for repairs so she could move on with her application and stay in touch with family.

Ariana(*) applied for a Good Loan to help cover some essential new items. Like most of Good Shepherd’s clients, Ariana was using our phone-based service.

As well as having valuable financial coaching conversations, Ariana was using her mobile to work through the loan application process – uploading documents, receiving emails, accessing her bank statements, and gathering other information needed.

When Ariana’s phone broke, she couldn’t continue with her coaching or the application for her much-needed loan. She also needed her phone to manage everyday life. She felt increasingly stressed and isolated.

The Good Shepherd team arranged a grant to cover the cost of repairing the phone. Ariana was able to have repairs completed quickly and get back to her coaching and application. She was relieved to have a working phone to help meet life’s demands and stay connected with friends and whānau.

*name has been changed

Olivia navigates emotional and financial challenge 

Support to review her financial situation and reduce debt taken on without her consent helped Olivia and her children get through a very tough time.

Olivia* and her two children were under a lot of emotional and financial stress following the sudden death of her husband, who took his own life.  

He had behaved abusively during the relationship – controlling their finances and taking out debts without Olivia’s knowledge or consent.   

Olivia was dealing with multiple creditors. She wasn’t sure if she was entitled to any support, and didn’t know how much debt was left under her own name or jointly. She contacted Good Shepherd for help.  

Our Family Violence Economic Harm support team helped Olivia to review her financial situation. They looked up her credit report to better understand any debt she wasn’t aware of and advocated for Olivia in dealings with three different banks. Through this process, Olivia learned of a joint account she didn’t know about, was able to extend a mortgage holiday with one bank, had $14,000 of unjust debt wiped by another, and a credit card debt of $1,800 waived by a third bank.  

Good Shepherd also supported negotiation with Olivia’s insurance company, energy provider, and district council. The resulting discounts and extended payment deadlines further eased pressure so Olivia could start taking control of her finances. Through contact with the Ministry of Social Development, Olivia is applying for an accommodation supplement and a grant to help cover her husband’s funeral costs. Good Shepherd liaised with the funeral director who provided the service to ensure outstanding payment would not be referred to debt collection.   

Olivia is moving forward with more confidence. She is attending grief counselling, pursuing the sale of her home, and regaining control over her bank accounts. Olivia and her children recently became New Zealand citizens – a significant milestone during a difficult period.  

*name has been changed

Tessa’s journey from credit issues to manageable car loan

Life can be lonely and stressful as a solo mum without family around, particularly when things go wrong. Working with Good Shepherd helped me feel like I had someone in my corner.

Now I’m working on building from strength to strength for myself and my kids.

This is Tessa’s story, edited to keep her from being identified and to help you read. Quotes are Tessa’s own words. Names have been changed.

Before I connected with Good Shepherd, life felt a bit like an uphill battle. As a solo mother of three, I was facing financial struggles without any family support to lean on. 

“I felt really alone and desperate and in a corner. I was struggling with a lot of other things, not just my finances, as a solo parent. Life was in a dark place.”

It wasn’t until my car was on its last legs that I found out scammers had been using my account, which completely tanked my credit score. It was a nightmare that took several months to sort out. I can’t begin to describe the anxiety I felt every day, driving an old car that could break down at any moment. I needed a new car badly, but my credit score made it nearly impossible to get a car loan from a traditional lender.

“I was also really worried that if I was accepted somewhere how I was going to pay the interest. Some companies advertised saying they would help, but the interest rates were just insane.”

I first heard about Good Shepherd through a Facebook group called “Mums on the benefit.” Women like me shared stories of how Good Shepherd had helped them without judgement. I did my research and decided to give it a shot. What drew me to Good Shepherd was their Christian values, their genuine care for people and their commitment to thoroughly understanding each applicant’s financial situation. It was a relief to know they wouldn’t just look at my credit score and dismiss me. I’ve been through a lot in my life. As a single mother on a benefit with no family support, I’ve faced a lot of stigma and tough deals — but my experience with Good Shepherd was different.

“I applied for finance before, and it was a horrible feeling. It felt like they were there to make money off of me… It was so different with Good Shepherd. I imagine it would be more like how a family member would treat you, where they were seeing how they could help you.”

Working with Good Shepherd was a game-changer. They gave me a loan to buy a car, and the impact was immediate. My constant anxiety started to lift. Having a reliable car gave me peace of mind and started to make everything easier. But it wasn’t just about the car. It was about how Good Shepherd made me feel — respected, uplifted and hopeful. By going through my finances with me in detail during the application process, it showed me I could not only afford the loan, but I could also trust myself to manage it responsibly.

“It gave me a strong feeling of hope because they looked really closely at my finances, and they could see that I could afford it. It really made me feel really good. It gave me a renewed outlook on humanity in general.”

My financial struggles haven’t disappeared, but having a functioning vehicle has made a huge difference. I’m proud to say I have been successfully paying it off too. There are still tough days. I had to put my work on hold because of burnout. I also worry about potential mechanical issues with the car — but I’m managing. It feels good to know Good Shepherd will be there if anything else goes wrong.

I have big hopes for the future. I want to continue to heal from the trauma of the past, build resilience and find work that fits my family’s needs and my values. Ultimately, I dream of moving off the benefit, making enough to take care of my family, and achieving a healthy balance between work and home life. I don’t want my kids to miss out on anything.

“I’m hoping to be building from strength to strength. I want to heal and grow stronger.”

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