A new form of protection for citizens and entrepreneurs struggling with debt, capable of providing new solutions for resolving the debtor’s state of crisis, but at the same time also protecting the interests of the creditor. After an experimental phase, the signing of a memorandum of understanding takes shape in Ferrara which sees the establishment of a specific “Over-indebtedness Help Desk” at the Single Integrated Social Help Desk, which is located inside the Cittadella San Rocco in Corso Giovecca, 203.
The agreement – signed by the Municipality of Ferrara and the Association of the Over-indebtedness Crisis Settlement Body of the Associations of Chartered Accountants and Accounting Experts of Forlì-Cesena, Rimini, Ravenna and Ferrara and of the Bar Association of Forlì-Cesena – it was signed yesterday morning (24 April), in the Sala degli Arazzi of the Municipal Residence, by the municipal councilor for social policies and by the president of the Order of Chartered Accountants and Accounting Experts of Ferrara Riccardo Carrà.
The councilor for social policies highlighted the strategic nature of the initiative which strengthens the responses to citizens in difficulty offered within the services of the Help Desk Network. The signature, the councilor said, comes after an experimental period and will be a social protection capable of counteracting the risk of marginalization of over-indebted individuals.
The “Over-indebtedness Help Desk” offers a qualified first reception and orientation point necessary for starting the over-indebtedness case and sending it to the Over-indebtedness Crisis Settlement Body (Occ). If the citizen has the necessary requirements to proceed with the procedure, the Municipality will provide a contribution of 200 euros in favor of people in a state of incapacity reported to the OCC, guaranteeing them the right of defense as they are not able to independently avail themselves of the patronage of a professional due to the income inability to support the cost. For this support, the Department of Social Policies has provided an initial allocation of 2 thousand euros, which can be increased on the basis of the requests initiated, which currently number around twenty each year.
Those who have their residence (natural person) or the main office of their business in the territory of the Municipality of Ferrara can access the procedure.
The desk will provide guidance towards the most appropriate alternative instruments also for debtors who cannot access the over-indebtedness procedure.
“I thank the Department of Social Policies for its sensitivity – declared President Carrà – in deciding to stipulate the agreement with our Crisis Composition Body, in relation to the Help Desk set up to support citizens by offering them a path to recovery”.
As a result of the memorandum of understanding, the Municipality and the Organization will proceed to implement a series of initiatives aimed at raising awareness of concrete but still not widespread protection. These include the organization of seminars and public educational moments that the Municipality will organize to disseminate the activities of the Help Desk and to indicate to citizens and professionals how to use money responsibly in order to prevent dramatic economic and social consequences.
