Help with money matters and debt

  • Would you like advice on your money matters?
  • Are you struggling to keep your money matters in order?
  • Do you have debts?

Contact the municipality's Debt Assistance Department. You can talk to them for free and without having to do anything.

Are you a (former) entrepreneur or self-employed person? The municipality can also help you. For more information, see the product: Help with money matters and debts for entrepreneurs and self-employed people.

Guardianship

Do you have a trustee who handles your money matters?

Ask your administrator to contact the municipality's Administrator's Desk. This can be done by emailing bewindvoerdersdesk@zoetermeer.nl.

Information for administrators  

Are you a trustee and does your client live in Zoetermeer? Then contact the Bewindvoerdersdesk for information on how to apply for debt assistance and relevant regulations.

Fact sheet Bewindvoersdesk Zoetermeer

In the Factsheet Bewindsvoerdersdesk Zoetermeer (pdf) you will find information about accelerating the registration of your client for a debt relief program. 

Advisory right of administration

Municipality of Zoetermeer Uses the Advisory Law of Administration. Email the court's decision within 2 weeks(bewindvoerdersdesk@zoetermeer.nl).
 

What do you need to know?

There are several ways to help you with your money matters or resolving your debts.

Information and advice

Are you not in debt, but struggling to get a handle on your money matters? Or would you like advice on your money matters? We listen to you. With 1 or 2 conversations you can get started yourself with our advice.

Money handling course

In the Coping with Money course, you will learn to balance your income and expenses. We also discuss topics such as saving, insurance and dealing with offers and temptations.

For more information, see: Dealing with money, course

Payment scheme

A monthly payment plan is agreed with each creditor. You pay the arrangements yourself until all debts are paid in full.

Amicable debt settlement (MSNP)

You pay each creditor a portion. We ask your creditors to agree to waive the remainder amount. You will not have to repay the rest of the debt.

Creditors do want to see that you are doing your best to keep a grip on your money matters. They want to see that you stay out of debt.

Do creditors agree? Then it is possible to be debt-free after a year and a half.

Natural Persons Debt Rescheduling Act (WSNP).

Don't the creditors agree? You can ask the court for admission to the WSNP. The debt relief worker will help you with this.

Will you be admitted? Creditors are required to cooperate. You can be debt-free after a year and a half.

Budget Management

Are you having trouble paying your fixed expenses? Do you have little grip on your money? Or does it give you peace of mind if someone else pays everything for you and you get money for groceries?

In consultation with you, we can sign you up for budget management. This goes through CAV Foundation. The budget manager ensures that you do not spend more money than what comes in.

We will discuss with you your monthly budget, listen to your needs and discuss what is best for you.

For more information, see Budget Management.

Roadmap to requesting help

Step 1 ⇒ You ask the municipality for help

Step 2 ⇒ Conversation with the municipality

  • You schedule an appointment for a telephone consultation with a debt counselor. Would you rather visit us in person? That's also possible. 
  • In the conversation, you tell us what help you need. We look at how we can help you. This conversation alone may be enough for you to continue working on your own. Is more help needed? Then we need more information. 

Step 3 ⇒ Conversation with the municipality

  • You will receive a form from us. You fill out this form and add information. The Forms Brigade can help you fill out this form. Do you need help gathering information? Humanitas or Out of Debt Now (from Schuldhulpmaatje) can help you with that.
  • We only ask for information that is truly important to help you properly.

Step 4 ⇒ Submit information

  • You submit the completed form to us. Have we gotten all the information we need from you? Then the debt counselor will invite you for an intake interview.

Step 5 ⇒ Intake interview with debt counselor

  • The intake interview deals with your personal situation, your income and expenses, and your debts. This interview takes 1 to 1.5 hours. The interview is at City Hall. 

Step 6 ⇒ Plan of action

  • After the intake interview, you will receive a "Plan of Action. This states:
    • What you (still) need to do yourself.
    • How the congregation is going to help you further.
    • A report of the intake interview.

After reading the plan of action, you will know what will happen next.

Tips / Getting started yourself

Want to get started on your own? The websites below will help you get started managing your debts and/or money matters yourself.

Geldfit
Take a short test at Geldfit.nl and get advice on your financial situation.

Calculate your entitlement
See if you are entitled to a certain allowance and how to arrange it.

Startpunt Geldzaken
Provides money plans for different situations. A money plan can help you, for example, make better ends meet or get out of money worries.

Wijzer in Geldzaken
Information on money matters, for example borrowing, saving, investing, insurance and mortgages.

Managing your debts yourself
Come up with a plan to tackle your debts yourself in 6 steps.

Rules for debt assistance
Municipal debt assistance policies.

Nibud
Independent information on money matters.

Organizations in Zoetermeer

Money Point

At the Money Point, all Zoetermeerders can talk about money in an approachable way. This can be done by phone, email or at the Money Point itself. The Money Point staff have the attention and knowledge to look together for the support that inZet can provide.

The Money Point can be reached in several ways.

  • By phone at 06-15031286. This number can be reached between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Calling the phone number is free of charge
  • Via email: geldpunt@inzet-indewijk.nl.
  • At InZet in Noordhove & Seghwaert, staff members are present every Tuesday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.. The address of the drop-in center is Petunia Garden 7. You can come here without an appointment.

Zoetermeerwijzer

More organizations in Zoetermeer that can help you with your money matters can be found on the Zoetermeerwijzer website .

Course / Workshop

Frequently Asked Questions

My income has been/is being garnished (wage garnishment). What now?

Non-payment basis

The bailiff usually does not seize your entire income. He/she will take into account the "attachment-free foot." This is the portion of your income that you are allowed to keep for living expenses and your fixed costs. The bailiff may also make an attachment without taking into account the non-detriment-free foot. This happens, for example, if you do not give the bailiff the requested information.

How is the amount determined?

The person levying attachment usually asks you in advance for information about your income and expenses. With this information, he/she can calculate the attachment-free foot. Do you not provide this information? Then you will often receive a lower amount than you are entitled to. Therefore, always fill in the requested information. This can save you money.

The attachment-free foot is not calculated correctly. What can I do?

You ask the bailiff to adjust the amount. You explain why you think the amount is incorrect. You send along a calculation and proof.

Calculating the attachment-free foot is not easy. You can look at www.uwbeslagvrijevoet.nl to see how it is calculated. Are you unable to figure it out yourself? Then the Forms Brigade can help you.

When will the garnishment of my wages stop?

The wage garnishment stops:

  • When the debt is paid in full.
  • If there is a settlement with the creditor(s).

Still have questions?

Then call 14 079 and ask for the Debt Assistance Department or email shv@zoetermeer.nl.