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The debt traps from the point of view of social work
ELEZI, Jana
The debt traps from the point of view of social work Abstract This diploma thesis covers the topic of debts in Czech households not only as a negative social phenomenon but also as a "lifestyle" nowadays, mainly because we have been witnessing an increase in falling in debt, in inability to pay it back and in distraints. The thesis points out the biggest issues, risks and consequences of this phenomenon. At the beginning of a debt spiral, there is not only a need and satisfaction but also large marketing which is focused on vacations, electronics and, last but not least, the "favourable" loans. People get into the debt spirals mainly through a number of loans when the new ones are used to pay back the old ones. The newer loans are less favourable than the previous ones and therefore, the cost of the loans increases. Such situation is unmanageable in the long term and results in an inability to pay back the individual loans, in distraints and often even in personal bankruptcy. The theoretical part of the thesis covers the basic terminology, e.g. debtor, creditor, loan, distraint, and addresses causes typical for the topic of depts. The diploma thesis concerns itself not only with people who found themselves in the debt trap, but also with debt-relief companies which, in the debtors' point of view, require quite large fees. The thesis also mentions non-profit organisations and social workers who aim to resolve the debt problem through social work and services and to alleviate the situation. The practical part of the thesis was carried out by a qualitative research strategy and the technique of semi-structured interviews. The structured dialogues were completed with interviewing and the data were processed by the pencil-and-paper method. The thesis points out individual causes which lead the informants into debt traps. There are causes of falling into debt, apparent from the dialogues, such as losing a job, breaking up with a partner, family matters, entrepreneurship or financial illiteracy. Through mapping, a significant lack of informants' knowledge about social work and services in connection with debts has been discovered. The main merit of this thesis is collecting and providing information about factors which lead the informants to debt traps and to utilizing social work and services. These factors can be used by non-profit organizations for setting up effective public relations, i.e. for preventing intensification of debt traps. The thesis can also serve as an educational and preventive material about the topic of debts, connected to social work, and not only for students but for the public as well.
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