The price of fuel reached a new record on Tuesday, February 15: 1.6995 euros on average per liter of diesel. One more example of the general rise in prices. Result: more and more Isérois find themselves in difficulty, estimates the association of consumers Orgeco.
Energy, housing, food… Prices increased by 3% in 2021 in France, an unprecedented figure for 10 years. The most affected are the poorest households and small businesses. “We have consumers who push our door and who are taken a little by the throat“, worries Vincent Stevanovic, lawyer at the General Organization of Consumers of Isère, Orgeco, guest of France Bleu Isère on Tuesday.
As a consumer advocate, does this price hike worry you?
Vincent Stevanovic: Yes, absolutely. More and more, we have consumers who come to our door and who are a bit stuck in the throat because of all these price increases. And recent nudges [ndlr : chèque énergie, hausse du livret A] are not completely sufficient to catch up with this inflation.
You are a lawyer for the association, you help over-indebted Isère consumers. Given the current situation, there are more and more?
Yes due to the epidemic crisis of last year, indeed, we saw a small increase compared to usual, it seems something rather normal given the crisis unfortunately.
The people who come to see you are in debt for what reasons?
For several reasons related to illness, divorce, job loss and the accumulation of loans, it also plays a lot. We see in particular the impact of consumer loans. And given the current price hike, it is likely to get worse.
If so, can they come and see you?
We are fortunate in the association to have a commissioner on the over-indebtedness commission. And so, he’s used to seeing those files. And when we receive these people, we make a first visualization of the file, we analyze their situation with regard to their debts and their assets.
Is it high debt?
Yes, for the majority it is a strong indebtedness, it is the equivalent of the price of a house. So you can imagine that this has obvious consequences.
You are also worried at Orgeco about the proliferation of scams and fraud. In this period, you are more and more requested for this?
Indeed, we, as an association, have an observatory role. We are aware of the different practices that we see increasing. It is alarming. The latest is the “spoofing”, a person who pretends to be an adviser and who tries to obtain information on your bank account to then go and help yourself. They use almost manipulative techniques. They pose as professionals from your bank and claim to have suspected fraud within your account. We are tempted to intervene upstream, to prevent rather than cure. But it happens that the consumer is advised to seize the public prosecutor.
Does the heart of your activities concern amicable settlements between consumers and professionals?
Absolutely. We try to find arrangements, to negotiate. Sometimes it doesn’t work, but if need be, we don’t mind going to court if necessary.