Master Dautremay, a bailiff, illustrates the challenges of debt collection as she meets with Tony and Fiona, a struggling farming couple in the Ardennes. Despite their dedication, they are caught in a cycle of debt, unable to profit from their farm and facing mounting financial pressures. Their situation is exacerbated by high-interest loans and necessary repairs, leaving them in precarious living conditions. With limited income and ongoing obligations, they seek relief through installment payments while contemplating difficult decisions about their future.
The Reality of Debt: A Bailiff’s Perspective
When Master Dautremay arrives at the door of a debtor, she personifies the obligation to repay financial commitments. This bailiff has the authority to withdraw funds directly from bank accounts or seize property. However, the newly designated justice commissioners, as they are now called, usually prefer to engage in dialogue and set up installment payment plans, especially when dealing with individuals who are often trapped in tough financial situations despite their earnest intentions.
Take, for instance, Tony and Fiona, a young farming couple from the Ardennes who find themselves drowning in debt, caught in the relentless cycle of loans and repayments. A team from a television program accompanied Master Dautremay during her visit to the couple’s farm, where she was tasked with collecting payment on an outstanding debt.
Struggles on the Farm: A Young Family’s Dilemma
Upon arriving at the farm, the bailiff asks if she can bring her dogs inside. Tony, however, opts to communicate outside, away from their children. The 35-year-old cattle farmer lays out the documents she presents on the hood of his car. He doesn’t display aggression or hostility, but rather a sense of resignation to his circumstances.
“Are you aware there’s a file for contributions?” Master Dautremay inquires, referring to the MSA, which is the social security system for farmers. Since they are self-employed, participation is mandatory. “There’s a balance of 857 euros,” she informs him, explaining that she wanted to meet because her colleague has been unable to reach him.
The reason Tony is unreachable is simple: he lacks the funds to pay. He suggests spreading the payment over five installments, to which the bailiff agrees to extend to six. “I don’t wish to complicate matters further, as he already faces enough challenges,” she states to the camera crew. However, the uncertainty looms large over whether Tony can manage to meet these payments, as he is weighed down by multiple debts and bills.
Four years ago, this former agricultural high school employee decided to lease a 22-hectare farm for an annual fee of 4,400 euros. “I leave work at 8 p.m.,” he shares, “then I press hay until 2 a.m., and wake up at 6 a.m. to start the day again. You have to love the animals.”
Unfortunately, the couple is not profiting from their farm operations. They are in a precarious situation, investing in the farm without any returns yet, as they are currently unable to sell any livestock. The situation worsens when Tony discovers he is ineligible for young farmer aid due to only holding a vocational diploma, which also causes him to lose a potential exemption from MSA contributions, costing him 1,600 euros annually.
“I had to sell my six calves just to cover my contributions, instead of holding onto them for two years when they could have fetched between 1,900 and 2,000 euros,” he laments, explaining that he had to sell them far too early for a mere 700 to 750 euros each.
Now, facing tens of thousands of euros in debt, Tony owns only about ten animals and is striving to keep his struggling farm afloat. To manage his expenses, he has taken a part-time job on another farm, working twenty hours a week for about 1,000 euros.
Living with his wife Fiona, who also works in agriculture, and their two children, the couple borrowed 70,000 euros in 2021 to purchase a home and an additional 15,000 euros for renovations. However, they quickly faced unexpected expenses as everything from electricity to insulation required urgent repairs. Consequently, they took out four consumer loans totaling 22,000 euros at high-interest rates. Four years later, they find themselves overwhelmed and unable to finish their renovations.
“With the bailiffs, we can pay in installments, which is a relief,” Fiona reassures herself, even as they await the opportunity to resume their renovations. Currently, the family of four shares a single room and lives in precarious conditions, with one window patched up with a cushion. The estimated cost to overhaul the window frames stands at 10,000 euros, a sum they cannot afford. They believe it will take an additional 25,000 euros to complete the necessary renovations.
As they navigate through the unfinished construction, Tony points out the planned rooms for their children, “Our room will come later. This will be Octavia’s room, and that will be Karl’s.” Unfortunately, these ongoing renovations hinder their ability to invest in the farm, leaving them in a vicious cycle of financial struggle. “I’m contemplating whether to sell the house to prevent having to sell the animals, which we deeply care about. They are part of our lives,” Fiona says, her voice breaking with emotion. “There’s always something to pay. It’s just horrible.”
The couple’s primary source of income is their combined salary as agricultural workers, totaling 1,900 euros each month—barely enough to cover their debts and daily expenses. “I have two months of unpaid EDF bills, and I can’t even afford the kids’ school meals,” Fiona admits. She is also aware that more bailiffs will likely come seeking payment for additional debts. “At least with the bailiffs, we can make installment payments,” she reminds herself, holding onto a glimmer of hope amid their challenges.