She’ll pay for her car — in 275 years

A GLENAMADDY woman was given 275 years to repay a debt owed to Friends First after a Judge described the behaviour of Friends First Finance Ltd towards her as â€Å“absolutely disgracefulâ€Â. He said Friends First had â€Å“lied to herâ€Â and reneged on an agreement to write off her debt in exchange for her BMW. He ordered her to repay the substantial motor loan at a rate of €10 per month over 3,300 months, which amounts to 275 years. The finance company will get their final payment in the year 2,288 when the debtor will be well over 300 years old. At Tuam Civil Court Friends First sued Bernadette McHale, 20 Dudley Heights, Glenamaddy for €33,000 which they claimed was owed for a car loan of €27,000.[private] However the woman involved told the Court that she had been paying back her loan but when her scaffolding business folded she could no longer meet the repayments. She stated that she came to an agreement to hand back the car and the debt would be written off. Tony Oâ€â„¢Doherty solr. for Friends First questioned her version of events. He said it was his understanding that Ms McHale owned a jeep as well as the BMW in question. She denied she still owned the jeep referred to. She also told the Count that she was dependant on social welfare to support her family. Bernadette McHale told the Court that Friends First approached her and she came to an arrangement with them to hand over the BWW. Part of this deal was that she would have the car serviced, cleaned and taxed. She complied with this arrangement and the car was taken back. Then to her surprise Friends First still pursued her for an outstanding debt of €33,000 which they said was still owed, despite the previous agreement. Ms McHale said she had initially borrowed €27,000. Judge Browne told her that it was a tough life out there. â€Å“So Friends First told you a lie, they totally misled you,â€Â the Judge said. He asked Ms McHale if she could manage €10 per month in repayments and she said she could. He then made an order for her to pay this sum each month for the next 3,300 months, which comes to 275 years in total. Friends First will get their final payment in the year 2288.[/private]