Bankruptcy

French Woman?s ?Bad Joke? to Creditors, Leaves Her Behind Bars

By Meaghan Olson

In the small town of Bourges, France just east of Nevers, there is a woman who found herself deep in the throngs of debt with no relief in sight.

Close to complete desolation and with only a small bite of hope left, Marie Adney decided to take on her creditors with what she thought was a wielding sense of humor.

Little did she know, those to whom she owed money to would not find it funny being told one of their debtors had fallen from a cliff and was now clinging to life in a local hospital.

It all began when Ms. Adney, a 38 year old art curator, had gone deep into debt trying to launch her boutique gallery.

Desperation Led to a Whammy of a Lie to Creditors

With numerous debts looming over her head, a sour business which had yet to see a profit after more than 28 months in business, and a failing relationship, Adney saw no other option for herself.

She then sent out a well-formulated correspondence chain to all her creditors, her estranged boyfriend, and even her stepmother and father, telling them that she had gone on ?holiday? by herself and wound up in full traction in a rural hospital within the foothills of the French Alps.

Adney had even gone as far as to create a fake letterhead from this ?rural hospital?.

As anyone would image (well, that is, anyone except Marie Adney) those who received the multiple correspondences announcing that Marie Adney had been in a severe climbing accident and would otherwise not be repaying her debts for at least 12 months were somewhat empathetic and put her loans and debts in a state of forbearance.

Lies to Creditors Left Her In Jail

What started out as a comedic event meant to provide levity soon became a disastrous downward spiraling tale of deception that has now landed Marie Adney in jail awaiting her sentencing for corruption.

Her family is left wondering who decided on teaching Adney in her youth what was humorous and what was blatant dishonesty.

As strange and bizarre as Marie Adney?s story is, it is not an isolated event.

Lying Doesn?t Help Eliminate Debt. Filing Bankruptcy or Paying Off the Debts May Help

Whether these desperate attempts at thwarting responsibility take place on foreign soil or deep in the heart of the U.S.A, there is one thing for certain: Attempting to deceive creditors only makes matters worse.

In fact, besides the traditional route of actually paying off a debt or filing bankruptcy, some say the only other way to truly be absolved of debt is to be no longer be living.

Even then, most debts can be transferable.

Full post as published by The Bankruptcy Blog on August 17, 2009 (boomark / email).