Harold Wood worker who is battling cancer is hit by threat to repossess car
Linda Oliver asked Ford if she could reduce her payments on her car but they have refused. - Credit: Archant
A multinational car company is threatening to repossess a vehicle from a cancer-stricken woman, whose illness means she can no longer keep up payments.
Lyn is currently having chemotherapy - Credit: Archant
Ford is refusing to accept reduced monthly payments on Harold Wood worker Linda Oliver’s white Fiesta Zetec, despite being urged to by a leading cancer charity.
Linda, 44, was diagnosed with breast cancer in May.
She had a lump removed and is undergoing intense chemotherapy until October, whe’s she will start daily radiotherapy sessions at Queen’s Hospital, Romford.
Linda is also struggling with the side-effects of the chemotherapy, which makes her feel weak and sick, and an infection in her arm.
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The machine operator at Elms Industrial Estate has been given time off until she completes her treatment.
She is surviving on £86 a week in statutory sick pay and is struggling to pay her bills – especially her £295-a-month payments to Ford.
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Redbridge Macmillan Advice Project, part of Macmillan Cancer Support, wrote to the car company asking for Linda’s payments to be decreased, but it refused.
A project spokesman said: “We have sent six letters to Ford on her behalf. And she has offered to still pay reduced amounts. They have the facility to allow delays to payments, but they don’t seem to want to do it.”
Linda said: “I think they are disgusting for what they are doing to me.”
She said she was worried about losing her car, which she needs to travel to hospital for treatments.
Linda, who lives in Dagenham, added: “This threat [of repossession] is making me even more ill.”
Ford was unavailable for comment, but in a letter to Macmillan, it said: “We are sorry to hear about Miss Oliver. Unfortunately we are unable to freeze or reduce instalments while she is undergoing or recovering from treatment.” It said failure to keep up payments would lead to “further action”.
