Social networks are full of warnings about the danger of the measure, considered electoral, which allowed payroll loan - when installments are deducted directly from the payroll – to beneficiaries of Auxílio Brasil.
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As the beneficiaries are low-income families – some vulnerable – they run the risk of losing what little they have. According to Caixa Econômica, between October 11th and 20thoo app Box Has received 206 million loan applications. In the same period of September, there were 25 million.
Expectations turned into a headache, says Idec 😕
Brazilian Institute of Consumer Protection (Idec) made a channel through official channels and social networks, between October 11th and 17th, about complaints regarding the consignment for beneficiaries of Auxílio Brasil. They were more than 2 thousand complaints mapped, among them, bank harassment and tying.
“The release of funds is being announced within 48 hours, however the majority of interested parties who have sought help on social media warn that banks do not provide information on the progress of the processes. In many cases, once the maximum estimated period has passed, the information sent is that the proposal was not accepted and the credit was denied without justification, just warning that it is a credit policy”, explains the coordinator of the Idec Financial Services Program, Ione Amorim.
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According to Idec, there is a lack of transparency about the process, disclosure of the approval policy, and warnings about the risk of over-indebtedness. “People do not have information that it is not necessary to use the entire amount at once”, states the Institute.
With the system overloaded, a wave of complaints began to circulate on social media: canceled loans, difficulties in releasing money and unexpected fees being charged.
Combating danger 
Idec sent a technical note to the Public Ministry reinforcing the need to suspend the payroll for beneficiaries of Auxílio Brasil. The body requested the Federal Audit Court to cancel the program.
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“With problems accessing the channels, misinformation about the granting processes, the delay in releasing credit and the lack of transparency in the disclosure of the approval policy, increase the level of anxiety among beneficiaries who have been seeking information from YouTuber channels. . The lack of financial education as well. Most operations, when confirmed, are for maximum value. There are no reports that warn about the risk of debt. Information that indicates that it is not necessary to use the entire resource at once. In short, disrespect towards the most vulnerable population”, explains Ione Amorim.
In an atypical move, low-income families were informed by Caixa that the payroll money linked to Auxílio Brasil will only be deposited after the elections. The initial deadline was 48 hours, but the bank has now informed that the money should only go into the account within 15 days.
Stories of those who faced problems
Jenifer Kauane Batista contracted the Auxílio Brasil consignment through Caixa on the first day it was available at lottery outlets. Two days later, the loan was approved and she was informed that the money would be released within 48 hours. But that's not what happened. When checking the bank's application, the request that previously appeared as “approved” had returned to the status “in processing”.
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“I tried calling SAC again, but they didn't answer. I'm also trying to contact Caixa's WhatsApp, but it just gives me an error. I don’t know what I do anymore”, says she, who lives in Paranaguá (PR) with her husband and two-year-old son. Jenifer took out a loan of R$2,3. “This money would help me a lot to pay late bills and buy things for my house”, he says
In WhatsApp, Facebook and Telegram groups, monitored by Estadão, the atmosphere of the messages is a mix of indignation and revolt from those who have not yet managed to receive the money.
In one of the public Facebook groups, “Empréstimo Caixa Tem – Auxílio Brasil”, with more than 280 thousand members, the most frequently asked question is “Who managed to receive the loan?” and criticism of Caixa. “It’s very humiliating. I have a printout of when it was approved. The Lottery girl said that the system showed that I had no more margin and that meant the loan was successful. And today it appeared canceled to me”, reported Giovana Verli, from Umuarama, Paraná. s
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According to Caixa, in these situations, it is necessary to make a new request for the loan.
Beyond all doubts, there is tremendous insecurity with a flood of fake news around the consignment.
Misinformation caused by the election campaign
“Many asked if Lula wins the election the consignment will be suspended”, reports the institutional director of the Brazilian Basic Income Network, Paola Carvalho, a support network for the vulnerable created during the Covid-19 pandemic by the third sector. According to her, these doubts are spreading within groups of beneficiaries.
(With Estadão Content)
