Incredible! Pensioner couple's $25,000 debt paid off in heart-warming gesture
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With the number of scams, cost-of-living increases, and price hikes we’ve reported on these past few weeks, we think everyone needs to have their faith in humanity restored today.
After all, who doesn’t love a good, heart-warming story about strangers coming together for a good cause?
This is the story of a pensioner couple living in Mount Gilead Estate retirement village in southwest Sydney, who recently found themselves on the brink of bankruptcy due to an overwhelming legal bill. Bear with us, we promise it has a happy ending.
It all started when Aussie pensioners, Walter and Carola Sadlo, claimed they feared losing their home after being issued a bankruptcy notice just before Christmas. This happened two years after they lost a legal battle against their retirement village over an air conditioning unit.
A Current Affair host Ally Langdon sat down with the couple to talk about their ordeal.
‘It put a fear of God into us…two days before Christmas,’ Mr Sadlo told Ally.
It was reported that the couple had paid $10,000 extra for air conditioning to be installed when they had their home built 12 years ago. However, maintenance wasn’t covered by the retirement village in their agreement.
Mr Sadlo said he believed it should’ve been covered, so he decided to raise the issue in the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT). And because the couple was unable to afford a lawyer and couldn’t justify hiring one for a $1,375 claim, he enlisted the help of NCAT.
Mr Sadlo mentioned that he’d been to the tribunal before on behalf of another resident for their air conditioner issue, so he knew he could represent himself. But Australian Retirement Holdings (ARH), the retirement village operator, sent in a barrister and solicitor.
‘It’s not a fair fight…when you’re a retired pensioner with a printing background’, Mr Sadlo said.
Sadly, the Sadlos lost the case.
But that wasn’t the end of it. The retirement village operator went back to the tribunal and asked for their $59,000 legal bill to be paid by the couple. The tribunal agreed to $25,000.
‘Because I had tried to help an elderly couple a few years back with the same problem with the air conditioner, and they were unable to represent themselves, so I helped them out. That was held against me in court,’ Mr Sadlo claimed.
‘I should have known better and that’s the reason they went for cost,’ he added.
The Sadlos struggled to keep up with the payment schedule and just two days before Christmas, the village threatened to declare them bankrupt for falling behind. ‘I could not believe that somebody could be so vicious and cruel,’ Mr Sadlo said.
This forced the elderly couple to throw in their only nest egg, a $15,000 inheritance Mrs Sadlo received from her mum. This was every last cent they had. With that gone, the Sadlos feared losing their home.
However, the plight of the Sadlos had touched the hearts of A Current Affair viewers so much, they began sending in money to help in any way they could. When Ally told the couple, they were overwhelmed with the kindness they received from strangers.
‘Our viewers have paid off your debt,’ Ally told the stunned couple, who at first couldn’t believe it.
Not only did the viewers chip in to pay the $25,000 bill, but there was also enough money to replace Mrs Sadlo’s $15,000 inheritance.
‘We didn’t expect that,’ Mrs Carola admitted.
‘I normally don’t get emotional. I had better make sure I don’t have a heart attack!’ Mr Sadlo shared.
‘Thank you from the bottom of my heart,’ he added.
‘Despite a lot of things, there is a lot of good in the world and a lot of good people.’ Mr Sadlo continued, before adding that he hopes there will be village operators who see their story and ‘show a bit more heart’ for others.
This comes after Ally’s powerful and poignant debut on A Current Affair a few days ago, when she told the story of Kimbarlie O’Reilly, a survivor of abuse and domestic violence at the hands of her ex-boyfriend Jake Frecker. As Ally opened the show, she spoke about how ‘privileged’ she felt at being given the opportunity to host such an important segment. More details about Ms O’Reilly’s story can be found here.
The story touched viewers at home, and praised the new host for doing a ‘stellar job’. They also said that if she carried on in the same direction, they'd ‘definitely’ be watching the show regularly.
What do you think about Walter and Carola’s story, members? Do you have similar, heart-warming stories you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments!
After all, who doesn’t love a good, heart-warming story about strangers coming together for a good cause?
This is the story of a pensioner couple living in Mount Gilead Estate retirement village in southwest Sydney, who recently found themselves on the brink of bankruptcy due to an overwhelming legal bill. Bear with us, we promise it has a happy ending.
It all started when Aussie pensioners, Walter and Carola Sadlo, claimed they feared losing their home after being issued a bankruptcy notice just before Christmas. This happened two years after they lost a legal battle against their retirement village over an air conditioning unit.
A Current Affair host Ally Langdon sat down with the couple to talk about their ordeal.
‘It put a fear of God into us…two days before Christmas,’ Mr Sadlo told Ally.
A Current Affair host Ally Langdon sat down with the elderly couple to share the good news. Credit: A Current Affair/Facebook
It was reported that the couple had paid $10,000 extra for air conditioning to be installed when they had their home built 12 years ago. However, maintenance wasn’t covered by the retirement village in their agreement.
Mr Sadlo said he believed it should’ve been covered, so he decided to raise the issue in the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT). And because the couple was unable to afford a lawyer and couldn’t justify hiring one for a $1,375 claim, he enlisted the help of NCAT.
Mr Sadlo mentioned that he’d been to the tribunal before on behalf of another resident for their air conditioner issue, so he knew he could represent himself. But Australian Retirement Holdings (ARH), the retirement village operator, sent in a barrister and solicitor.
‘It’s not a fair fight…when you’re a retired pensioner with a printing background’, Mr Sadlo said.
Sadly, the Sadlos lost the case.
But that wasn’t the end of it. The retirement village operator went back to the tribunal and asked for their $59,000 legal bill to be paid by the couple. The tribunal agreed to $25,000.
The elderly couple were asked to pay legal bills worth $25,000. Credit: Pixabay/Pexels
‘Because I had tried to help an elderly couple a few years back with the same problem with the air conditioner, and they were unable to represent themselves, so I helped them out. That was held against me in court,’ Mr Sadlo claimed.
‘I should have known better and that’s the reason they went for cost,’ he added.
The Sadlos struggled to keep up with the payment schedule and just two days before Christmas, the village threatened to declare them bankrupt for falling behind. ‘I could not believe that somebody could be so vicious and cruel,’ Mr Sadlo said.
This forced the elderly couple to throw in their only nest egg, a $15,000 inheritance Mrs Sadlo received from her mum. This was every last cent they had. With that gone, the Sadlos feared losing their home.
However, the plight of the Sadlos had touched the hearts of A Current Affair viewers so much, they began sending in money to help in any way they could. When Ally told the couple, they were overwhelmed with the kindness they received from strangers.
‘Our viewers have paid off your debt,’ Ally told the stunned couple, who at first couldn’t believe it.
Not only did the viewers chip in to pay the $25,000 bill, but there was also enough money to replace Mrs Sadlo’s $15,000 inheritance.
‘We didn’t expect that,’ Mrs Carola admitted.
‘I normally don’t get emotional. I had better make sure I don’t have a heart attack!’ Mr Sadlo shared.
‘Thank you from the bottom of my heart,’ he added.
‘Despite a lot of things, there is a lot of good in the world and a lot of good people.’ Mr Sadlo continued, before adding that he hopes there will be village operators who see their story and ‘show a bit more heart’ for others.
This comes after Ally’s powerful and poignant debut on A Current Affair a few days ago, when she told the story of Kimbarlie O’Reilly, a survivor of abuse and domestic violence at the hands of her ex-boyfriend Jake Frecker. As Ally opened the show, she spoke about how ‘privileged’ she felt at being given the opportunity to host such an important segment. More details about Ms O’Reilly’s story can be found here.
The story touched viewers at home, and praised the new host for doing a ‘stellar job’. They also said that if she carried on in the same direction, they'd ‘definitely’ be watching the show regularly.
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