AUT 2025: Working with DebtManagers lifts wellbeing – mental health, control, and behaviour
Summary:
What AUT found: better mental health & wellbeing, stronger financial control, and lower risky behaviours after working with us; no negative measures across 29 items.
Customer benefits in practice: more engaged parenting and job-seeking; feeling more “human”; fewer issues with alcohol, drugs, gambling and violence.
Voluntary vs involuntary: both groups improved; item-level differences but no significant gap overall—showing our no-fees/no excessive interest model supports positive outcomes either way.
How customers want to engage: people avoid intrusive “robo-dialling” and value options; our multi-channel/contact-by-consent approach fits that reality.
An independent AUT University study of DebtManagers’ customers found statistically significant improvements in mental health and general wellbeing, strong gains in Financial Locus of Control, and reductions in risky behaviours after engaging with us. Across 29 measured items, none showed a statistically significant negative outcome – remarkable in a high-stress context. Benefits were observed for both voluntary and involuntary paths, supporting our approach: fair, customer-driven plans, no fees or excessive interest, and hands-on support that helps people move from surviving to thriving.
What AUT studied and why it matters
AUT University researchers surveyed a representative sample of current and past DebtManagers customers, using validated scales and t-tests to check whether average scores moved meaningfully away from “no change.” They examined mental health and general wellbeing (GHQ-12), Financial Locus of Control (FLC), and changes in day-to-day behaviours.
No negative measures, real gains where it counts
Across all 29 items, not one showed a statistically significant negative outcome. Instead, customers reported positive movement across mental health, locus of control and behaviour because of their interactions with DebtManagers.
What changes for customers
Mental health & general wellbeing: Clear lifts in “feeling useful,” “facing up to problems,” and “feeling reasonably happy,” with the average GHQ-12 score improving overall.
Financial Locus of Control: Strong increases on “my future depends on me” and “I can do just about anything I set my mind to,” signalling greater agency to stick with a plan.
Behaviour change (where life really shifts): More engaged parenting and job-seeking; people felt more like a human rather than a statistic; and a statistically significant reduction in risky behaviours overall (alcohol, binge drinking, drugs, gambling, domestic violence).
Why our way of working helps
The study notes many respondents avoid intrusive contact (like “robo-dialling”) and sometimes change details to avoid it. That’s why we design engagement around choice, consent and context, putting people first with customer-driven plans, no fees or excessive interest, breathing space and hardship without hurdles, debt relief when warranted, and in-person support where needed. Those settings align with the changes AUT measured: more control, lower stress, healthier behaviours.
Voluntary versus involuntary
AUT tested whether outcomes differ for voluntary vs involuntary (court-imposed) agreements. Both groups improved across mental health, financial locus of control, and behaviours, and there was no statistically significant overall difference between the groups.
This shows that our approach of putting people first and not charging fees or excessive interest creates real, positive, and potentially life-changing benefits regardless of how people interact with us.
Customers in their own words
Open-ended responses pointed to practical learning (budgeting, sticking with manageable payments, protecting credit) and emotional shifts (relief, hope, less stress). Both voluntary and involuntary customers described feeling more empowered after engaging.
FAQs
What is “Financial Locus of Control” and why does it matter?
It’s how much someone feels their choices drive their financial situation. AUT found strong increases after people started working with us—especially on “my future depends on me.” That confidence underpins better day-to-day decisions.
What about people on court-ordered plans?
They improved too. AUT reports no significant overall difference between voluntary and involuntary groups across the main measures, the benefits still show up.
Read the full report
Read the full AUT Research report here.
