This experience has completely undermined my trust in what 1st Class Credit Union claims to stand for. I am a working professional in public service,... This experience has completely undermined my trust in what 1st Class Credit Union claims to stand for. I am a working professional in public service, and I approached the credit union for support to resolve a very specific, practical issue — securing a reliable vehicle to maintain my ability to work. This was not a luxury request; it was directly linked to protecting my income and stability. I have been a member since August and have maintained all repayments in full and on time. I was previously approved for borrowing and then encouraged into a debt consolidation loan, which cleared existing balances with the credit union itself. I accepted this based on guidance that it would strengthen my position. After meeting every condition set, I returned for support to address the one issue now impacting my financial stability — transport. Instead of being assessed on the full context, I was declined again. What makes this particularly difficult to accept is that the credit union was fully aware of the consequences. I explained clearly that without a reliable vehicle, my ability to maintain my employment is at risk. This was not hypothetical — it is a real and immediate risk. Despite this, no meaningful support or alternative solution was offered. The matter was escalated to senior leadership, including the CEO, and I spent over an hour providing full transparency around my situation, including recent housing disruption and unavoidable financial pressures. I demonstrated that, even through this period, I have continued to meet all financial commitments responsibly. Despite this, the outcome appears to have been driven purely by internal exposure limits rather than any genuine assessment of affordability or member conduct. In other words, support was withdrawn at the exact point it was most needed. The communication throughout was also poor. I was told I would receive a decision call on Friday, which did not happen due to a disconnected call and early office closure. I was then left over the weekend with no clarity, followed by further delays the next working day despite confirming availability. Credit unions position themselves as an ethical alternative to traditional lenders, built on supporting members through real-life situations. In this case, that principle did not translate into action. The reality is that a long-standing, up-to-date member, with a clear and manageable solution to stabilise their finances, was declined at the point where support could have prevented further hardship. This experience raises serious questions about whether member support is genuinely at the core of decision-making, or whether standard lending limits ultimately override the very purpose the organisation promotes. Read more Read less

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