Michael Sheen’s extraordinary gesture as he pays off debts of hundreds of people
David Owens
He plays an angel on screen and he has proven he is an angel in real life by undertaking an extraordinary gesture. In an unprecedented move the actor has used his own money to write off personal debts of hundreds of people in South Wales
It’s been confirmed that Michael, who famously plays angel Aziraphale in Good Omens, has brought light and relief to many families struggling with debt with this wonderful act of benevolence.
The move was not publicly announced by the Port Talbot star, but was uncovered by fans who spotted posts on Facebook in local community groups from a television production company called Full Fat TV.
The posts read: ‘Actor Michael Sheen has been campaigning for a fairer credit system for years and in an extraordinary gesture, he has used his own money to write off personal debts for hundreds of people in South Wales. If you have received a letter from a company called Ten Acquisitions the good news is that Michael has paid off some of your debt and he’d love to hear from you. The details of how to get in touch with him are in the letter.’
Intrigued by the posts which appealed to those who had received letters from a company called Ten Acquisitions confirming that Michael had paid off debts, one fan took to X to ask him directly if the posts were true.
Fans wondered if it was somebody using his name as a scam, but the actor in replies on his X account confirmed the posts were neither clickbait nor a scam.
He wrote: ‘It’s not clickbait. I want to clarify, because we want people to get in touch.’
The campaigning Welshman, a long time advocate for a fairer credit system, has teamed up with the production company to film a documentary about the plight of those struggling due to unfair financing.
On Monday, Michael appeared in Parliament where he joined calls for a fair banking act to tackle the credit crisis affecting people and businesses.
In 2022-2023, more than 9 million were declined for credit, with millions relying on pay-day-lenders and buy-now-pay-later schemes with high interest rates. At its worst, lack of access to affordable credit means hundreds of thousands of people find themselves turning to loan sharks, while viable businesses remain stuck, unable to develop and create jobs. Campaigners are calling for a Fair Banking Act to help ensure that everyone can access essential financial services and support.
Speaking at the event in Parliament on Monday, Michael said: “Anyone can find themselves in a place where they need credit to make ends meet or to get through a difficult time. The lack of affordable credit for people on lower incomes is harming individuals and families, but also businesses and communities. Whole regions are seeing their growth held back. We can’t keep waiting and hoping that things will get better. We need something to change now. The Fair Banking Act could be the thing which really makes the difference”.
"We can’t keep waiting and hoping that things will get better. We need something to change now."@michaelsheen has joined calls for a #FairBankingAct to tackle credit crisis affecting people and businesses.
Read more from @resp_finance 👉 https://t.co/tX5sDh0KgU pic.twitter.com/PS6hzgARso
— Co-op Finance (@coop_finance) October 25, 2024
If you are one of those who have received a letter from Ten Acquisitions, Michael would love to hear from you. The details of how to get in touch with him are in the letter
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I’ve lost count of the times I’ve posted this up, but what a legend!!! Port Talbot’s finest!!!
If i knew how i would buy my mortgage from the bank for pennies in the pound and pay it off myself. Many institutions do sell dents on for far less than they are owed especially bad debts.
I had a business plan (business wales wouldn’t help because it was financial) where i would buy bad debts for pennies in the pound and offer the people the chance to pay off it off for less than they owe. Roll it out county by county and millions would payboff their debts faster.
There is/was a group in the USA who were involved in the Occupy Wall Street movement who after the protests had ended did exactly that, bought the defaulted mortgages for the pennies on the dollar and then cancelled the debt before the financial vultures who make a killing out of these financial situations got a look in. As fro reasonably priced and accessible credit, that was one of the remits that Banc Cambria was supposed to solve, along with providing banking services where they are rapidly disappearing. Llywodraeth Cymru shelved those plans claiming that the financial climate wasn’t right. This… Read more »
The last time I made a financial donation to a food bank organisation, the name on the donors list before mine was Michael Sheen for £5000. If only more people had a sharing mentality like Michael, there would be plenty to go around.
There is plenty to go around but we have governments who are afraid to tax the obscenely rich fairly. Kind acts of solidarity like yours and Mr Sheen are amazing, but that still doesn’t remove the shame on the government for food banks being required. I fear that the need for food banks will increase under this current government, not reduce, as it seems to have a similar erroneous mentality to the previous government when it comes to support for the poor. Thankfully most food banks do explicitly point out how wrong it is that they are needed at all… Read more »
He is an example of the kind of person we need in the Senedd instead of the self-serving ones we currently have there pandering to Westminster.
Agreed, Plaid Cymru are the only party who won’t bend a knee to their masters in Westminster.
Well said 👏, good post.
What a lovely man.
So generous. Michael Sheen helping the poor because our governments choose not to. Sheen for First Minister would be my choice, he does the right thing
Well done Michael Sheen. Pity the London regime don’t heed his actions and realise how so many people find themselves deep in the debt mire. Within the next week we will hear from Rachel how she can’t do the right thing but she won’t mention how she protects the seriously rich and their deviant tax mitigation scams.
Does Michael Sheen declare all his income in the United Kingdom or is he a non-dom?
The Daily Mail think that Michael Sheen is a rabid Welsh Nationalist and anti monarchist so if there’s a non-dom issue they’ll have been on to it. Have a look at their website.
He like many of us is a True Welshman but that is what we are not rabid animals just Born raised Welsh my DNA is 98% Welsh 2% Scottish but to me I’m Welsh to my soul
He lives in Wales all the time if non dom he could only stay 90 days a year so I guess our Great Welshman also pays his Taxes he financed The Homeless World Cup few years ago I heard at time it was 2 Million I may be wrong but it was the amount stated then My Hero , he did some amazing pod casts with his Mate David Tennant & Dame Judy Dench to keep us amused in Covit it was a life saver to many of us he is Wonderfull.
What a generous gentleman with principles, the world needs more people of his calibre well done 👏 Michael.
Chwarae teg Michael!