The borrower in this case was a defaulter, just because he is not still here doesn't make it untrue. If you don't pay your loan back as agreed then you are a defaulter. It is not about insulating anyone or insulting the memory of anyone.
Emotions are high in this case. But neither BtoB nor the SIL actually know what corresspondance, either written or verbal occured.
The facts we have so far
Post 1
1. No repayment for 3 to 4 months
2. An offer to repay a lessor amount
3. This was declined by the CU, as is their right, and that's even though nobody asked them to do so, but they are legally entitled to do so - is that correct?
4. The borrower knew then he was defaulting, and that he was putting at risk other 'benefit's. Because he knew that they were going to or could use the shares to pay off the loan, this mean the death benefit was now cancelled as there were zero funds in the share account
Post 4
1. It is stated that the borrower did not know the shares would be offset against the loan. Well what did he think would happen? What else would a CU or bank do. It's the most logical thing to do, it means the loan stops increasing and is of benefit to the borrower.
2. If however he knew his illness was terminal, not clear yet on this thread, then he or the SIl should have stuck to the loan terms and conditions
3. The borrower in post 1 'offered' a reduced payment, and in post 4, this offer was 'revoked' by the CU. That is incorrect, what happened is that the CU declined the part payment offer. It would be incredible at that time that the borrower was not informed or did not previously know that he would then be in breach of the loan terms and conditions, and that there would be repercussions.
Post 19 - credit union meeting
1. They stated that they informed the borrower
2. That is was in writing also
3. SIL states she never received a letter, but it's entirely possible the borrower was hiding the reality from her, people do things like this
4. Odd that the Ombudsman has also no written record - didn't understand this part?
Post 44
1. SIl states there was no written correspondance
2. Confirmation that there was some oral discussion between borrower and CU
3. CU stated that they sent numerous correspondance - but OP states 'transcripts' prove otherwise - don't get this part either?
4. The CU after hearing the BIL was leaving respite suddently took the share to pay the loan
You cannot default on a loan, keep your savings and keep your death benefit. Otherwise why would anybody have any rules or terms and conditions. It's a sad case but that shouldn't colour things. So unless the CU was malicious and knew he was dying and decided to therefore offset the shares in order to prevent a payout of a) the shares, b) loan write off and c) death benefit, I would find this incredible behaviour by a CU. But in post 4 BtoB stated that the CU did not even know he was ill, which contradicted in post 44, when the borrower told them he was leaving respite.
So could the CU manager have been 'clever' in preventing the payouts by using the shares against the loans. That's the only conclusion if BtoB posts are correct.