Debt Advice

The Citizens Advice Bureau will act on behalf of clients with financial problems on the following basis:Help to understand your situation and explain the options open to you
  • Establish what debts you have and your liability for them
  • Identify those debts which are a priority and must be dealt with promptly
  • Examine ways in which you can increase your income
  • Examine ways of reducing your expenditure and help to prepare a budget
  • Using the information you provide to prepare a Financial Statement which will be used to negotiate and, if possible, reach agreement with your creditors

The key to finding practical solutions is to explore the whole debt problem.

Step 1            Finding out about your debts

  • Details of your creditors and what they've done
  • How much you owe them and whether it can be challenged
  • Which debts are emergencies and what can be done immediately
  • Whether the debts are a priority or non-priority

Step 2            Finding out about your available income and any assets

  • Details of your income and expenditure
  • Details of any opportunities to increase your income
  • Details of any opportunities to raise capital sums

Step 3            Deciding a strategy for dealing with your creditors

  • Explore options available
  • Dealing with priority debts
  • Dealing with non-priority debts
  • Working out possible repayment levels

Step 4            Negotiating with your creditors

  • Drawing up a financial statement
  • Contacting creditors with offers
  • Contacting courts if necessary

Step 5            Monitoring Progress

  • Correspondence
  • Payment Management Plan
  • Reviews

For more information about the service available from the Citizens Advice Bureau visit the Advice Guide website.

Citizens Advice Bureau is a member agency of the Money Advice Trust who are committed to improving the availability of quality money advice.

Money advice offers a structured approach to managing severe personal debt. Advisers are trained to assess the situation, offer reassurance, maximise their clients' income if possible and negotiate with creditors on their behalf.

The adviser will check if you are entitled to any extra income, such as tax relief or state benefits. They will check that you are responsible for the debts you are being asked to pay, and make sure that you pay the most important debts first. These will usually be your rent or mortgage, Council Tax and fuel bills.

They can also help you work out and negotiate repayment plans with the people you owe the money to. The repayment plans will be based on what you can realistically afford to pay after your essential living costs have been met. If you have to go to court, the adviser can help you prepare your case and may be able to represent you. You can get money advice from the following organisations who provide free, confidential, independent and impartial advice:

Useful contacts:

Payplan: Payplan are one of the UK's leading debt advice agencies and provide free debt management plans with on-line payment tracking.  Individual voluntary arrangements are available with no up-front fees as well as free, impartial, confidential advice on all debt related issues. Call 0800 917 7823

National Debtline: National Debtline provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice by telephone in England, Wales and Scotland. They give expert advice on dealing with debts and a free self-help pack. Call 0808 808 4000

AdviceUK: AdviceUK is a trade association for over 1000 information and advice centres. About 300 centres provide debt advice.  To find your nearest advice centre you can call AdviceUK on 020 7407 4070 or look on their website.

Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS): CCCS is a charity funded by the financial services industry specialising in debt management plans. Call 0800 138 1111

Community Legal Service (CLS):  Contact Community Legal Service Direct, for free quality legal help and information. You can find a solicitor or legal adviser in your area, link to the right place on the best advice sites in the UK, see if you are eligible for legal aid or view legal information leaflets. Information is available in English, Welsh, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Turkish and Urdu.

Agencies that charge a fee Several agencies offer advice on debt management in return for a fee. Always ask about the charges before you decide to use one of these agencies and seek independent advice.