DEPARTMENT FOR
BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM News Release (2008/321)
issued by COI News Distribution Service. 29 December 2008
Government funded
face to face debt advice services have helped over 100,000 people
in 2008, and the national telephone debt advice line has seen a
significant increase in demand for advice.
Calls to the Government funded debt advice telephone service, the
National Debtline, have increased by 40% since 2007, and demand
for Business Debtline, the service specifically for business, has
doubled comparing autumn 2008 with autumn 2007.
The charity now receives approximately 23,000 calls a month
(November 08) compared to 16,000 during 2007.
Meanwhile this year the Government funded face to face debt
advice services estimate that they have helped around 100,000
financially excluded over-indebted clients.
Consumer Affairs Minister Gareth Thomas said:
"It is imperative that when people are struggling with debt,
they seek assistance as soon as possible. There are a wide range
of organisations who provide expert advice and can really make a
difference when it comes to resolving debt problems. We have made
a firm commitment to support these services so they can continue
to help those most in need."
In the recent Pre Budget Report the Government announced an
additional £5.85 million for the National Debtline advisory
service to help cope with the additional demand.
Chief Executive of National Debtline, Paul Mullins said:
"We have helped over 90,000 National Debtline clients this
year including 8,000 struggling with mortgage arrears. We have
seen an increase of 30% in clients who have mortgage or secured
loan arrears compared to 2007."
"Thanks to additional funding (£5.85 million funding over
two years) from HM Treasury we are currently recruiting for
advisers, managers and support staff on both National Debtline and
Business Debtline. No previous experience of giving debt advice is
necessary as we provide a full training programme. There have
been various large scale redundancies announced in the West
Midlands and it is important that people know that there is
support and advice available, including various job opportunities."
Notes to editors
1. To contact a face-to-face debt adviser, see http://www.adviceguide.org.uk
or check your local phone book for your nearest Citizens Advice
Bureau. To contact National Debtline, see http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk
or call 0808 808 4000
2. The face-to-face debt advice programme employs around 500
fully qualified advisers in England and Wales spread out across
many independent advice providers as well as Citizens Advice
Bureaux. They include three national projects, one for Wales, and
one for each English region.
3. The National Debtline is the national telephone helpline for
people with debt problems in England, Scotland and Wales. The
service is free, confidential and independent. It provides
self-help advice to its callers including fact sheets and self
help packs and also takes email and written enquiries. They offer
expert advice on the full range of debts from rent arrears to
congestion charges.
4. The face-to-face service has successfully helped resolve
serious debt issues such as personal bankruptcy, and loans;
suspended house repossessions, produced financial statements on
behalf of clients and assessed available financial benefits on a
case by case basis.
5. The projects target specific geographic areas or social groups
where financial exclusion is a major problem. Many are specially
created partnerships between Citizens Advice Bureaux, members of
the Advice UK network and other independent advice providers.
6. Research has shown that although debt advice is readily
available in many forms, for example, telephone help lines and the
internet, people with severe or complicated debt often need to
deal with someone face-to-face, and are often the hardest to reach