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Specialist Debt Agencies
Should your or your colleagues financial situation seem impossible and debts are overwhelming, then there are specialist debt agencies that you can turn to, that do not charge for giving advice to people. Below are a few of the well known ones along with contact details.
John Kirkby founded CAP in 1996 in response to the tremendous poverty he saw in his home city of Bradford. As a Christian, he believed God was calling him to use the skills gained through 17 years experience in the consumer finance industry to reach out to people suffering under the burden of debt. CAP aims to show God’s love in action by providing sustainable poverty relief through debt counselling, advice and practical help. CAP’s unique ‘hands on’ approach empowers people to help themselves out of poverty and be released from the fear, oppression and worry generated by overwhelming debts. Vital financial and budgeting life skills are developed through our services, thus ensuring poverty relief is sustainable.
The charity operates through a growing network of centres based around the UK, all opened in partnership with a local church. Over the last ten years, the charity has grown from one man working from his home with a donation of £10, to a national charity with 64 centres across the country. After contacting CAP for help, they will arrange for a debt counsellor to visit you at home to gather your financial information. Home visits ensure that all of the paperwork is to hand and avoids problems caused by lack of transport or child care. On the first visit the counsellor will explain how CAP helps, the implications, and the next steps. They will also offer to pray for your situation. This, however, is a purely optional part of the service.
Following a decision to work with CAP, the counsellor will prioritise essential bills such as mortgage payments and electricity bills. They will then contact these companies to agree repayments to complete a budget to see you out of debt in a reasonable time. Your budget will also include savings for Christmas or emergencies. The counsellor will visit you again to talk you through the budget and how to make payments.
Shelter has more than 50 offices across Britain who offer professional, independent and free advice. They can tell you your rights, explain your options and help you take action. They can also work with you to negotiate with your council, landlord or lender.
Shelter has more than 30 years' experience in dealing with housing problems and may be able to:
• help with practical problems
• explain complicated legal issues
• help you negotiate with your landlord, lender or the council
• help you to request and prepare for homelessness reviews, tribunals or court hearings
• put you in touch with other organisations that can help you.
They also recognise how one problem can lead to another, so many of their local advice centres can help with:
• disability and/or care needs
• debt problems
• welfare benefits.
The Consumer Credit Counselling Service is a registered charity whose purpose is to assist people who are in financial difficulty by providing free, independent, impartial and realistic advice.
The Foundation for Credit Counselling, based in Leeds, is the umbrella charity for the Consumer Credit Counselling Service in the United Kingdom. Through its free national telephone service, ten regional centres and online CCCS Debt Remedy, CCCS is able to help people with debt problems wherever they live.
Based on a proven and successful formula, our specialist advisory service has already helped thousands of people in the UK by providing counselling on personal Budgeting, advice on the wise use of credit and, where appropriate, managing achievable plans to repay debts.
The Citizens Advice service helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice, and by influencing policymakers.
Every Citizens Advice Bureau is a registered charity reliant on trained volunteers and funds to provide these vital services for local communities. |
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