Citizens Advice calls on people in debt to share experiences

Citizens Advice, the charity which helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free information and advice, is working with National Debtline and Advice UK on a major project looking at people's experience of dealing with their own debt problems.

A significant number of people in debt decide to manage negotiations with creditors themselves. They will sometimes have sought initial guidance from an advice agency, but will take everything else forward on their own.

The credit industry largely advises people in difficulty to call them and discuss their problems, but evidence from Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) shows that they are not always treated sympathetically or positively.

Alex MacDermott, creditor liaison policy officer at Citizens Advice says:

"Last year nearly one million people in England and Wales sought free advice on debt related problems. A major part of this work involves giving clients the information and support they need to take control of their debt problems. Unfortunately, we are seeing more and more clients coming back and telling us that their offers won't be looked at unless they are endorsed by a third party such as their local CAB."

Citizens Advice are keen to hear from anyone who has tried to deal with their own debt problems, whether the experience was good or bad, in preparation for a report due to be launched in November this year.

To take part in a short survey on this subject please visit: adviceguide.org.uk and click on the ‘dealing with your debts' logo. Respondents will be asked why they decided to act on their own behalf, what happened when they did and what changes they would like to see to improve the system.

The report is a major collaboration between three of the biggest providers of debt advice in England and Wales. It aims to make recommendations for changes in current practice, so that everyone can more easily access good quality advice and information, become debt free and get back on track with their finances.

Anyone facing debt related problems and seeking further advice can visit: adviceguide.org.uk or call into their local bureau for further support. The advice guide website contains a number of fact-sheets for dealing with different types of debt, including mortgage arrears, utilities arrears and how to deal with bailiffs.