Family and friends key to raising awareness of free debt help

National debt charity Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) says that family and friends are key to preventing people paying for debt advice unnecessarily.

CCCS says that many struggling debtors pay for debt advice because they are unaware that free help is available. It stresses that family and friends are crucial in raising awareness of free debt help with one fifth of the 418,000 people who contacted the charity last year referred to it by a friend or family member.

The charity says that everyone should understand the vital lifeline they can provide to people they know who are struggling with debts and refer them to free sources of debt help. It is warning that this help will be increasingly needed as budget pressures such as inflation and wage freezes lead to growing numbers needing debt help.

Delroy Corinaldi, CCCS External Affairs Director, says: "The next year will be very difficult for many people and I am concerned that those struggling with debt will end up being charged for debt advice because they are unaware that free advice and support is available.

"It is crucial that people understand the role they can play in helping their friends and family who are struggling with debt by making them aware of free sources of advice such as CCCS, National Debtline and Citizens Advice."

The CCCS free phone helpline 0800 138 1111 is open 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday. Online counselling tool CCCS Debt Remedy is available at cccs.co.uk/ 24 hours a day, seven days a week.