CAB Independent Advice...NOT!

1313

royboy1 wrote:

Booklets come and go and I am afraid I am not familiar with the ones you have. They do not however form the basis of the advice giving process.

So what sort of training does a CAB worker receive specifically when it comes to debt advice?

royboy1

"A little while ago I went to two CAB offices wanting to sort out my Debt problems. After a short chat I was sent away with a booklet explaining what to do about it."

1313 Have you had an interview with a General Adviser or did you ask the receptionist for some printed material? If the former you should have come away with a clear plan of action to be taken either by yourself, by the CAB or a combination of the two. This would have been free and totally impartial.

The CAB does have specialist debt units in many branches so you could be referred to one of these if your problems are not clearcut. Unfortunately these units are under severe pressure at this time so an appointment may not be as soon as wished for.

All Generalist Advisers, myself included, have 6-9 months training before advising anyone on anything. Debt is part of that training.


"So now I feel as though if I am looking for help, the only free and impartial place is here."
I am really sorry you feel this way.
The CAB is totally free, totally impartial and open to EVERYONE
The internet is certainly not free and is absolutely everybody on here impartial?

1313

royboy1 wrote:

All Generalist Advisers, myself included, have 6-9 months training before advising anyone on anything. Debt is part of that training.

Yes but how long is the training for debt??

royboy1

1313 - Have you had a 45 minute appointment with a General Adviser to discuss your specific debt problems?

Debt is one of the 5 main areas of study for a General Adviser. The training is 6 - 9 months long. The Adviser is then tested on all areas of advice giving before being certified and allowed to advise. An adviser has access to an internal database which will guide themselves, and the client, through most types of debt problems. If the case is complicated there is always an Advice Session Supervisor who will be usually be able to assist.

Failing that the client can be referred to a Specialist CAB debt unit subject to availibility. The CAB also has access to internal and external legal experts in the debt field that are not available to the general public.

In short the CAB offers free access to a highly comrehensive support network for people with debt concerns.

IN_LIKE_EVERYONE_ELSE!

And sponsored by the banks.......

royboy1

I'll say it again. No part of the actual advice process is sponsored by anyone.
The CAB relies on companies and individuals donations to keep its work going.See below for link to funding.

90% of the workforce are volunteers doing it for nothing. As one of them I find the petty carping and false questioning of impartiality and integrity deeply insulting.

http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/publications/annualreportarchive/annual-report-2005-html-index/annual-report-2005-p-06.htm

Fran

It seems that the problem is with these booklets, not with the actual advice, so have you complained to CAB about them? If it is not clear who to contact you could point this out and if it is the bank (unlikely) then point out your objection and the fact it isn't clear. Each bureau is managed independently of the others so may have booklets that are produced locally with local sponsers.

bobandliz

I am not particularly happy with banks & some of the treatment they give to people BUT I do know that the CAB is a charity & makes any money from donations, etc. Many of their publications are sponsored by the financial sector. I see nothing wrong with this as long as there are steps in place to make sure nothing dodgy goes on. I am sure the CAB would never allow banks funding them, to influence their work.

Another consideration.....perhaps the banks sponsor bad bebt publications because it wants to be seen as caring OR they hope people will get the help they need as soon as possible helping the bank to minimise its loss. It doesnt always have to be about the bank influencing whats actually in the publication does it?

1313

So when it comes to the literature, it is a bit of a lottery. Surely they should all be singing from the same hymn sheet?

Fran

1313 wrote:

So when it comes to the literature, it is a bit of a lottery. Surely they should all be singing from the same hymn sheet?

The actual advice will be within the limitations set by Citizens Advice, but no-one has criticised the actual advice given have they? (Except for the "contact us not being clear").