National Debtline

dig4victory

I'd just like to encourage folk to contact these people if you are worried about your situations but don't know what to do next.

The package they send out is really useful for helping with various debt problems, they provide sample letters to use and lots of important advice on debt, arrears, collection agencies - EVERYTHING!

Good luck everyone! :T

rog2

There you go, d4v - you have just highlighted the benefit of talking to a Debt Counselling Charity, rather than one of the many 'private' Debt Companies that are only interested in making money out of your misfortune.
National Debtline is just one of several Debt Counselling Charities. They are particularily useful in that you can 'download' their self-help pack - and their 'template letters' are well proven.
Anyone who is experiencing 'Problems with Debt' should contact a 'Free to Use' Debt Counselling Charity as a first resort. These include, but are not limited to:

• National Debtline - www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/ - Tel. 0808 808 4000
• CCCS - www.cccs.co.uk - Tel. 0800 138 1111
• Scottish Debtline - www.scottishdebtline.co.uk - Tel. 0800 138 3328
• Christians Against Poverty - www.capuk.org/ - Tel. 01274 760720
• Debt Advisers at your local CAB

Although not, strictly a 'Charity' I would include the following organisation, which has helped many members of this forum:

• Payplan - www.payplan.com - Tel. 0800 917 7823

All of the above organisations use professionally trained debt counsellors. They are totally impartial and will NOT try to force you to agree to a solution that you are unhappy with.

As the Credit Crunch and Recession deepens, more and more people, many of whom have never experienced, or even thought they would experience, financial problems are going to find themselves in need of professional help.

One of the biggest 'problems' that they are going to experience will be making the first move to contact a 'Charity' for help. For many, the very word 'Charity' evokes images of 'Parochial Workhouses' and 'Soup Kitchens', whereas in fact these are extremely professional organisations who are able to take a detached view of your situation - something that is often very difficult for the debtor to do himself.

But PLEASE, PLEASE, to anyone who is just starting to experience Debt Problems, do not be taken in by any of the 'myriad' of Private Debt Management Companies who advertise services such as 'Write off all your debts in five years, using a little known Government Loophole'. These are often nothing less than 'IVA Factories' whose only interest in your debts is the, not inconsiderable, fee that they will take before paying anything to your creditors.

I appreciate that not every Private Debt Management Company is the same, but, to use a well worn phrase, 'Why pay for something that is widely available completely free of charge?'

fatbelly

There are various organisations that try to mimic ND and then provide services for a fee.

Everything ND does is free and the contact details are

http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk

0808 808 4000