The future of debt advice...

fatbelly

...is in the hands of the Money Advice Service

I can't find a direct link to their press release so here's one to the report in Credit Today.

http://www.credittoday.co.uk/article/13500/online-news/money-advice-service-reveals-new-debt-tackling-measures

and to a pdf booklet 'A better deal for everyone'

Here's hoping...

fermi

For some god unknown reason, they only seem to have the press release in pdf format.

http://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/_assets/downloads/pdfs/press_releases/20122202_money_advice_service_reveals_plans_to_help_people_in_debt_difficulty.pdf

MONEY ADVICE SERVICE REVEALS PLANS TO HELP PEOPLE IN DEBT DIFFICULTY:
Focus on timely help that meets customer need & applies consistent standards wherever customers go;

Approach based on new evidence that two million households need debt advice The Money Advice Service outlined today its objectives for co-ordinating personal debt advice services from 1 April. This follows the Government’s request to the Service to initiate a new era of free advice provision.

Its focus will be to ensure timely help is provided to customers and that consistently high standards of advice are applied across the country wherever over-indebted customers may turn.

The Money Advice Service revealed the main features of its new approach at a meeting in London today attended by Consumer Minister Norman Lamb MP, representatives of advice agencies and financial organisations.

Putting customers first

The highlights of the new approach are:

• a commitment to automatic referral of customers by creditors to an effective advice service so people get the best advice for their needs before a crisis is reached;
• improved availability of “triage” services for customers, so those who need it get the right kind of timely advice online, on the phone or face-to-face, with a solution satisfactory to both creditors and debtors;
• increased participation of creditors in “fair-share” arrangements; and
• more consistent and higher standards of service delivery wherever customers go

The Money Advice Service will co-ordinate the work of debt advice organisations to help meet the needs of people seeking such support. It will build on the work by partners across the UK and, following a transitional period, new arrangements will be in place from the autumn of 2013.

A new approach to debt advice: a better deal for everyone

The Money Advice Service’s approach is based on new evidence showing that two million households a year would value debt advice.

From 1 April, its new role in debt service provision will be twofold:

• developing a model of efficient debt advice delivery with customer needs at its heart, supporting
customers in crisis and encouraging them to act early; and
•ensuring that the long-term funding of debt advice is placed on a sustainable footing,
recognising the importance of the creditor industry in its development.

Key to its approach is the recognition that debt advice not only improves the wellbeing of individuals, it can increase collection rates for creditors, reduce court costs and help cut down on repossessions.

A transitional period

In the transitional period from April 2012 to March 2013, the Money Advice Service will enter new agreements with existing face-to-face debt advice providers, currently operating directly under the auspices of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). These will focus on service delivery and an increased volume of direct contact for those in most need from 100,000 to 150,000 customers per year.


A modernised debt service from 2013

Alongside these transitional arrangements, the Money Advice Service will introduce longer-term changes to put customers first.

As well as a new debt advice service to complement its broader consumer activity, the Money Advice Service will commence a tender process this autumn for the provision of a new face-to-face service starting from the autumn of 2013. The Money Advice Service will be encouraging a wide range of firms and agencies to participate in this process.

fatbelly

I'm not sure if this really adds anything but it's a press release I missed a couple of weeks back so I'll add it here:

Money Advice Service publishes business plan for co-ordination of debt advice as £18m agreement with Citizens Advice is concluded