Managing Your Money
If you are concerned about managing your money or you have
debts, try not to worry, but do not ignore your problem – it won’t
go away. If you're having trouble council bills, please
contact the relevant department straight away - we may be able to
help.
Council Tax
If you're having trouble paying your Council Tax contact
Revenue
Services. We can arrange a repayment schedule and you may
be eligible for a reduction in your Council Tax.
Rents
If you're having trouble paying your council rent contact
Housing Services. We can
arrange a repayment schedule and you may be eligible to
receive Housing Benefit.
There are many organisations that can give you advice about debt
and money problems. They are listed below:
British Bankers’ Association
(BBA)
- The BBA
produce some useful leaflets on proving your identity and a range
of banking services.
- Telephone: 020 7126 8800.
Financial Services Authority (FSA)
- The FSA
provide an
online financial health check service. This can help
you work out your financial priorities and make decisions about
your money.
- The FSA
also have an online budget
calculator to help you to think about your spending and to work
out whether you have enough money coming in to cover your
outgoings.
Consumer Credit Counselling Service
(CCCS)
- The CCCS provides free
debt advice over the phone. Everything is free and confidential,
from budgeting advice to practical Debt Management Plans. This
service is available to everyone in the UK
- Email Consumer Credit Counselling
Service
- Telephone: 0800 1381111
- Consumer Credit Counselling Service, Wade House, Merrion
Centre, Leeds, LS2 8NG
Citizens Advice
Bureau (CAB)
- CAB offer
advice on debt problems and a very wide range of other money and
non-money topics. For details on your local Citizens Advice Bureau,
see our Citizens Advice webpage.
National Debtline
- This is a telephone-based service and is a national helpline
for people with debt problems in England, Wales and Scotland. They
will discuss debt problems with you and explain the options
available to you.
- Telephone: 0808 808 4000
- National Debtline, Tricorn House, 51-53 Hagley Road, Edgbaston,
Birmingham, B16 8TP
Payplan
- Payplan provide free debt advice and management.
- Email
Payplan
- Telephone: 0800 917 7823
- Payplan Ltd, Kempton House, Dysart Road, Grantham, NG31
7LE
The UK Insolvency
Helpline
Age Concern
- Age Concern provides information on income and benefits for
older people.
- Email
Age Concern
- Telephone: 0800 00 99 66
- Age Concern England, Astral House, 1268 London Road, London,
SW16 4ER
Credit Action
- Credit Action provides information and guidance for people with
debt or money worries.
- Email Credit
Action
- Telephone: 0207 436 9937
- Credit Action, Howard House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln,
LN6 3QN
Advice UK
- Advice UK is a registered charity and is the UK's largest
support network for free, independent advice centres.
- Email Advice UK
- Telephone: 0207 407 4070
- Head Office, 12th Floor, New London Bridge House, 25 London
Bridge Street, London, SE1 9SG
Talkaboutdebt
If you are struggling to live on the money you have or are
experiencing problems with debt, you may want to think about
whether you are getting all the benefits or tax credits that you
are entitled to.
For more information and advice you can visit the central
government money advice section on the DirectGov
website. This also has a wide range of public service
information and links to other organisations which you may find
useful if you are looking for help or advice.
Opening a bank/building society account
You can get help and advice about opening a bank account from
the Financial Services
Authority.
You can get advice about opening and running a bank account from
any bank or building society. And there are many organisations that
can give you advice about money, including if you have already
tried to open an account and have not been able to. Please see
below details of some useful contacts.
This webpage was updated on
11/14/2008