Help for gays in debt – and it’s free
The Citizens Advice Bureau is targeting LGBT debt sufferers as part of a wider campaign to reduce the number of people in debt.
The charity has revealed that they dealt with 1.4 million new debt problems last year and indications show that this will rise even further in the 2006/2007 financial year.
Teresa Perchard, Director of Policy for Citizens Advice expressed concern about the rising numbers:
“Our bureaux are reporting a continuing increase in the number of debt problems people need help with.
“The combination of people experiencing increases in fuel bills, and rising housing costs puts additional pressure on people’s finances which were already stretched to the limit.”
A CAB survey found that the organisation dealt with 15% more debt problems in January 2007 than in the same month last year.
This equated to 83,000 new debt problems, the equivalent of 3,700 debt problems every working day.
Ms Perchard went on to urge people in debt problems to seek help as soon as possible.
“We cannot stress enough the importance of telling your creditors as soon as you have difficulties in paying – they should treat you sympathetically,” she said.
Rosiland Pearson, a spokeswoman for the National Citizens Advice Bureau, told PinkNews.co.uk that debt can happen to anyone:
“Most people take out credit when they can afford it but then something unexpected happens to them like losing a job or overtime, falling ill, a relationship breaking down or even a small rise in the interest rate.
“For some, they really have over-committed themselves in the first place.
“The Citizens Advice Bureau is a network of independent charities that helps people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by lobbying policymakers.”
To contact the Citizens Advice Bureau visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk or call their volunteer hotline 08451 264264.
