The current economic climate has seen a significant rise in those facing problems with debt. The Citizens Advice Bureau, in particular, has seen more people coming through their doors seeking advice on the subject.

The CAB is great for face-to-face advice. They now have over 3,000 centres across the UK aided by an army of volunteers, many of them specialising in the field of debt. If you do go to them for help, they will ask you to compile a list of your creditors as well as your incomings and outgoings. Then you can make an appointment with an advisor. They will go through the information you have provided as well as any other data you give them right there and then and then advise you as best they can including assessing whether it’s possible that your income may be raised.

It so often the case whereby he client believes that aside from begging to their creditors, nothing else can be done. However. They are often surprised to find that there are benefits they are entitled to which they were unaware of or taxes which they have overpaid. You will be asked to take your outgoings into account and look if there is anywhere you can realistically save. Certain debts will need to be made a priority such as rent or mortgage, rent and utility bills. Credit or personal loans will be at the bottom of the list. They will also write letters on your behalf which you will be responsible for sending to your creditors. These letters will be requests for your debts to be suspended whilst a restructured plan is being panned out.

You will work together with your advisor to agree on a figure to count as your disposable income. With that figure together with your basic living expenses, you can work out a figure that can be paid to your other creditors.

An alternative to the CAB is the Consumer Credit Counselling Service who although not as common an option as the CAB also received significant requests for debt advice.

Find sympathetic, confidential and up to date debt advice online.