Liverpool Charity dealing with hundreds of calls about debt after Christmas
A Liverpool charity says it's already dealing with hundreds of calls from people in the city who have fallen into debt over Christmas
A Liverpool charity says it's already dealing with hundreds of calls from people in the city who have fallen into debt over Christmas
Citizen's Advice say every 3 seconds someone across the UK will seek help with their finances
Radio City News has been speaking to one centre in Liverpool that spoke to just under 50 people within a few hours of opening for the first time after the festive period
As well as going online, people contacted Citizens Advice every 11 seconds with more in-depth questions around debt and money.
Citizens Advice services across the country are expecting to help as many as 2,400 people every working day in January with queries about their finances.
People are most likely to seek advice on personal pensions, bank accounts and credit referencing, while those with debts need help with council tax arrears, credit card debts and debt relief orders.
Karen Matthews works at Citizen's Advice in Garston. She said "We always know January is a difficult time of year for everyone, and usually we see an increase in around 5% to 10% in calls, but already we're already just into the New Year and we've seen an increase to 20%. I thin we're really preparing for some major intervention that we're planning for later in the week"
"Telephone calls have gone through the roof today, for people just trying to get through to get some advice"
Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice said:
“Although debt worries can be more acute in January people are also taking stock of their finances and thinking about the future.
“It doesn't’t matter what your earn - whether you are on minimum wage or have a comfortable salary - everyone can benefit from reviewing their finances.
“Considering your overall financial situation can help you find a solution for urgent problems, and start planning your finances so that you are better prepared for tomorrow and more financially secure in the long term.
“If you’d like to understand more about how your circumstances affect your money options or are struggling with debt, Citizens Advice can give you the information and advice you need to find a way forward.”