Hundreds thought to need debt help
HUNDREDS of people are expected to consult Citizens Advice Halton at the end of the month to seek help with their debts.
The final day of January could be the organisation’s busiest day of the year for giving out debt advice.
Analysis of national data from the past 12 months reveals that on January 31, 2017, Citizens Advice helped 2,800 people, 30% above the daily average.
It means one person sought help from Citizens Advice every 10 seconds.
January 30 was the most popular day for seeking advice online, with twice as many page views as average for the rest of the year.
Citizens Advice Halton is expecting more than 250 people to seek advice on debt throughout the first month of the year.
Assistance is provided to people in the borough seeking help for a wide variety of debt concerns, including council tax arrears, credit ● card debt, rent arrears, unsecured loans.
To help people kick off 2018 on a stronger financial footing, Citizens Advice Halton is sharing its six top tips to help people get their finances in order for the New Year.
Citizens Advice Halton chief officer Hitesh Patel said: “There is a surge in demand for our debt advice towards the second half of January.
“Christmas in particular can take a heavy toll on people already struggling to make their money last and leave them with a debt burden in the new year.
“This needn’t become a crisis – problems can be taken care of if you seek advice early.
“The new year is a good time to get on top of your debts, cut your costs or budget better.
“Citizens Advice can help you review your situation so you can make decisions that improve your financial security.”
Tips for residents to help keep on top of their debts include working out how much they owe, prioritising which payments should be made first, such as rent or mortgages, energy and council tax.
Other advice to residents includes working out how much they can pay by creating a budget and adding up essential living costs, how to go about paying both urgent and nonurgent debts, and to seek support from Citizens Advice if there is little or no money to spare to settle priority debts.
For information about volunteering or advice about a money problem, contact Citizens Advice Halton on 0151 257 2449 and leave a message or email advice@citizensadvicehalton.org.uk