Improving arrangements. Our client was in full-time but insecure work in the hospitality sector. Her partner was unemployed. In this period the couple built up a lot of debt including Council Tax arrears. Then things looked up. Her partner found a job. His income allowed the couple to begin a CT repayment programme. Their arrears began falling but not at the speed required in the programme. Failing to stick to […]
So much at stake. If you’re threatened with homelessness you must be constantly available. With the clock ticking it can be hard to sort out the rights of all parties. Even a short time “off the air” can be fatal. Recently we’ve seen several people risk losing their homes because they were out of contact […]
Housing tenure changes. Evidence keeps coming that housing causes many of society’s problems and divisions. This week Resolution Foundation show how far owner-occupation has fallen and why a settled home life can be so hard for low and middle income workers. Many people we see at CA Reigate & Banstead are particularly affected by the shortage of affordable houses to rent. As the foundation points out: Private […]
Reducing financial exclusion. Many bankers would privately admit that people with few assets or low incomes make less attractive customers than their better-heeled neighbours. Understandable? Yes but unhelpful to those who find it hard to make ends meet. Banks have provided basic accounts for years. Unfortunately they often had strings attached and weren’t suitable for those who needed […]
Credit policy. True or false: banks and other lenders offer a good service to customers in financial difficulty? This summer Citizens Advice Reigate & Banstead and other CABs are looking at the evidence. A positive credit score is a normal part of a secure and happy life. But getting one can be an uphill task for people on low […]
Across the country Citizens Advice saved local authorities £57m in 2014 by reducing homelessness (see below). At Citizens Advice Reigate & Banstead we value our working relationships with council members and staff to help people in arrears with council tax payment. Our advisers help the two sides agree a realistic repayment plan. That’s a plan that […]
An unnoticed policy change being considered by the government will undermine effective partnerships between local authorities and debt advice agencies. This outcome would be the opposite of a proposal the government calls Improving efficiency of council tax collection* The Department for Communities and Local Government wants to give councils information allowing them to contact a bill-payer’s employer and enforce a […]
As individuals and as a society we’re increasing our debts faster than any time since before the financial crisis in 2007. The debts come from ‘unsecured’ borrowing on credit cards, personal loans and overdrafts. This worries Bank officials by making the whole economy vulnerable to events such as those that caused the crisis. Citizens Advice […]
Festive season cost more than expected? Credit card(s) maxed out? Finding household bills hard to pay? Don’t wait till things get out of control. Take advice now. Fix an appointment with one of our debt advisers. Or check our online advice. Being in debt can feel lonely but it can get better. At Citizens Advice […]
‘Sun forces charity to ditch rip-off helplines’‘(headline on the Sun newspaper website 07 April 2014). Do they mean Citizens Advice?. Well, yes it seems they do. Imagine a 63 year old man – let’s call him Jim (an entirely fictitious character, so any resemblance to anyone alive or dead is coincidental) – calling a bureau […]