DEBTLINE
NI
A free
service to help people in Northern Ireland with debt problems
via a dedicated helpline and website has just been launched
in Belfast.
Debtline
NI is a joint initiative between the Foundation
for Credit Counselling (FCC), responsible for administering
the UK’s leading debt charity, and the locally based
Limavady Community Development Initiative (LCDI). It is the
substantial expansion of an existing operation, following
recommendations in a report published earlier this year which
looked at the availability of money advice in Northern Ireland.
The
report recommended that the pilot operation for consumer credit
counselling
which has been run by the FCC and the LCDI in Limavady since
2001 should be “welcomed and encouraged”.
People normally
reach consumer credit counselling through recommendations from
friends, lenders and the media.
Debtline NI
is keen to reach all borrowers in financial difficulty who might
otherwise be entrapped by for-profit debt management companies
and unscrupulous loan consolidators.
The Limavady
office, which provides consumer credit counselling in Northern
Ireland, currently employs two full-time counsellors. It is shortly
to be expanded with the addition of two more counsellors and
a researcher, thanks to money received through the Community
Foundation for Northern Ireland. Debtline NI assists borrowers
in difficulty in a variety of ways: emergency help and advice,
suggestions for better money management and budgeting, in-depth
advice sessions and debt management plans.
The first point
of contact for people ringing the service is a duty counsellor
at the Foundation who assesses the degree of need. People needing
in-depth advice are referred on to the counselling centre in
Limavady. Although face-to-face counselling is available, the
vast majority of counselling is carried out by phone.
Practical assistance
as well as checks for over-indebtedness are available via the
website.
Commenting
on the launch, the Chairman of FCC, Malcolm Hurlston said:
“Credit
and debt are part of our way of life, but with low interest rates,
low unemployment and rising wages, we have created a climate of
complacency among borrowers and lenders alike. Over indebtedness
for some is inevitable as most people get into debt through no
fault of their own but because of changes in circumstances. We
are committed to providing a safety net available to help such
people.
“It
is my hope that all lenders in Northern Ireland will get behind
the initiative and refer customers with difficulties to our service.”
Debbie Mills,
senior counsellor in Limavady, added:
“Since
the beginning of this year, we have given in-depth advice session
to over 400 people while we are repaying over £8.2million
to creditors. There is a clear need for the service which we are
offering and we are well-placed to meet that need.”
Debtline NI
helplines are open 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday on 0800
027 4990 |
