debt

500,000 people in SW cutting back on winter essentials to pay rent or mortgage

The New Year may not be very happy for hundreds of thousands of people in the South West, as research by Shelter reveals a fifth of rent or mortgage payers in the region are cutting back on winter heating and clothing to meet their housing payments. This is the equivalent to 500,000 people.

The study by housing and homelessness charity Shelter and YouGov shows the strain people in the South West face this January, with one in eight rent or mortgage payers fearing they will be unable to meet their housing costs this month.

This is despite the fact that many have already cut...

Two million cash strapped Brits cancel Christmas due to financial worries

It may be time to deck the halls with boughs of holly but, for millions of people, the season is anything but jolly. New YouGov research figures, released today, show that 2 million (2,046,545*) UK adults will not be celebrating or spending money this Christmas because of their finances. And the affordability of Christmas is also in the spotlight for millions of others, with a fifth (21%) of the UK using credit to fund their seasonal celebrations; by going into their overdraft, using a credit card, loan or payday lender.

The data is revealed as part of a YouGov study - commissioned...

Debt still a major problem in Exeter

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Thu, 12/10/2015 - 11:13am

Many Exeter residents are still facing a daily struggle with debt despite the UK’s gradual economic recovery and a fall in the number of people seeking advice, a leading debt charity has warned.

Figures released today by StepChange Debt Charity show that 618 people in the Exeter area called its helpline for advice in the first half of 2015 with average debts of £11,202. After they had paid all their essential bills, they had an average of just £15 left each month[i].

The figures coincide with StepChange Debt Charity’s new report, Navigating the New Normal, which shows that...

Exeter CAB 'Click or Call' service a success

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Mon, 11/23/2015 - 11:01am

Leading local advice charity Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau is reporting that its new ‘Click or Call’ advice and information service has been a big success since it was launched in July, with more than 1000 calls answered in the last three months.

A further 176 people have used the new webchat facility, and a pilot email service has recently been launched.

The charity is asking that clients with access to the internet firstly click the on-line advice and information resources and factsheets available at citizensadvice.org.uk The website is available 24 hours a day. The...

Sanderson Weatherall launches new integrated asset advisory service

Exeter-based chartered surveyor and property consultancy Sanderson Weatherall has launched a new integrated asset advisory service for businesses following the appointment of a debt and working capital management specialist.

Chris Brooke has been appointed associate partner within the asset based lending (ABL) valuation and advisory department. He joins Christian Humphreys, partner, and Lee Joyce, associate partner, in delivering their specialist ABL service to financial lenders, insolvency practitioners, corporate recovery specialists and private equity houses operating within a...

Exeter CAB: Priority debts still rising

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Fri, 10/09/2015 - 11:31am

Leading local advice charity, Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau, today publishes its advice trend statistics for September 2015.

Clients with urgent, or priority debts, owed an average of £6,088.76 to their creditors, an increase of 93%, or £2942.28 per client. Urgent debts include things like mortgage, rent and council tax.

The increase in the amounts owed to urgent, or priority, creditors is a real worry. Coupled with increases in enquires about things such as housing benefit, council tax arrears, and tax credits this is a clear indication that for those in debt many are...

Exeter CAB reports huge rise in urgent debt

Leading local advice charity, Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau, has today published its advice trend statistics for July 2015.

The charity helped 17% more people; with 2435 people helped directly with advice and information on 5446 individual problems since 1 April 2015.

Clients with urgent, or priority debts, owed an average of £3,039.92 to their creditors, an increase of 122.3% on the previous year. Urgent debts include things like mortgage, rent and council tax.

The increase in the amounts owed to urgent, or priority, creditors is a real worry. It is a clear...

Welcome drop in repossessions

Leading local advice charity, Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau, is welcoming an overall 39% decrease in repossession cases listed at Exeter County Court in the 3-month period ending 30th June 2015. This is in comparison with the same period last year.

Across all housing sectors, where a CAB adviser has assisted clients facing repossession, clients have avoided repossession in over 90% of cases.

Exeter City Council has provided financial support for this essential service.

Steve Barriball, Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau Chief Executive, said: “We have at least one...

Exeter CAB reports drop in client debt

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Sun, 06/21/2015 - 10:51pm

Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau says average client debt has fallen by £3,000 in the past 12 months.

The charity helped 1032 people directly with advice and information on 2424 individual problems.

On average, clients with money problems had debts totaling £7,334.90, down by £3,182.69 compared to the previous year when the average was £10,517.59

The amount of advice that the charity has been able to provide has increased in the following areas compared to last year:

Welfare benefits

• 131.2% increase in enquiries about pension credit • 68.4% increase...

Exeter CAB reports drop in client debts

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Tue, 06/02/2015 - 10:44am

Local charity Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau has published its advice trend statistics for April 2015. The charity helped 512 people directly with advice and information on 1229 individual problems.

On average, clients with money problems had debts totaling £6,927.80, down by £388.80 compared to the previous year when the average was £7,316.60.

The amount of advice that the charity has been able to provide has increased in the following areas compared to last year:

Welfare benefits

• 250.0% increase in enquiries about pension credit • 66.6% increase in...

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