Dumfries & Galloway Citizens Advice Service (D&G CAS) is launching a new campaign aimed at helping local people who are struggling with debts.
D&G CAS is revealing that over the last year they saw 602 clients in relation to debt and dealt with 1228 debt enquiries.
The charity reports that a combination of furlough ending, cuts to universal credit, high energy bills and overall increased costs of living has created a difficult situation for many local households, who have found it impossible to make ends meet without taking out loans. Others have found they are unable to re-pay existing debts.
As a result, the CAB is launching the local arm of the national Citizens Advice campaign, Debt Happens. You’re Not Alone. The month-long campaign aims to persuade people to seek expert debt advice from the CAB.
Launching the campaign, Money Advice Co-ordinator, Carole Benzie, said:
“With the cost of living increasing daily for all of us. Those that can least afford it are realising spiralling debts that they simply can’t manage.
“Our campaign is all about reaching out to those people, telling them that they’re not alone, and that support is available. All they have to do is contact us.
“Debt is a horrible situation to be in. It can affect your mental health and relationships as well as your finances. We understand that it can be hard to seek help, and we recognise there can be shame and stigma attached, but debt is nothing to be ashamed of. It happens. Our advisers are not judgemental or critical. We just want to help. It’s what we do every day.
“So, if you contact us, you get our expert advice, which is free, sympathetic, confidential, independent and effective. We can talk to your creditors to give you more time, reduce repayments or even seek to write off some of your debt. We’ll also look at ways to boost your income, make savings and cut the costs of daily living.
“Our advice is completely free and our message to people is you should never have to pay to receive debt advice. Charities like ours are here to help with debt or money worries and will never charge you for that help.
“Don’t suffer in silence – Come and talk to us. We’re ready to help you.”
You can contact us by phone, 0300 303 4321, email at [email protected] or through our website. We also have bureaux in Dumfries, Annan and Stranraer.
Or you can get our advice online at cas.org.uk/debt-happens.
