Archive for the ‘debt’ Category

Interest on student loans to rise

Monday, September 6th, 2010

Welcome to my weekly blog and I hope you are enjoying the spat of warm weather! This week, I going to look at student loans, given it’s the that time of year again. According to a report published in The Telegraph, millions of undergraduates could be burdened with higher interest rates on loans driven by the fact that universities were “severely at risk” from budget cuts imposed to service Britain’s debt.

The Student Loans Company (SLC) has confirmed that interest rates on student loans will increase. This means bad news for the millions of students who are still repaying their debt.

According to the new rules, students who took loan before 1998 and those who borrowed later, will now have to pay interest on their debt. The SLC confirmed that those who took on the debt after 1998 will now be charged 1.5% interest. On the other hand, those who borrowed the money before this period will have to pay 4.4% interest on their outstanding balances.

What this means is that people with newer loans amounting to £10,000 will pay £150 a year, and those with older loans of £10,000 will pay £440.

According to estimates, there are over 3.3 million people who are still carrying a student debt from after 1998, while around 355,000 still have `pre-1998 loan debts`.

With the threat of double digit recession looming large, the rise in interest on student loans has further made the picture bleak for those already in debt and those who could find themselves in similar circumstances. The need of the hour is to plan finances wisely and keep expenses in control. Those already in debt, can seek expert debt advice to take control of the situation via different debt solutions like IVA and Debt Management Plan. It may be noted that most companies offer debt advice for free and so seeking expert opinion will not add to your costs.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Debt Advice, debt, debt management | No Comments »

Fake loans warning for those in debt

Monday, July 19th, 2010

The Citizen Advice Bureau has issued a warning for borrowers struggling to get credit from their banks and building societies. They have been urged to beware of companies offering fake loans for a fee.

The agency says that it has enough evidence to prove that there are bogus companies out there in the market who are preying on people who are already in debt. These companies offer fake loans by advertising directly on the internet or sometimes via a cold call or text. The modus operandi is to persuade borrowers to pay an initial set up fee that can range from anything between £35 to £2,000 to secure a loan, and then ask for bank account details too. As you may have guessed, the promised loan then fails to materialize.

Director of policy at Citizens Advice, Teresa Perchard, said: “In a recession loans can be hard to get, and people falling into debt or unable to get mainstream credit are being targeted with ads and direct contacts offering loans that really are too good to be true.”

She further pointed out that the problem is further likely to be compounded with public sector cuts because of cutbacks in services such as Trading Standards that are in a position to crack down on rogue lenders. 

Research conducted by R3, a trade body for insolvency practitioners, shows that up to 67,000 or 7% of people struggling with debts have contacted a loan shark or doorstep lender, while a further 13% have considered doing so. 

R3 president, Steven Law, said: “Going to this source for financial resolution will simply build up a larger store of debt and create more pressure and stress. We must highlight the importance of obtaining professional advice over panic measures that will worsen the problem.

“Post-recession we stand on the brink of a personal insolvency crisis that will take years to work through the system, as this finding indicates.”

Stress does take its toll when you are in debt but it is essential to proceed cautiously and seek debt advice before deciding on a course of action. Most reputed debt management companies in the UK offer debt advice for free and by consulting them you can avoid falling into more difficult situation.

There are many debt management plans like an IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement) that enable you to pay off your debt without taking further loans. Remember, advice and help is at hand if you’re struggling and help and guidance.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Debt Advice, debt, debt management | No Comments »

11% of the UK population having problems in repaying debts

Thursday, July 15th, 2010

Going by the recent government figures, Britain seems to be caught into one of the worst credit binges in history with about 11% of the UK population having problems with repaying their debts. More alarming is the fact that the figure is continuing to rise.

According to Citizens Advice while it is true that some people took loans they shouldn’t have taken in the first place, there were others who were lent irresponsibly far too much.

Cases of bankruptcies, insolvencies and unemployment are rising. A recent article in the Journal of Health Economics has also noted that there is a direct link between rising debts and mental health problems, highlighting the wider and perhaps a more serious impact that the society is facing.

For the last few years, the government has funded debt advisers to provide the free face-to-face advice to help people understand their financial situation and, more importantly, to help them negotiate with their creditors for manageable repayments. The Financial Inclusion Fund is the only dedicated government fund for providing free debt advice.

However, the fund is within the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, which has to make £1bn of cuts in the coming year, and no decision has been made on whether to continue free provision.

In this climate of austerity, one option is to seek debt advice from reputed debt management companies who can help you deal with your financial problems. If you are dealing with multiple unsecured debts, you can seek a face-to-face meeting with a debt advisor who can give you a clear picture of what’s going on and how you can engage with the problem.

Seeking debt advice can save you a lot of stress, especially if you’re facing eviction, have rising multiple debts, complex financial problems, and bailiffs knocking at your door.

So remember, free advice and help is available for you to take advantage of and we are always happy to give you the help and support you need.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Debt Advice, Debt Help, debt, debt management | No Comments »

New mothers forced to go back to work to deal with mounting debt

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

Welcome to my weekly blog and I hope you all are having a nice summer and enjoying the World Cup – now from a neutral point of view!

A recent study reveals that more than half of new mothers return to work due to financial pressures, with many cutting their maternity leaves. According to the survey, 56% women admitted they were unprepared for the fiscal impact of having a child. The survey was conducted by the comparison website uSwitch.

The study paints an image which is a stark contrast to that of modern mothers “having it all”. More than half (52%) of those returning to work after the birth of a child do so because of debt problems.

These are some of the highlights of the study:

  • Only 22% women choose to return because they want to continue their career.
  • The average net household income drops by 34% from £3,431 to £2,266 a month while on statutory maternity pay. However, costs soar, with parents spending an average of £2,152 in the run up to the birth on baby items, and a further £2,521 – more than a month’s reduced net household income – after the baby is born.
  • The average amount saved in anticipation of having a baby is £3,265, but 56% of the 1,000 mums questioned for the survey said they were not fully prepared for the impact of surviving on a reduced income.
  • Nearly a third of new mums were not aware of their company’s maternity package when they decided to have a baby.
  • More than four in 10 mums have ended up in debt while on maternity leave, incurring an average of £1,329.

Ann Robinson, consumer policy director at uSwitch, said: “Debt and financial considerations combine to be the biggest motivating factor behind new mothers returning to the workplace. Despite women being told that they can ‘have it all’ and can choose whether to be a working or stay-at-home mum, the fact is that most have this choice stripped away from them by the financial realities of modern life.

With the new government planning to cut child trust funds and the impending budget causing concerns over pay freezes and redundancies, family finances are under more pressure than ever. The high cost of living coupled with the often crippling cost of a mortgage means that many households today need two incomes to get by. Unfortunately, new mothers are often paying the price for this by seeing their choices taken away.”

I always stress the importance of seeking impartial and good debt advice. It is the first and often the most difficult step to take but it is also the most important. If you are worried and are struggling, act now.

Thanks

Nigel

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Debt Advice, Debt Help, debt, debt management | No Comments »

CAB: Additional 2.4 million people sought debt advice in 2009

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

Welcome to the latest edition of my blog.  According to the latest annual statistics from the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), an additional 2.4 million enquiries for debt advice were received by its call centres in 2009 compared to 2008.

The CAB report shows that of all the calls they received, 34 percent were from people who sought debt advice. In fact, debt advice was the largest topic of advice sought by CAB callers.

The report further shows that compared to the previous year the debts owed to private bailiffs increased by 38 per cent. A total of 19,090 enquiries regarding private bailiffs were made compared to 13,845 the previous year.

Chief Executive of the CAB, David Harker said “We know from our frontline that the human impact of the recession is far from over for people who have lost their job or their home, or both, in the past two years. Yet, there are millions more people struggling with debt and poverty, or missing out on welfare benefits, that Citizens Advice Bureau want to be able to assist.”

Between April 2009 and March 2010 the CAB provided advice on 7.1 million issues which is an increase of 18 per cent on the previous year. Enquiries regarding mortgage and secured loan arrears also increased by 21 per cent over the same period.

David Harker further said, “We were able to help more people last year thanks to some generous additional funding from the government and many local councils. However much of this was short term, and our network of community based services, which rely on the generous help of 21,000 volunteers, may not be able to help as many people in future if funding is cut. It is absolutely vital that we are able to continue to provide the invaluable service we deliver to local communities without risk of major cuts.”

If government cuts are carried out people will still need professional debt advice to help them find a solution based on their personal financial circumstances. Aside from the Citizen Bureau, there are many debt management companies in the UK that are providing free debt advice. If you are in debt, it is important to get reliable, helpful and free debt advice at the earliest.

We ClearStart understand how stressful debt can be and we offer advice on all debt solutions including IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement), specific to your needs. Remember, advice should always be in your best interest.

Thanks

Nigel

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Debt Advice, debt, debt management | No Comments »

Tax rise could mean debt trouble for over-55s

Monday, June 14th, 2010

Tax rise could mean debt trouble for over-55s

Welcome to the latest edition of my blog. The focus this week is on tax rises and in particular the effect it will have on people approaching retirement. A recent suggests that people in the over-55s age bracket are more worried about the impact of tax rises on their day-to-day spending and also on their debt management. Needless, to say the worry is adversely affecting their health also.

The study, which was conducted by Aviva, reveals that one in five people aged over 55 are worried about getting into debt or managing their existing debt as also about the rising cost of living.

The study shows that almost two-thirds (64 per cent) are worried by the possibility of rises in taxation over the coming five years. These fears are the highest amongst those who have just retired amounting to 68 per cent of 65 to 74-year-olds surveyed.

Debt management capabilities of the people have already been hit by the recent economic turbulence. People whose pensions were linked to the stock market between 2008 and 2010 are likely to have witnessed their income drop due to the impact of the recession on share prices around the world. A further rise in taxation would adversely affect their retirement savings for paying off mortgages and other debts.

For people in this age group, it is imperative that they seek debt advice immediately. Most reputed debt management companies in the UK offer free debt advice. Talk to their counsellors in confidence about your debt and they will recommend debt solutions that are tailored to your circumstances. However, as a note of caution it is also important to point out that some companies may not provide you impartial advice. This is because they are backed by certain lenders and so selling their solutions would mean a better commission for them. To play it safe, it is better that you consult more than one company to study the range of debt solutions available.

If Browse through our website and you will find information about the different Debt Solutions available in UK including Debt Management Plans (DMP), Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA), Bankruptcy and how to avoid bankruptcy.

I hope you have a nice week and if you’re a football fan like myself, then enjoy the World Cup.

Thanks

Nigel

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Debt Advice, Debt Help, debt, debt management | 1 Comment »

Average household in Britain owes £57,950 in debt

Friday, June 4th, 2010

Another day goes by and the nation sees itself further in debt. According to the latest figures, the collective debt of personal debts in Britain amounts to £1,460bn, which means as individuals, people owe more than what the whole country produces in a year.

A more disturbing fact is that the debt problem is only getting worse. The figures for March 2010 show that personal debt further increased by £0.6bn. The interest payments on that debt were £67.8bn in the last year alone. What this means is that the average household now owes £57,950 while the average amount owed by every UK adult is £30,258. Further, the average interest being paid by each household on their debt is about £2,692 each year while £186m-worth of personal interest is paid out each day in the UK.

Apart from mortgages, people also owe an increasing amount on plastic and loans. Studies show that the average consumer borrowing through overdrafts, credit cards, motor and retail finance deals and unsecured personal loans went up to £4,593 per average UK adult at the end of March 2010. Also, a property is repossessed every 11.4 minutes and someone is declared insolvent or bankrupt every 3.69 minutes.

There are various reasons that have contributed to this. The ‘buy now and pay later’ concept is definitely to blame but added to this is the fact that many people have lost their jobs during the recession. Also, the earnings too have taken a nosedive. As a result, people are now in a situation when they are unable to make their monthly payments.

Disturbing as this may sound, what is important to remember is that a bad debt situation can come under control provided you explore all options available. If you are facing serious debt, the first step you should take is to seek debt advice. Most reputed debt management companies in the UK offer debt advice for free. The experts will study your individual situation and suggest whether an informal debt management plan, a debt consolidation loan, or an IVA will help you on the path of recovery or else if everything else fails, you can declare bankruptcy. Seeking debt advice can also help you to understand preventive measures you can take to avoid falling into the debt trap.

I hope you enjoy the weekend and weather and long may it last!

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Debt Advice, debt, debt management | 1 Comment »

Unnecessary stigma hinders people in the UK from seeking debt management help

Monday, April 26th, 2010

Welcome to the latest edition of my blog and I hope you all had a lovely weekend.

The focus of this weeks posting is on the stigma associated with debt.

New research from R3, the insolvency trade body, shows that there is still unnecessary stigma attached to seeking debt help and as result people who do not take debt management options well on time, sink deeper into the debt trap.

The latest figures from R3 reveal that 30 per cent of people who face financial trouble do not even inform their immediate family about it. The study further reveals that 19 per cent of people cannot face opening their bills at the end of the month.

The research adequately highlights the fact that this unnecessary embarrassment and fear is hindering people from accessing appropriate debt management advice and as a result they are letting their amount of debt accumulate.

Labelling this as a “damming spiral of personal debt,” R3 President Peter Sargent commented, “even after a long recession people are still terrified to ‘own up’ to debt problems. Yet this ultimately makes the issue worse – we know there is a group who are not addressing their financial problems and can’t even come clean to partners or family about them.”

He further revealed that 21 per cent of those struggling with debts did not know where to turn for financial help, despite the plethora of debt management companies available to lend support to consumers.

Another interesting finding of the report was that 90 percent of those facing hardship felt that money management should become part of the school curriculum.

Meanwhile, a poll of 3,000 people conducted by a financial services website yesterday shows that the average person now holds personal debts in excess of £6,000. This further highlights the need for debt management plans.

As always, help is on hand if you are struggling with debts and as previously mentioned in this blog, you really aren’t alone. If there is one important lesson to take from this is that acting now can make all the difference.

I hope you have a lovely week and hopefully the weather holds out for the bank holiday weekend.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Debt Advice, Debt Help, debt | No Comments »

Bankruptcy a growing concern for pensioners

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

Welcome to the latest edition of my blog and I hope you all had a pleasant and relaxing Easter Break.

Earlier this week, I read a research report by Prudential, the financial management and investment company. One of the points that stood out the most is that people retiring this year are extremely concerned regarding the amount of money their pension will be worth.

So what does this mean in real terms? Pensioners retiring this year believe they will receive £1,270 a year less than those who entered retirement in 2009 and more than £2,150 less than those who retired in 2008. Almost one fifth of pensioners expect to receive £10,000 or less.

Andy Brown, director of investment funds at Prudential, said that the recession has clearly had a major impact on peoples’ expectations of their pensions and they had adjusted their expectations as a result of the economic turmoil of the last couple of years.

Added to this is the fact that there has been a drastic fall in housing prices and those who were depending on their home equity to help them manage their finances are now facing a negative equity situation.

Again, this report highlights the need for people regardless of age to act quickly if the burden of debt is becoming unbearable. Remember – help and advice is freely available. ClearStart is here to provide expert debt advice for different debt solutions including IVA and Debt Management Plans.

On a lighter note, if you are a golfing fan – enjoy the Masters this week!

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Debt Advice, bankruptcy, debt | No Comments »