Getting help with debt

If you are struggling to repay your debts and you start missing payments, interest and charges from your lender can mean that the debt grows quickly.

The higher the interest rate, the more quickly it will increase - so, for example, credit card debt will usually grow more quickly than a personal loan. But regardless of how quickly your debt is growing, if you are beginning to struggle, you should get debt help from a professional debt adviser.

In some cases, your lenders might start taking action over the debts - and that`s when the situation can become really serious. You might face court action, and could even end up losing your home (although in practice this is rare).

How do I know I need debt help?

Debt, in itself, is not always a bad thing, but you should always keep a very close eye on your finances, especially if you owe money.

If you`re managing to meet all your commitments fairly easily, then you shouldn`t face any problems. But it`s best to speak with a debt adviser at the first sign of trouble, rather than waiting until your problems get out of control.

A few signs that you`re starting to get in too deep could be:

• You have credit card debts that you can never quite clear
• You are always overdrawn by the end of the month
• You frequently have to spend next month`s money in advance to cover your costs

Of course, if the situation becomes more serious than this and you simply can`t afford to repay your debts, you`ll know for sure it`s time to take action.

What debt help is available?

When you first call a debt adviser, they`ll need to know some details about your situation - how much you owe, and to how many lenders, how much you earn, etc. Once they have these details, your debt adviser can recommend the best course of action for your circumstances.

That could simply involve a reworking of your finances, or if that won`t work, your debt adviser may recommend a suitable debt solution.

There are a number of debt solutions available, all designed to help people in different situations and with varying levels of debt. Even if it doesn`t look like you`ll ever be able to repay your debts in full, your debt adviser may still be able to help.

Tags: debt, help, getting help with debt, help with debt, debt help, debt advice, advice with debt

Our initial advice on your best financial solution is free. Fees payable when continuing service is provided. Calls may be recorded for training and quality purposes.