Publications

New Standards of Lending Practice for personal customers (the Standards) will replace the Lending Code and will bring an increased focus on ensuring good customer outcomes.The new standards build upon the foundations of the Lending Code and will become effective from 1st October 2016.

A new guide for advice agencies on treating clients in vulnerable situations has been launched by the Money Advice Trust. The guide builds on the charity’s existing 12-step guidance for creditors on vulnerability, and aims to help all advice agencies better support their advisers in this area

Which? have recently launched their 2016 guide which should help you become pension savvy, as it explains the pension basics, the significant changes to pensions, explores how to maximise retirement income and what tax bills might look like if you cash your pension all in.

The festive season is fast approaching so Debt Action NI has put together some tips on how to manage your money better in order to reduce the post-Christmas debt and to ensure you have a Happy New Year.

Budgeting is away of understanding your own money situation, knowing what money you have coming in and what you have going out.It’s also the first step to take if you are struggling with debt as it helps to show exactly how much money you have available

Hire Purchase is a credit agreement which lets you get the goods right away and pay for them by instalments. A conditional sale agreement is similar. But with both these agreements you do not own the goods until you have paid the final payment.

How a person’s debt is dealt with when they die is a complicated matter and you should get advice immediately. In some instances an individual’s debt may die with him/her, although creditors may be entitled to make a claim. In other instances they may not

When you decide to contact a debt adviser, they will arrange an appointment for you to come and see them. You should let them know at this stage if you have any special requirements so they can meet your needs.

When you owe money and fall behind on your payments, your creditor might pass your details to a debt collection agency to collect what is owed. Collection agencies do not have any more legal powers than the original creditor.

List of Information required from the client for the first Interview

Bankruptcy is an option that may suit you if you can no longer afford to pay your debts.

Are you worriedabout the amount of debt you have? Do you feel anxious about what might happen to you? Don’t panic! Help is at hand and there are several things that you can do to help ease the burden of your financial situation.

Debt can be an issue for many offenders. Research suggests that around half of all prisoners have a history of debt problems; a third of prisoners find that their problems get worse during their time in prison and 81% of offenders go on to claim benefits.

According to research carried out by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, one in four people will have a mental health problem some time in their lives and one in three people with a serious mental health problem are in debt.

As debt problems reach an unprecedented high, more and more people on low incomes are struggling to manage escalating debt.

Older people and pensioners are among the worst hit during hard times and retired people are finding it harder to manage as savings are eroded and everyday essentials increase in cost.

Illness can strike at any time, the individual’s world stands still, but unfortunately the financial commitments will continue. A cancer diagnosis may not only affect the patient, but in many cases will financially affect the partner.

Debt is one of the major causes of stress for lone parents. According to surveys carried out in Northern Ireland, three quarters of single parents are using credit to manage their finances and approximately 40% said they were "always in debt".

Belfast City Council have produced a factsheet about reducing waste

This guide tells you what happens if you are granted a debt relief order (DRO). It is for general guidance only. If you are thinking of applying for a DRO, you should seek legal or financial advice.