Dealing with debt successfully

Care first

Care first Information Specialists are expert advisors, trained by Citizens Advice, and can provide comprehensive answers and assistance on a wide range of financial issues including managing debt. Care first also provide 24/7 telephone/online counselling support. Both services are completely confidential and free of charge to staff.

Tel: 0800 174 319

Care first advisors can help you to make informed choices about what to do and how to do it, whether it’s case of a simple restructure of payments or be more complex. They can also see if there are any ways of increasing your income, for example through benefits or tax credits.

Website: www.carefirst-lifestyle.co.uk (username: dhuft and password: wellbeing)

After logging in see the Finances section https://carefirst-lifestyle.co.uk/extranet/at-home/finances which has lots of information about common issues facing people today, including dealing with debt and credit card debt.

You may also find their booklet Dealing with debt helpful.

Financial analysis tool:

With MyEva financial analysis tool you can create an account to access your financial health check score, tools and calculators and a series of short ‘tasks’ to help you manage day to day spending, reduce debt, build up your savings, review your mortgage options and much more.

You can also book a FREE 30 minute call with a Care first financial adviser
(scroll along ‘Essentials’ once you are logged into MyEva and select ‘Speak to an expert about your essentials’). Please note there is no financial advice given in the call – the purpose is to understand if you would benefit from regulated financial advice, based on your personal circumstances. If so, you are walked through the process and the charges that apply.

Webinars:

The following webinars and information sheets about budgeting have been produced over the last 18 months. You can view the webinars retrospectively by clicking on the links below and registering with your name and DHC email address:

(13.04.21) Financial wellbeing
(29.07.21) How Care first can support with financial concerns
(09.11.21) Financial wellbeing with Care first Lifestyle
(14.01.22) Financial wellbeing

PayPlan

PayPlan is one of the UK’s leading free debt advice providers, and offers free debt help and debt management plans.

Tel: 0800 280 2816 (Mon to Fri 8am – 8pm, Sat 9am – 3pm)

Get free, confidential advice quickly – choose help online, by phone or email. You can submit your debt problem online by using PayPlan’s Debt Help Form.

Website: https://www.payplan.com/dhut/

Visit the Trust’s customised web page for reliable advice on a wide range of debt solutions as well as free debt advice, including credit score and debt, self-employed debt help, benefits, family and joint debts and debt and your home.

PayPlan Financial Wellbeing Hub:

PayPlan’s new Financial Wellbeing Hub is divided into two.

Financial education, which includes:

Types of credit and debt – different types of credit and debt, priority payments, non-priority and other debts, understanding your credit report, methods for paying off debt.
Guide to dealing with your debts – including Breathing Space (also known as The Debt Respite Scheme or Breathing Space moratorium) enabling you to receive legal protection from creditors, a freeze on interest and charges and stop on creditor contacts – for a period of 60 days).
Budgeting and banking – how to make a budget, expert tips, banking options, living on a low or reduced income and a list of FAQs.
Reduce your spending – 8 ways to save money.
Maximise your income – 6 steps to boost your income : free benefits check, grants, help with school meals, uniforms and activities, check you’re being paid the right amount, secure your bank account and ways to make more money.
Redundancy guide

Financial wellbeing, which includes:

Money and mental health – understand how important mental health is when dealing with money, and what help is available.
Physical health on a budget – Taking care of your body helps care for your overall wellbeing. Learn how to look after your physical health.
Addictions and debt – Where to go for support with addictions, including our steps to prevent problem gambling.
Relationships and debt – Understand where your relationships sit on the healthy, unhealthy and abusive spectrum – and know where to go for help and advice should you need it.
Your health and wellbeing at home – Practical steps to improve your health and wellbeing from home.
Financial wellbeing resources – If you’re looking to for ideas of how to educate young people on money matters, find out more about redundancy and debt or guides to improve your financial wellbeing – this is the place to be.

MoneyHelper

MoneyHelper brings together the support and services of three government-backed financial guidance providers: the Money Advice Service, the Pensions Advisory Service and Pension Wise. It offers free and impartial advice on an extensive range of topics, including help and guidance to improve your finances, tools and calculators to help keep track and plan ahead.

Money guidance

Tel: 0800 138 7777 / Typetalk: 18001 0800 915 4622 (Mon – Fri, 8am – 6pm. Closed weekends and bank holidays)

Online web chat (Mon – Fri, 8am – 6pm and Sat, 8am – 3pm. Closed Sunday and bank holidays)

WhatsApp – add +44 77 0134 2744 to your WhatsApp to talk live on WhatsApp

Web form – you can submit a question through the online enquiry form (aim to respond within 2 working days)

Website: https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en

Dealing with debt – help with bills and payments, dealing with courts and fines, making your money go further, getting debt help and ways to pay off debt.

Citizens Advice

The Citizens Advice Service provides free, confidential advice by phone, email or online chat (face to face advice is currently suspended due to the coronavirus).

Tel: 0800 144 8848 – you can contact an adviser through this national phone line or use this search facility to locate the contact details of your local office. The national adviceline is available Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm (not available on Public Holidays).

Online chat – use this link to talk with a trained adviser about a debt problem. Usually available Mon to Fri, 8am – 7pm.

Website: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Within the Debt and money section of the website you’ll find a wide range of practical help for dealing with debt, including: