Legal Beagles is a free forum and willl help you if you want to try and sort out your financial situation yourself. However we are NOT professionals, simply consumers like yourself who have a lot of experience in most areas of debt management, consumer issues and the law on reclaiming charges.

We ARE NOT A DEBT MANAGEMENT COMPANY, nor a CLAIMS MANAGEMENT COMPANY

Okay thats us out of the way....

Many people do not feel confident taking on the large financial organisations on their own. There is so much information available it can be confusing and it can be tempting to hand your finances over to someone ''professional'' to sort out.

BE CAREFUL !

NOT all the companies/organisations out there care about you, they care about making money. The truth about debt and credit problems is that you can achieve financial freedom through a professionally managed plan, however, you can also make your financial situation much worse by signing up with the wrong company. Just use common sense, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Remember if a company is advertising its services on TV or in a NEWSPAPER then BEWARE.....these companies do not care about you they are just salespeople

FIRST POINTS OF CALL IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY

Debt: Advice Organisation Contacts (source:Office of Fair Trading)

Citizens Advice Bureaux

Citizens Advice Bureaux give free, confidential and impartial advice on debt. Details of your nearest bureau can be found in your local telephone directory. See the Citizens Advice Bureau website.

Advice UK

Contact independent advice agencies through Advice UK at:
Advice UK
12th Floor
New London Bridge House
25 London Bridge Street
London
SE1 9ST
Tel: 020 7407 4070 (National)
Tel: 020 7407 6611 (London)
www.adviceuk.org.uk

For agencies in Northern Ireland contact Advice NI on 028 9064 5919
www.adviceni.net

National Debtline

Free telephone helpline for people with debt problems. More information at:
Telephone: 0808 808 4000
www.nationaldebtline.co.uk

Consumer Credit Counselling Service

Provides free confidential service to help achieve realistic solutions to debt problems, avoid bankruptcy and learn to handle money. More information at:
Telephone: 0800 138 1111
www.cccs.co.uk

Parents, Pennies and Pounds

Provides free confidential advice to families on debt and money management. More information at:
Telephone: 0800 652 07775
www.moneystuff.co.uk

FEE PAYING COMPANIES
Check they are members of DEMSA - this means they will follow the OFT Guidance and you have more redress if something does go wrong.

• Thanks to the Insolvency Helpline