Debt Information

Debt FAQ

Q: Who will deal with my case?
A: All our debt advisors work at specialist level and will be able to handle your case from beginning to conclusion. He or she will be very understanding and knowledgeable so that you can talk freely about your individual situation.
Q: Are you able to help with any other issues?
A: Community Law Service (Northampton and County) is able to give specialist legal advice and representation in the areas of Welfare Benefits, Debt, Immigration, Housing, Family and Employment law.
Q: Can I get debt help for all my sources of debt?
A: Yes. Whether your debts are from loans, credit cards, unpaid bills or other agreements, we can provide you with confidential advice on the best debt solution for you.
Q: Can I talk to you about any debt problem?
A: Yes, whether it's to do with your credit cards, overdrafts, loans or anything else, we have extensive experience of helping people who have found themselves in similar situations to yourself.
Q: Do I need to have full details of all my debts to hand when I contact you?
A: This would be preferable but by no means necessary when you first get in touch. As long as you know roughly how much you owe and to whom (i.e. credit cards, loans etc) we can still advise you about the debt solutions that would best answer your needs.
Q: Does it matter how large or small my debts are?
A: No. We can provide you with advice about debt solutions to meet a range of different situations.
Q: How are you funded?
A: We are funded by a wide range of national and local organisations including the Legal Services Commission, Local Authorities, Housing Associations and other charitable grant giving organisations.
Q: How will it affect my credit rating?
A: Your credit rating will be affected. Credit reference agencies such as Experian, Equifax and Call Credit maintain records of your credit accounts. Failure to maintain contractual payments towards any debts will result in a default notice being made on your credit file. These notices will remain on your credit file for 6 years (unless the creditor agrees to remove them prior to this) and may affect your ability to obtain credit.
Q: Is Community Law Service confidential?
A: Absolutely. You can talk to us in total confidence about your situation. You can take our advice or ignore it, but nobody else will know.
Q: What if I change my mind?
A: You are under no obligation to proceed with any of the solutions we advise on.
Q: What if my combined assets are still not enough to pay off all my debts?
A: Declaring personal bankruptcy will still address all your debts and protect you from your creditors. Even so, it should only be seen as the very last resort.
Q: What if my finances are in a real mess?
A: Don't worry, even if you can just give us an idea of what your debts are, we can still make sure you are given excellent advice.
Q: What if some of my UK debts are with organisations owned outside the UK?
A: This doesn't matter as long as your repayments are made from the UK. Talk to us about your situation and we'll make sure you have all the information you need to choose the right debt solution for you.
Q: Why don't I just transfer all my credit cards onto one with a zero interest offer on transferred balances?
A: Deciding on the best way out of debt means considering a whole range of different possible debt solutions. We will help you to consider ALL of your options, so speak to us first.
Q: Why is your advice better than some others?
A: We consider the widest range of solutions and our advice is free from bias. Some organisations give advice that's biased towards solutions they can offer, rather than reviewing all the options available to the customer.
Q: Will I be asked lots of probing questions
A: No - our friendly, understanding Debt Counsellors will only need to gain an overview of your total debt and earnings situation to be able to give you honest, specialist advice.
Q: Will you also need to speak with my partner?
A: Not unless you want us to. We can still provide you with all the debt advice you need so that you can then discuss it with your partner or other family members who may be involved in your debts.

Debt FAQ

Northampton Corby Rushden