Salford Citizens Advice Bureau

News

Closed for Training

All Salford CAB offices will be closed for training on 13th March 2012.

Services will reopen the following day

Walkden Office moves into the Walkden Gateway.

Our Walkden branch has now moved into the Walkden Gateway where it will share premises with a variety of local services.

Details of the new address and contact details are available on our Local Offices page.

Press Release

Salford Citizens Advice issues warning about paying for debt advice:

The Citizens Advice Service has just published a report showcasing good practice for dealing with people in debt.

Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of National Citizens Advice said “Bad debt collection practices can have dire consequences and often make things worse by pressuring the person in debt to pay more than they can afford. People’s homes, relationships and wellbeing are all at risk as a result”

Tom Togher, Chief Executive of Salford Citizens Advice said “Here in Salford we are really worried that many people resort to profit making debt advice companies – where the quality of the service may be questionable, and where people have to pay, meaning that they stay in debt for longer than is necessary”

These companies work by creaming off a portion of the persons payments before they are passed to creditors, increasing people indebtedness.

The Office of Fair Trading has issued a number of warnings to these private companies over the last year, and is likely to conduct a full investigation in the future.

Tom Togher said “We would always encourage people to approach us first. Our services are free, and high quality”

“If you are worried about anything just phone 0161 793 7839 for an appointment to see a debt adviser”.

Notes to editors:

• Salford Citizens Advice dealt with debts amounting to £19 million last year, owed by 1,301 families in Salford. The average debt of these families was £14,604.
• The service’s busiest time for debt enquiries is just after Christmas.
• Advice is available free of charge to all Salford residents either by calling in at your local branch or by phoning 0161 793 7839.
• There are branches in Eccles, Irlam, Salford Precinct, Swinton, and Walkden.
• We will be running a special ‘Keep out of debt campaign’ in the run up to Christmas.
• Details of the recently published report “How to do the right thing” are available from www.citizensadvice.org.uk
• The Office of Fair Trading launched revised debt collection guidance on October 19.
• OFT acts against debt management businesses on October 10. More information available from www.oft.gov.uk.

Contact:

Tom Togher
Salford Citizens Advice
0161 707 4222
tom.togher@salfordcab.org.uk.

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Salford Citizens Advice Bureau is independent and provides free, confidential, impartial advice to everybody regardless of race, gender, sexuality or disability.

We have five main offices across Salford and provide weekly advice sessions in over a dozen venues around the city.

Our core service is delivered by dedicated local volunteers who strive to help others in our communities.

Can we help you?

We provide a wide range of general and specialist advice services for the people of Salford. For details of our services please follow the relevant link.

Can you help us?

If you would like to know more about becoming an Advisor or taking on some other role within the bureau view the details on our volunteering page.

If you are interested in looking for advice on the internet, you can visit the advice guide site – this is run by Citizens Advice and has a wide range of information on all advice issues.

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