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Trading Standards
Free help and advice is available from South Ayrshire Trading Standards Consumer
and Business Advice Centre - contact South Ayrshire Debt Helpline on 01292 616060
For those in Debt
How Is Help Provided?
Different people need different kinds of help. Some people only want advice on how
to tackle their problems themselves. Others need help to write a letter or to fill
in a form. Most clients want help to negotiate reduced payments with their creditors.
In extreme cases, the Advisor can represent the client in court actions in the Sheriff
Court. By law, we can provide lay representation in actions for sums under £750.
Outlined below are basic procedures which money advice staff follow:
- Interview the client and deal with any emergencies (e.g. disconnection, eviction,
and court form)
- Check all documents to get a true picture of the situation and to make sure that
the client is liable for the debt.
- Write to all creditors (sometimes this is in excess of twenty) asking them for a
confirmed balance and to hold action.
- Check that the client is claiming everything they are entitled to and that tax and
NI contributions are correct.
- Examine the income and expenditure of the client and work out how much they can
afford to pay to their creditors.
- Examine the options with the client and decide whether a repayment programme, schedule
of token payments or another option is the most suitable.
- Negotiate with creditors to agree a repayment plan.
- When the programme is established, monitor and review as required
In order to ensure that advice is immediately available to those struggling
with the stress of debt, South Ayrshire Council, in conjunction with The Office
of Fair Trading, introduced a debt helpline on 01292 616060.
Case Example: The Criminal Justice Team referred Mrs. C to our advisors, as the
Benefits Agency was taking action against her for an overpayment of benefit caused
by fraud. She had rent arrears in excess of £1000 and the Council had a decree
to evict. She also had other debts totalling £4000. Her only source of income
was from two low paid part-time jobs. She decided to pursue bankruptcy, but could
not risk including her rent arrears with her other debts in the sequestration, as
the Council could have enforced the decree to evict. Her son borrowed the money
to clear off her rent arrears. She then applied for bankruptcy and money advice
staff made an arrangement with the Benefits Agency for her to make minimal repayments.
The Office Of Fair Trading has launched a website designed to assist in matters
of money advice and debt, allowing consumers to take control of their spending.
Mortgage Help
As a result of the current recession many people are struggling to maintain payment
on their mortgages.
Several schemes have been introduced by both the UK Government and the Scottish
Government to try and offer assistance. Scottish Government’s Home Owner’s Support
Fund comprises of two parts - the Mortgage to Rent Scheme and the Mortgage to Shared
Equity Scheme
To find out more phone 01292 616060.