Citizens Advice New Free Debt Advice Service

The new three year free Citizens Advice Debt Advice service which was recently launched (April 2016) in partnership with the Money Advice Service.

The Service now has 17 full time Debt Advisers with at least one full time adviser based in Citizens Advice Offices in all eleven councils.

This service has been launched following research carried out by the Money Advice Service last year which is showing that on average 21% of adult individuals in Northern Ireland are over indebted. Indeed Northern Ireland has the highest level of indebted individuals in the whole of the UK.

Problem debt is rarely an isolated financial problem without additional consequence. The stress of managing tight finances, dealing with creditors, as well as the stigma associated with problem debt can lead to mental health difficulties, family breakdown and addiction.

This service provides free, confidential and impartial advice and is available via freephone, email, webchat and through face-to-face appointments. The service aims to provide advice and support for those who are struggling to deal with debt. This is now more important than ever when we consider that:

In our society, many families face new and challenging pressures. One of the greatest of these is debt. Unfortunately the research is showing that individuals will wait more than a year before they seek advice, this leads to further distress and pressure on families.

Citizens Advice Free Debt advice is available:

• by Freephone (free to mobiles and landlines) on 0800 028 1881 (Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm)
• by contacting any of the 29 frontline Citizens Advice offices across Northern Ireland
• by email at debt.advice@citizensavice.org.uk  
• by webchat

You can speak directly to a specialist debt adviser at Citizens Advice in Northern Ireland by clicking on the link below. Our webchat service is open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday.

The link to the webchat is https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/nireland/about-us/contact-us/web-chat-free-debt-advice/

If outside these hours leave a message and we will get straight back to you on the following working day.