Debt Relief Information

The Effects of Consumer Debt


Consumer Borrowing

Consumer borrowing in the UK has now crashed through the 1 trillion barrier. 80% of this is due to credit card borrowing, loans and mortgages. How are people managing to handle their debt and what effect is debt having on families today?

The National Consumer Council reports that 6 million families in the UK are already struggling to make repayments towards their debt, and Citizens Advice reports that over the last 6 years, they have seen a 44% increase in the number of people seeking debt advice. This may be just the tip of the iceberg. There must be many families in the UK who have debt problems, but are not aware of the free help and advice available.

Tackling Debt

According to a DTI survey carried out in 2002, a household is likely to be over-indebted if:

25% of your annual income is spent on repaying Creditors

50% of your annual income is spent on repaying credit and mortgages

You have 4 or more companies that you owe money to.

People find it difficult to make repayments for a number of reasons. Generally, the underlying cause is some kind of change in personal circumstances such as job loss, divorce, illness or a new baby. In these instances some people may resort to more borrowing in order to pay creditors or household bills. This is not always the best option.

Effects of Over-Indebtedness

The personal effect of struggling to repay debt can be far reaching. Sometimes a lack of financial awareness can lead to stress, depression, anxiety, mental health problems, relationship breakdown and even suicide.

Raising Financial Awareness

The Government recognise the need to raise financial awareness amongst the general public. The financial cost of debt is not only on an individual level, but there is also a cost to society in general.

People who experience stress due to their situation, will probably seek advice from their GP and may take time off work, therefore, this has an effect on already hard-pressed NHS and productivity due to absenteeism.

People who have had homes repossessed need to be re-housed, generally by the local Council. Those who seek legal aid due to debt issues also incur a cost to the taxpayer.

The Solution before the Problem

Will raising financial awareness alone tackle the issues of debt problems? It helps for people who are already struggling with debt, but are there other areas the Government should be looking at?

If you pay your creditors on time, regardless of what it takes to pay them, you are classed as a good payer and therefore, not a risk when it comes to additional borrowing. In fact, your finances could be in turmoil and you could be taking money from one card to pay another but you may still obtain even more credit.

The freedom creditors have to advertise loans, credit cards and mortgages could be challenged as well as how decisions are made regarding lending.

If people, who are currently in financial difficulty, find they cannot borrow more money, they should be made aware of the free financial advice that is available. Free Debt Management Companies such as Payplan can negotiate repayments with creditors so that monthly payments are reduced and become more manageable.

Nicola Bullimore has been working with people who have debt problems for a number of years. For more information regarding debt issues, please visit our Debt Questions website.


MORE RESOURCES:

Response to "Unconditional Debt Relief is Not the Answer for ...
Ghana Dot, Ghana - Jul 7, 2008
Further, the Jubilee Act recognizes and works to end the unsustainable ‘lend and forgive cycle’ that has brought on the need for debt relief. ...
US Jubilee Act rewards past African leaders reckless behavior Ghana Dot
all 2 news articles


Nigeria: G8, Poverty And Africa
AllAfrica.com, Washington - 23 hours ago
We have some aid, but not enough, some debt relief but not enough and virtually nothing on trade. Once again Africa's people have been short-changed. ...


NDTV.com

Debt relief Waiving, not drowning
Economist, UK - Jul 3, 2008
A KNOT of farmers points in anticipation and dread at the spreadsheets posted on the walls of a bank in Sikandrabad, a small town in Uttar Pradesh, ...
Banks in JK identify 34000 beneficiaries for debt relief GreaterKashmir.com (press release)
Himachal government urges to Centre to look into debt relief ... myHimachal
SyndBank to waive Rs 1063 cr farm loan Business Standard
Chandigarh Newsline - Livemint
all 81 news articles


Dhumal writes to FinMin for debt relief anomalies
Business Standard, India - Jul 3, 2008
... has sought removal of numerous anomalies in the Union government's debt relief scheme so that majority of farmers of the hill state could be benefitted. ...


Telegraph.co.uk

Hard issues hit G8
Joy Online, Ghana - 19 hours ago
Loans were approved for countries that already qualified for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Initiative. ...
Developing Economies Get A Boost Peace fm Online
Editorial: Why we are sceptical about G8 meeting Business Daily Africa
G-8 summit opens with spotlight on aid for Africa Boston Globe
Independent Online - Bloomberg
all 466 news articles


GulfNews

$7bn debt relief
Gulf Daily News, Bahrain - Jul 6, 2008
ABU DHABI: The UAE yesterday waived Iraq's debt of nearly seven billion dollars and named an envoy to Baghdad, in a twin boost timed with a visit by Iraq's ...
UAE Vows To Forgive $7B In Iraqi Debt Evening Bulletin
UAE retires Iraqi debt Hot Air
Wave of attacks kill 16 in Iraq Seattle Times
Aljazeera.net - CNN International
all 547 news articles


CARICOM advised on strategy for debt relief requests
Caribbean360.com, Barbados - Jul 4, 2008
They do not have the instruments available to them to give debt-relief to middle-income countries," he said at the 29th Heads of Government Summit in ...


Obama Donors Aren’t Rushing to Aid Clinton
New York Times, United States - 6 hours ago
... but what I think the sensible elements of good will are trying to achieve is debt relief for Hillary consistent with getting Barack elected president,” ...


Jamaica Gleaner

Obama's promise of debt relief a $29b opportunity for Jamaica
Jamaica Gleaner, Jamaica - Jun 27, 2008
Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama, is promising 100 per cent debt relief for the Caribbean if he becomes the next leader of the United ...


99 Thousand Himachal Farmers To Get Rs 260 Cr Debt Relief Under ...
myHimachal, India - Jul 3, 2008
He added that 3789 other farmers had been provided a debt relief of Rs 16.83 Crores. Murgai said that all banks in the state had completed the ...

Debt-Relief - Google News

Good Credit Loans | home | site map | School Bus Clothing | Florida Pool Heating
© 2006