Dealing With Debt

The Dealing with Debt Money Advice Service has been running since April 2006 when Citizens Advice successfully tendered for the DETI contract to provide face to face money advice across Northern Ireland.

In the period 2006 - 2009 the service assisted close to 6,000 people and handled over £52 million of debt. The vast majority (approx 70%) of this debt was made up of credit cards, personal loans and bank loans provided by mainstream lenders.

In April 2008 DETI awarded the second contract for face to face advice to Citizens Advice. During this time the service has experienced a considerable increase in demand and witnessed disturbing trends such as a 186% increase in mortgage arrears cases, 144% increase in Business Debts, 109% increase in secured loans and a 108% increase in the number of Door Step Lender loans.

The service for the period of 2006-2008 has been independently evaluated by KPMG and PSC Management, both of whom concluded that the service is accessible to all in Northern Ireland and is value for money. The service is being accessed by those who need it most and is an example of government money being well spent to target services to those in most need. 

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