Financial Difficulty
Access to Learning Fund
If you are experiencing financial difficulty then you may be eligilbe for support through the Access to Learning Fund. For more information relating to ALF, please click here.
Debt
If you have a debt problem, there are many organisations that offer free and independent debt advice over the telephone or face to face. They can help you work out the best way to deal with your debts and answer any questions you have.
Getting Advice
Many organisations provide debt advice or act for you in negotiations with your creditors (people you owe money to). For example, they can find the best way for you to deal with your debts and set up an arrangement with your creditors.
Not all debt advice is free and some organisations may charge a fee. You should check if there are any fees and how and when you might have to pay them.
Organisations offering free help and advice
Many organisations offer free and independent advice to help you deal with your debt problems. Some of these organisations are listed below.
Citizens Advice Citizens Advice can help you resolve legal, money and other problems by providing free information and confidential advice from over 3,200 locations around the country.
The nearest branch to Salford University is located at:
Salford Precinct -CAB
25a Hankinson Way
SALFORD
Greater Manchester
M6 5JA
Telephone: 0844 826 9695
www.citizensadvice.org.uk and www.adviceguide.org.uk
Debt Advice Foundation Debt Advice Foundation, a registered UK charity, operates a free telephone helpline for anyone worried about debt. http://www.debtadvicefoundation.org/
National Debtline
The National Debtline offers free, confidential and independent help over the phone for people in England, Scotland and Wales. You can call their helpline and also download publications from their website. http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/
Debt Support Trust
Debt Support Trust is a debt advice charity offering telephone or internet-based debt advice. http://www.debtsupporttrust.org.uk/
Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS)
The CCCS provides free and confidential counselling on debt problems – including personal budgeting and credit advice. http://www.cccs.co.uk/
Community Legal Advice (CLA)
Community Legal Advice (CLA) is a free and confidential advice service in England and Wales paid for by legal aid. If you are living on a low income or benefits, you may be eligible for free specialist advice from legal advisers on issues including: benefits and tax credits; debt, education; housing; employment; and family problems. The advice is independent and confidential. Community Legal Advice will ask you questions about your problem and find out what help you need. You will be asked a number of questions about your finances to see if you are eligible for legal aid. Community Legal Advice has a free translation service available in 170 languages.
Helpline: 0845 345 4 345
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 8.00 pm, Saturday 9.00 am to 12.30 pm
Email: emailhelp@communitylegaladvice.org.uk
Your local Council
Some local authorities offer a free debt counselling service. You can check with your local authority to see what help and advice they can offer.
Law Centres
If you're being threatened with legal action, and you qualify for legal aid, you can get free and independent advice from your local Law Centre. The Law Centres Federation does not employ lawyers and cannot give any legal advice. However, Law Centres can offer legal advice in areas of social and community law and therefore should be able to assist you.
Please see the list of Law Centres to contact your local one.
You may also contact Community Legal Advice on 0845 345 4 345.
http://www.lawcentres.org.uk/centres.html
Salford Welfare Rights and Debt Advice Service
If you live or work in Salford they can offer you free, confidential and independent advice on your welfare benefits, tax credits or debt problems. They can help you find out about the benefits and tax credits you are entitled to and assist with claim forms. If you have debt problems they can help you draw up financial statements, negotiate with your creditors and represent you in court.
Welfare Rights Advice Line: 0800 345 7375
Debt Advice Line: 0800 345 7323
Address:
Crompton House 100 Chorley Road Swinton
Salford
M27 6PB
Money Made Clear
A useful free resource is Money Made Clear. There is lots of useful information available on the website. www.moneymadeclear.org.uk including interactive tools such as budget planning You can also call them on 0300 500 5000. http://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/yourmoney/
Other useful contacts:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/
Help at the University
No matter what your problem is, if you think it is too big or too small our Specialist Advisers can help you get the right help you need. Please come and see one of our advisors by calling into University House or by ringing us on 0161 295 0023.