Financial Help And Advice - New Service Available

The government has launched a free phone service to help people on low incomes with their money worries.

The service aims to support people who:

• don't know where to get money advice from before things get out of control;
• aren't aware that there are sources of affordable loans available, which means they often borrow from high cost providers such as doorstep lenders or illegal loan sharks, and;
• think that they can't open a bank account because they have previously been turned down and/or don't have the relevant ID.

The helpline number is 0800 012 1656 (callers with hearing difficulties can use the textphone service 0800 731 1114).  The line will be available until the end of March 2008 and is part of the Department for Work and Pensions' "Now Let's Talk Money" campaign which aims to help financially excluded people access free money advice and basic financial services.

You can find out more through the "Now Let's Talk Money" section of the DirectGov website.  Click here to visit the home page.

[13 December 2007]