Exeter CAB reports drop in client debts
Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau has published its latest advice trend statistics which show that in the first nine months of the financial year it helped 4,451 people directly with advice and information.
On average, clients with debt problems had debts totaling £9,193.64, down by £2,373.83 on the same period the previous year. However, the charity expects to see a further increase in the first quarter of 2015 as people struggle to deal with debt accrued in the Christmas period.
The amount of advice that the charity has been able to provide has increased in the following areas compared to the same period last year:
Welfare benefits
• 27.5% increase in enquiries about tax credits
• 26.4% increase in enquires about council tax benefit/local support
• 17.2% increase in enquires about housing benefit
Debt
• 29.6% increase in enquires about payday loans
• 11.7% increase in enquires about mortgage arrears
• 6.7% increase in enquires about bankruptcy and debt relief orders
Employment
• 155.5% increase in enquiries about self employment
• 87.5% increase in enquiries about pay and entitlements
• 44.2% increase in enquires about terms and conditions of employment
Housing
• 200.0% increase in enquiries about owner occupier property
• 95.8% increase in enquires about housing association property
• 58.6% increase in enquires about private sector property
Exeter CAB Chief Executive Steve Barriball said: “These figures suggest that people are acting earlier when they start to get into financial problems, and it’s good news that things are looking up on the economic front and that we are seeing some drop off in energy costs. But for many individuals and families the legacy of recession still remains.
"The combination of squeezed wages, the impact of welfare reform, and rising childcare costs will not be erased overnight.
"Pressures on household budgets are continuing to make things difficulty for our clients. Moreover, good news on the jobs front in terms of falling unemployment is very welcomed. However, these figures suggest that for people in work they still have serious concerns over job security and terms and conditions.“
Steve continued: “As we add additional advice services, we are able to help even more people with their advice needs. On this basis, we would expect to see increases in the number of enquiries that we deal with. This is particularly true for the Exeter Money Advice Partnership (EMAP) service which is delivered by ourselves and Homemaker Southwest in partnership with Exeter City Council in their Customer Service Centre. The EMAP service is helping more people with debt and welfare benefit problems. Such services are dependent on continued funding which, in the current climate, is ever more challenging.
“We are committed to continue to provide the advice people need for the problems they face. However, we can only continue to do this if we have the necessary resources and we need to increase public and business donations.
"Anyone wishing to support our work can donate on-line by going to the 'Donation Support' section of our website www.exetercab.org.uk.”
Alternatively, donations can be made in person at the new Bureau offices on Dix’s Field in Exeter.
