Citizens Advice Northern Ireland launched their Free Debt Advice Service funded by the Money Advice Service in April 2016.
In her guest blog for Life Law NI, Gemma Willis, Money Advice Project Manager, Citizens Advice, describes the service and how to get in touch.
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The Citizens Advice Debt Advice Service was launched following recent research from Money Advice Service which showed that 15% of the adult population in Northern Ireland are over indebted.
The service aims to provide advice and support for those who are struggling to deal with debt. This is now more important than ever when we consider that in our society, many families face new and challenging pressures. One of the greatest of these is debt.
The Citizens Advice Debt Advice Service offers free, confidential and impartial advice and is available throughout Northern Ireland via face to face, telephone and online services. We offer debt advice in each Council area and our freephone helpline is available across Northern Ireland.
Clients can access the service in the following ways:-
- By free phone at 0800 028 1881 (Monday – Friday 8.00am to 6.00pm,)
- By emailing us on debt.advice@citizensadvice.co.uk
- By webchat https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/nireland/about-us/contact-us/web-chat-free-debt-advice/
- Through face-to-face appointments
Problem debt is rarely an isolated financial problem without additional consequence. The stress of managing tight finances, dealing with creditors, as well as the stigma associated with problem debt can lead to mental health difficulties, family breakdown and addiction.
Citizens Advice Northern Ireland wants to engage with clients at the earliest opportunity as unfortunately research also shows that individuals will wait more than a year before they seek advice. This leads to further distress and pressure on families.
You can speak directly to a specialist debt adviser at Citizens Advice in Northern Ireland by clicking here. Our webchat service is open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday. If outside these hours, you can leave a message and a Debt Adviser will get straight back to you on the following working day.
Life Law NI 
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