At Ely & District Citizens Advice Bureau we can advise you on all aspects of debt and the courses of action open to you. We can help with preparing a financial statement, negotiation with creditors and representation at county court repossession hearings.

Before you can tackle a debt problem you need to collect together information about your money affairs and take matters one step at a time.

• Make a complete list of your debts. Remember to divide them into separate headings - priority and non-priority debts (we can explain the importance of the distinction).
• Work out your income and expenditure. Your resulting budget will show you if you have any money left over to divide up between your creditors. You may even be able to identify where you can make some savings. We can help you produce a financial statement - a first step to making offers to your creditors.
• Do not ignore creditors' letters or phone calls. Contact your creditors as early as possible and explain to them why you are in debt. If you phone, you should follow up the call with a letter, confirming what you said on the phone. Send all your creditors a copy of your financial statement. We can help you to negotiate with your creditors.
• If you have only a small amount of money available for your creditors after your essential spending, you may have to offer all of this to your priority creditors. You could have very little, or nothing, to offer to non-priority creditors and you should explain this to them.
• Do not borrow more money to repay your debts. Think about the ways in which you might earn extra money or increase your income instead. If your income is low, you may be able to claim benefits.