Money worries

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If you are struggling to pay your rent and all your other bills

Please don’t let the situation get out of hand – take control and ask for help straight away. The sooner you do this, the easier it is to sort things out, but it is never too late. You can get help from:

our customer account officers and advisors;
the North Wiltshire Citizens Advice Project Worker; and
other advice and support agencies.

Our customer account officers and advisors

We can give you money advice and help you identify the debts you should pay off first. We can help you work out your income and outgoings and work out arrangements with the people that you owe money to.

To talk to the customer accounts team, please phone 01249 466120 or email customer.accounts@westlea.co.uk. The name of the person who looks after your account is shown on all the letters that we send you.

North Wiltshire Citizens Advice Project Worker

Money Advice

North Wiltshire Citizens Advice Bureau

We have set up a scheme with North Wiltshire Citizens Advice Bureau to make sure you get help with:

claiming the benefits you are entitled to;
making your money go further;
any financial difficulties;
banking, and what to do if you don’t have a bank account; and
finding affordable credit (saving and borrowing from a credit union).

If you would like to find out about benefits you may be entitled to

Your Citizens Advice project worker will:

check if you are entitled to a benefit;
check you are receiving the right amount;
help you to make a claim or appeal;
help you if you have been paid too much and have to pay some back; and
tell you how to get specialist help.

If you need help with financial problems

Your Citizens Advice project worker will help you to:

put together a realistic budget;
talk to people you owe money to, and agree affordable repayments; and
deal with legal action taken against you.

You can contact the project worker by:

e-mailing the Citizens Advice Bureau at westlea@northwiltscab.org.uk;
phoning 01249 445115 (extension 3); or
texting the Citizens Advice Bureau on 07890 733919.

If you would like to find out how to make your money go further

The North Wiltshire Citizens Advice Bureau also hse a ‘Money Friend’, who will help you to:

reduce the costs of your electricity and gas;
get the costs of your water supply reduced (depending on your circumstances);
set up a bank account or credit union account which is suitable to your situation;
apply for grants; and
get access to the Government’s Child Trust Fund.

You can contact your Money Friend by:

e-mailing the citizens advice bureau at moneyfriend@northwilts.cab.org.uk;
phoning 01249 445115 (extension 3); or
texting the Citizens Advice Bureau on 07890 733919.

The citizens advice bureau’s main phone number (for any other advice) is 0845 1203707.

The national Citizens Advice website address is www.citizensadvice.org.uk.

Other advice and support agencies

If you are struggling to pay the rent and other debts, there are many other organisations who can help you.

National Debtline

Tricorn House
51–53 Hagley Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B16 8TP
Freephone: 0808 808 4000

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 9am to 9pm
Saturday: 9.30am to 1pm
(There is a 24-hour voicemail service and you can leave a message to ask for an information pack.)
Website: www.nationaldebtline.co.uk

Consumer Credit Counselling Service

Wade House
Merrion Centre
Leeds
LS2 8NG
Phone: 0800 138 1111
Website: www.cccs.co.uk/

Credit unions

Credit unions can help you manage your money and make it go further. If you want to find out how they can help you, and to join a credit union, please call one of the local credit unions or visit the following website.

www.communityfirst.org.uk/index.php/credit-unions

North Wiltshire Credit Union

Phone: 07799 735116

West Wiltshire Credit Union

Phone: 01225 708315

Swindon Credit Union

Phone: 01793 522202

Other useful websites

The Insolvency Service

www.insolvency.gov.uk

Her Majesty’s Courts Service

www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk