StepChange Debt Charity response to Money Advice Service report

27 November, 2013

In response to today’s Money Advice Service (MAS) report examining debt in the UK, Frances Walker, head of media and public affairs at StepChange Debt Charity, said:

“Today’s report offers an alarming insight into the scale problem debt in the UK, and highlights the serious harm that financial difficulties can cause.

“We know that the squeeze on household budgets is pushing many families to the brink – people seeking help from StepChange Debt Charity are increasingly struggling to meet the basic cost of living. We now need to ensure that more financially vulnerable people get the advice and support they need, as laid out in the key recommendations by MAS.”  Namely:

• Getting people to the type of advice they need, whether that be over email, phone or face-to-face;
• Making sure services are accessible and appealing to everyone with debt problems;
• Promoting the benefits of receiving free debt advice – how it can help people in practical terms;
• Reducing the return rate into the advice process through greater empowerment of clients.