Debt counselling service sees record numbers
The Office of Fair trading has warned against the dangers of 'bad budgeting', after helping record numbers of clients through it's Debt Counselling Service over 2017.
Officers from the agency say 177 people asked for help for the first time in the last year, the highest number in seven years.
The OFT says cumulative debts for new clients amount to more than £2,000,000, with many owing on credit cards, but also personal and bank loan.
The average debt of new clients by 2017 was £14,735.
Debt Counsellor Phillipa Chadwick says realistic planning of finances is a must, especially for expensive occasions like Christmas:
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