I have to say I am very impressed by President Obama’s inaugural speech – it seemed amazingly honest. He didn’t flinch from the fact that the good old US of A is in a bit of a sorry state at the moment, floundering on an ocean of self-induced debt, nor did he hide the fact [...]
Debt Management Plans | IVAs | Debt Help
Monthly Archives: January 2009
Debt contributes to Blue Monday
According to statisticians and pessimists alike, today is allegedly to be the most depressing day of the year – Blue Monday. Based on a complex calculation combining the weather, the Christmas financial hangover, broken resolutions and job related issues amongst other factors, the third Monday of the year is when people are more unhappy than [...]
Debt is forcing shoppers to cut spending after Christmas blast
Shoppers are having to reduce their spending because of huge debts, according to retail experts. There is growing evidence that pre-Christmas spending was the final blast for many consumers as the credit card bills with December’s spending arrive and force consumers to face up to their finances against a backdrop of rising unemployment. Home-shopping group [...]
Credit unions see rise in debt consolidation enquiries
As banks have tightened lending policies amid the credit crunch and refused people help, credit unions have seen a surge in demand for loans. Community-based organisations offering savings, loans and other financial help to members have reported an increase in the number of people requiring their assistance, as credit has increasingly become more difficult to [...]
Pay-day loans 'extortionate'
Pay-day loan companies charge as much as 10,000% annual interest on their loans, according to a report issued by Shadow Housing Minister, Grant Shapps. The report found that it was commonplace for pay-day loan companies to charge £50 for the one month loan of £200, but that some operators were charging the equivalent of up [...]
More job cuts expected at troubled firms
Woolworths, Land of leather and Waterford have all fallen foul of the recession, and now administrators have been called in to Newcastle Productions, exclusive producers of Findus food. Over 2500 people could be added to the growing unemployment rate from these companies alone, with many in desperate need of impartial debt advice – to cope [...]
Equity Release – an Equitable Solution?
These days we seem to be hearing more and more about equity release through sell and rent back schemes. On face value it seems a reasonable option but is it really? People struggling with debt who decide to get debt help or debt advice will more often than not end up on a Debt Management [...]
On the Runway
Some time ago plans to build another runway at Manchester’s Ringway airport met with howls of protest. Before long the so called ‘eco-warriors’ were busy being as disruptive as possible and even took to living in tunnels and treehouses. Of course this was illegal and they were eventually removed. Now take a look at Heathrow [...]
'Medium' Roast Coffee?
Everyday somebody says something is bad for you and someone else will say it’s good for and all you want to do is just enjoy it! Take coffee, some will say it has beneficial effects (in moderation) and suggest it can prevent skin cancer and reduce nerve damage in multiple sclerosis sufferers whilst others tell [...]
Mr Ross from London
I was paying £950 a month for my mortgage and a secured loan I had taken out for a new kitchen. Hamilton Locke referred me to The Loan Point and they reviewed my mortgage, my secured loan and my insurance policies. They recommended that I remortgage and get rid of my existing mortgage and secured [...]
Mr Grayson from Glasgow
I didn’t know that there was a different law for debt problems in Scotland. Hamilton Locke were able to put me in touch with a Scottish debt expert who arranged for me to sign a Trust Deed. Now I can afford the single monthly payment and most of my debts have been written off.
Heather Fenwick from Cheshire
My ex-boyfriend left me with £8,000 of debt in my name and I was being chased for payment every day by my creditors. From the minute I contacted Hamilton Locke they dealt with my creditors for me and made my life so much easier with their Debt Management Plan. I can afford the payments and [...]
Mr and Mrs Anson from Newcastle
Our debt got out of control when we were putting our three children through private schooling. We ended up owing over £40,000. We contacted Hamilton Locke and they put us straight through to an ethical provider of IVA services, who arranged an IVA. Our monthly payments came down form over £1,000 to £400 and we [...]
James from Telford
I was made redundant from my job and could no longer meet the payments on my debts. I owed £12,000 to four different companies. I rang Hamilton Locke and they were able to reduce my monthly payment from £400 to £200 straight away and put me into an affordable Debt Management Plan. Now I can [...]
IVA Advice
In the wake of the current financial turmoil the number of consumers seeking IVA advice has increased significantly. An IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement) is a debt help programme set up and administered by a Licenced Insolvency Practitioner. Consumers with higher debt levels can consolidate and reduce their monthly debt repayments and hopefully avoid bankruptcy or [...]