Debt-Advice-Forum-UK

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If you need further help, this section contains contact details for a number of free helplines, advice and consumer organisations, benefit helplines, ombudsmen, regulatory bodies, trade associations and credit reference agencies who may be able to give you more advice and assistance.

Credit Reference Agencies

Equifax
Tel: 0870 010 0583
www.equifax.co.uk

Experian
Tel: 0870 241 6212
www.experian.co.uk

Callcredit
Tel: 0870 060 1414
www.callcredit.plc.uk



HELPLINES

Adfam
National charity working with families affected by drugs and alcohol
Tel: 020 7928 8898
www.adfam.org.uk

Age Concern
For a range of factsheets
Tel: 0800 00 99 66
www.ace.org.uk

Business Debtline
Tel: 0800 197 6026
www.bdl.org.uk

Childline
Tel: 0800 1111
www.childline.org.uk

Cruse
Advice and support for bereaved families
Tel: 0870 167 1677
www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk

Dial UK
Tel: 01302 310 123
www.dialuk.org.uk

Drinkline
Tel: 0800 917 8282

Gamblers Anonymous
Tel:0870 050 8880
www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk

Gamcare
Advice on gambling issues
Tel: 0845 600 0133
www.gamcare.org.uk

Gingerbread
Tel: 0800 018 4318
www.gingerbread.org.uk

Help the Aged
Tel: 0808 800 6565 Seniorline
www.helptheaged.org.uk

Lone Parent Helpline
For advice on maintenance, benefits and money
Tel 0800 018 5026
www.loneparenthelpline.info

Mind
Information and support on mental health problems
Tel 0845 766 0163
www.mind.org.uk

National Domestic Violence Helpline
For domestic violence
Tel: 0808 2000 247
www.refuge.org.uk

Relate
Tel: 0845 1 30 40 16
www.relate.org.uk

Rights of Women
For legal advice for women
Tel: 020 7251 6577
www.rightsofwomen.org.uk

Samaritans
Tel: 0845 790 9090
www.samaritans.org.uk

Saneline
Tel: 0845 767 8000
www.sane.org.uk

Sexual Health Information Line
(formally National Aids Helpline)
Tel: 0800 567 123

Shelter
Free housing advice helpline
Tel: 0808 800 4444
www.shelter.org.uk

TaxAid
Tel: 0845 120 3779
www.taxaid.org.uk

TV Licensing
Tel: 0870 241 6468 (general enquiries)
www.tvlicensing.co.uk



BENEFITS

Child Benefit enquiry line
Tel: 0845 302 1444
www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/

Child Support Agency Enquiry Line
Tel: 0845 7133 133
www.csa.gov.uk

Child Trust Fund
Helpline 0845 302 1470
www.childtrustfund.gov.uk

Pension Credit Claim Line
Tel: 0800 99 1234
www.thepensionservice.gov.uk

Disability Benefits Enquiry Line
Tel: 0800 88 22 00
www.dwp.gov.uk

Disability Rights Commission
Tel: 08457 622 633
www.drc.org.uk

New Deal
Tel: 0845 606 2626
www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

New Deal for Lone Parents
Tel: 0800 868 868
www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

Tax Credits Helpline
Tel: 0845 300 3900
www.hmrc.gov.uk

Veterans Agency Freeline
Tel: 0800 169 2277
www.veteransagency.mod.uk

Winter Fuel Payments Helpline
Tel: 0845 915 1515
www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/winterfuel/



Advice & Consumer Organisations

AdviceUK
Tel: 020 7407 4070
www.adviceuk.org.uk

Alternative Dispute Resolution
Alternative ways of solving disputes to court action.
www.adrnow.org.uk

Citizens Advice
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
www.adviceguide.org.uk

Community Legal Service Direct
Directory of agencies providing legal advice in your area.
Tel: 0845 608 1122
www.clsdirect.org.uk

Consumer Direct
Helpline for consumer problems
Tel: 0845 404 0506
www.consumerdirect.gov.uk

Housing Corporation
Tel: 0845 230 7000
www.housingcorp.gov.uk

IFA Promotions for a list of Independent Financial Advisers
Tel: 0800 0853 250
www.unbiased.co.uk

Institute of Money Advisers (IMA)
Trade association for money advisers. Does not give advice to members of the public.
Tel: 0845 094 2384
www.i-m-a.org.uk

Law Centres Federation
Tel: 020 7387 8570
www.lawcentres.org.uk

Money Claim Direct
Issue claims in the county court on line
www.moneyclaim.gov.uk

National Consumer Council
Tel: 020 7730 3469
www.ncc.org.uk

Telephone Helplines Association
Provides information on helplines
Tel: 0845 120 3767
www.helplines.org.uk

Which?
Tel: 0845 307 4000
www.which.co.uk



OMBUDSMEN & REGULATORY BODIES

British & Irish Ombudsman Association
Lists ombudsmen and complaint handling bodies
Tel/fax: 020 8467 7455
www.bioa.org.uk

Energy Supply Ombudsman
(For complaints on billing and supply transfer issues)
Tel: 0845 055 0760
www.energy-ombudsman.org.uk

Energy Watch (OFGEM)
Tel: 0845 906 0708
www.energywatch.org.uk

Financial Ombudsman Scheme
Tel: 0845 080 1800
www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

Financial Services Authority
Consumer Helpline
Tel: 0845 606 1234
www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk

Financial Services Compensation Scheme
Tel: 020 7892 7300
www.fscs.org.uk

Local Government Ombudsman
Advice Line
Tel: 0845 602 1983
www.lgo.org.uk

The Law Society Consumer Complaints Service
Tel: 0845 608 6565
www.lawsociety.org.uk

Office of Fair Trading (OFT)
Tel: 0845 722 4499
www.oft.gov.uk

Office of Communications (OFCOM)
Tel: 0845 456 3000
www.ofcom.org.uk

Office of Telecommunications Ombudsman Service (OTELO)
Tel: 0845 050 1614
www.otelo.org.uk

Office of Water services (Ofwat)
The regulating body for water customers in England and Wales
Tel: 0121 625 1300 (OFWAT)
www.ofwat.gov.uk

The Consumer Council for Water
For complaints about water companies
Tel: 0845 039 2837
www.ccwater.org.uk

Parliamentary Ombudsman
Investigates complaints about Government Departments
Tel: 0845 015 4033
www.ombudsman.org.uk

The Information Commissioner's Office
For data protection issues
Tel: 01625 545 700
www.ico.gov.uk



Trade Associations

Association of Civil Enforcement Agencies
Tel: 01242 241 456
www.acea.org.uk

British Bankers Association
Contact via website
www.bba.org.uk

Building Societies Association
Tel: 020 7437 0655
www.bsa.org.uk

Consumer Credit Association UK
Tel: 01244 312 044
www.ccauk.org

Consumer Credit Trade Association
Tel: 0845 257 1166
www.ccta.co.uk

Council of Mortgage Lenders
Tel: 0845 373 6771
www.cml.org.uk

Credit Services Association
Tel: 0191 286 5656
www.csa-uk.com

Direct Selling Association
Tel: 020 7497 1234
www.dsa.org.uk

Enforcement Services Association
Tel: 0117 907 4771
www.ensas.org.uk

Finance & Leasing Association
Tel: 020 7836 6511
www.fla.org.uk

Mail Order Traders' Association
Tel: 0207 735 3410
www.mota.org.uk