North-west gets guidance
Consumers in the north-west of England are being granted access to a new source of impartial financial advice, thanks to the introduction of a three-month government-funded trial of Consumer Direct in the area.
The service, which aims to help consumers budget and plan their financial management as well as offer debt advice and tips on living a debt free life, will run from 12 weeks until December 17th.
“Trading Standards Services in the north-west are all too well aware of the impact that bad financial decision making has on the most vulnerable in society and we are fully behind this project which has the real potential to help people make informed and considered financial decisions,” said Phil Ashcroft, head of Trading Standards at Cumbria county council.
Director for Consumer Direct at the Office of Fair Trading Christine Cryne said that Consumer Direct has a “proven track record” for providing the sort of advice promised from the centres, located in Bolton, Barrow, Chorlton and Bureaux in Allerdale.
Last week, research from comparison site moneysupermarket.com revealed that more than eight million people who resort to debt consolidation go on to take out more debt.
