Personal debts ‘affecting home and working lives’

Over a third of respondents to a survey of people seeking debt advice revealed that they blamed money problems for ruining a relationship with a former partner, while ten per cent said they divorced or separated for similar reasons.

And in the work place too debt worries appear to be having a profound effect, with 45.8 per cent of those polled claiming they performed less well in their job due to debt management concerns.

John Porter, a senior counsellor with The Debt Counsellors, said: “debt solutions do exist, even for serious cases, and anyone worried about their personal debt should get professional advice to find out about the options available rather than allow their financial problems to disrupt relationships and work.”

A bill drawn up recently by the Department for Constitutional Affairs has been designed with the aim of protecting people in debt from “unscrupulous” enforcement agents.