Housing Solutions

Struggling with your finances... Don’t know where to turn...

Contact Northampton Borough Council’s Money Advice and Financial Inclusion Services for free and confidential advice on:

01604 838578 or moneyadvice@northampton.gov.uk

We welcome calls via the Text Relay Service

Negotiating with priority debts Northampton Borough Council’s Money Advice and Financial Inclusion service can help you identify your priority debts and make affordable arrangements to avoid further recovery action. Your priority debts include your rent/mortgage, secured loans or second mortgages, council tax, utilities, Magistrates Court fines, maintenance, TV licence, Hire Purchase, Income tax, National Insurance and VAT arrears, tax credit overpayments and social fund loans and benefit overpayments. It is important that you address these expenses before paying any other outgoings. The recovery consequences for not paying your priority debts are very serious. If you default on payments, you may risk losing your home or in some cases face imprisonment.

Our service is focused on helping you to stay in your home.

Contact our Money Advice Team on 01604 838578 if you require further assistance.

Advice on secondary debtA secondary debt is usually defined as such because their maximum powers of recovery are less severe than a priority debt. These debts should be paid with any money you have left after you have paid your essential outgoings and priority debts. Never offer them more than you can realistically afford. There are organisations available who will help you manage your secondary debts, it is not advisable to use companies that charge for their service.

If you need help with calculating how much to offer, you can contact the National Debt line on 0808 808 4000, Consumer Credit Counselling Service on 0800 138 1111, our Money Advice Team on 01604 838578, the Citizens Advice Bureau on 0844 855 2122 or the Community Law Service on 01604 636112.

Budgeting AdviceNorthampton Borough Council can show you how to manage your debts. Our specialist money advisors can advise you how to put together a budget and give you guidance on ways you may be able to increase your income or decrease your current outgoings.

Ring 01604 838578 to speak to our specialist money advisors.

Benefit entitlementIt is important that you make sure that you are claiming all the benefits and discounts that you are entitled to. Such as:

Income Support Job Seekers Allowance

Child benefit Employment Support Allowance

Child tax credits (plus childcare care component) Working Tax credits

Widowed parent allowance Disability Living AllowanceBackdated tax allowance Attendance allowanceCarers allowance Pension Credit

Housing/council tax benefits and discounts

Contact the Jobcentre Plus on 0800 055 6688, www.direct.gov.uk or www.turn2us.org.uk to find out what benefits you are entitled to.

If you have children and a low income, you may be entitled to free school meals or free school transport. Contact Northamptonshire County Council on 0300 126 1000 for more details.

Changes to your benefitsThe Government is changing the current benefits system and these changes will be made through the Government’s Welfare Reform.

If you are currently claiming any benefit, you are likely to be affected. Our Financial Inclusion and Money Advice Team are available to help you cope with the changes to your benefits. For further advice contact 01604 838578.

Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) If you receive income-based benefits such as income-based Job Seekers Allowance, you may be entitled to financial support (SMI) towards the interest on your mortgage. Contact Jobcentre Plus on 0800 055 6688 or our Money Advice Team on 01604 838578 for further information.

Mortgage Rescue SchemeThe Mortgage Rescue Scheme is available to help homeowners at risk of losing their home through repossession.

Homeowners eligible for help under the Mortgage Rescue Scheme may be offered either:

• A shared equity option- a loan to reduce the homeowner’s monthly mortgage payments.

• A mortgage to rent option- selling your property to a registered housing association and renting it back from them, so you can stay in your home as a tenant.

For further information, contact our Money Advice Team on 01604 838578

Utility adviceWe encourage you to look for the best payment options and energy tariffs for your needs to ensure you are only paying for your usage and not an average set by your supplier. You can check the following comparison web sites to find the best deal for you: www.consumerfocus.org.uk, www.uswitch.com

If you have utility debt, your supplier can suggest options to help you repay your arrears at a suitable rate for you or you can get independent money advice from any organisation previously listed in the secondary debt section. For further help with utility tariffs or utility enquires/concerns, contact Energy Saving Trust on 0800 512 0012, Winter fuel helpline 0845 915 515 or Energy Ombudsman 0845 055 0760.

TV licensingIf you need to arrange a television licence, please contact TV Licensing on 0300 790 6071.

If you are over 75, you will be entitled to a free license.

Bailiff adviceAll bailiffs who visit your home must have a certificate from the County Court allowing them to act as bailiffs. If you are experiencing difficulties with any bailiffs, contact our Money Advice service on 01604 838578 for further guidance.

Loan Shark adviceA loan shark is an unlicensed money lender and who is not registered by the Office of Fair Trading. They are illegal and may charge very high interest rates or use threats and/or violence to frighten you if you do not/ cannot pay back any money owed.

Below is a list of common characteristics loan sharks have:

• Are initially friendly but may resort to intimidation, threats or violence if payments are missed

• Will supply little or no paperwork with the loan

• May refuse to give you vital information, such as your outstanding balance or the rate of interest on the loan

• May abruptly increase the debt owed or add additional charges

• Take personal items to ensure payments e.g. Passports driving licences

Contact Loan Sharks Advice on 0300 555 2222 or our Money Advice Team on 01604 838578 for support and guidance.

Hire Purchase AgreementsYou do not own any goods that you buy through Hire Purchase until the whole debt is cleared. If you are struggling to maintain your agreed payment installments, try to negotiate a lower arrangement and ask whether you can extend the term of your agreement with your Hire Purchase provider. If you fall behind with payments, and you are unable to negotiate a more suitable arrangement, your lender may take back the goods. If you have paid more than a third, your lender would need a court order to retrieve the goods.

If you would like more information about your rights, contact the National Debtline on 0808 808 4000.

Advice on low cost loans and savingsNorthampton Credit Union may provide you with a low cost loan to help you with essential or emergency expenses. Northampton Credit Union also offer savings accounts with your loan to help you manage future financial demands. Contact Northampton Credit Union on 01604 250016.

Smaterbuys has a website that provides household goods at a low price. Smarterbuys advertise different deals each month on a variety of furniture. The website allows you to pay for these goods either directly or through a credit union loan. If you are interested in this scheme, visit www.smarterbuys.org.uk.

You may also apply for social fund loans, maternity loans, funeral expenses or community care grants at your local Jobcentre. To apply for any of these, contact Jobcentre Plus on 0800 055 6688.

Basic bank accountsBasic bank accounts are available to everyone despite their credit rating. There are a variety of banks that offer this type of account. Please be aware there is no overdraft or cheque book with this type of account. For further information, contact our Money Advice team on 01604 838578 or visit the Money Advice Service website: www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk.

Useful contactsBenefit entitlement www.turn2us.org.ukChild Trust Fund www.childtrustfund.gov.ukCitizens Advice Bureau 0844 855 2122 www.northamptoncab.org.uk Community Law Service 01604 636112Consumer Credit Counselling Service 0800 138 1111 www.cccs.co.ukDirect.gov www.direct.gov.ukDisability Facilities Grant 01604 837810 www.northampton.gov.uk/doitonline Energy Ombudsman 0845 055 0760/ 0330 440 1624/ 01925 530263www.energy-obudsman.org.ukEnergy Saving Trust Freephone 0800 512 012 www.energysavingtrust.org.uk Financial Ombudsman Service 0845 080 1800 www.financial-ombudsman.org.ukFinancial Services Authority 0300 500 5000 www.fsa.gov.ukHealthy Start 0845 607 6823 www.healthystart.nhs.uk Help with childcare costs www.payingforchildcare.org.uk Loan Sharks advice 0300 555 2222 http://stoploansharks.direct.gov.ukLocal lenders directory www.lenderscompared.org.ukThe Money Advice Service www.moneyadviceservice.org.ukNational Debtline 0808 808 4000 www.nationaldebtline.co.uk Northampton Borough Council (general enquiries) 0300 330 7000 www.northampton.gov.ukNorthampton Credit Union 01604 250016Northamptonshire County Council 0300 126 1000 www.northamptonshire.gov.ukNorthampton Jobcentre Plus 0800 055 6688Pension Service 0800 99 1234Self employed tax help www.taxaid.org.ukSmarterbuys www.smarterbuys.org.ukTV Licensing 0300 790 6071 www.tvlicensing.co.ukWinter fuel helpline 0845 915 515

Please contact Northampton Borough Council’s Money

01604 838578 or moneyadvice@northampton.gov.ukWe welcome calls via the Text Relay Service

You can also find further information from our website www.northampton.gov.uk Click on ‘Debt Advice’ on the home page.

Advice and Financial Inclusion teams on: