Citizens Advice Campaigns on Debt and Mental Health!

Wyre Forest Citizens Advice Bureau [CAB] is campaigning about the dangers of pay day loans following the World Mental Health day last Friday.

The CAB associates mental health and debt problems because people with health issues are often unemployed and/or on low incomes and can have spending outbursts when they come into even a little money.

Kate Bennett, Wyre Forest CAB manager said: “People with even mild mental issues can struggle to navigate complex benefit rules and become withdrawn so they begin their debt recovery process late and too many lenders do not have the patience to deal with vulnerable people.  Vulnerable people often find it difficult to budget and this puts pressure on their families.”

The CAB has persuaded the Advertising Standards’ Authority [ASA] to ban recent Wonga adverts which did not show the Representative Annual Percentage Rate [RAPR].

Ms Bennett went on “The consequences are very serious when payday loans go wrong and with 5 out of 7 adverts we have reported to the ASA being banned, payday lenders need to up their game.  If adverts are misleading, how can anyone especially vulnerable people, assess them properly?”

Wyre Forest CAB offer free and impartial advice and help on debt and many other issues. You can contact us in any of the following ways:

Website Advice: www.adviceguide.org.uk

Free telephone advice: 0300 330 0650 (from a mobile) 844 4111 303 (from a landline)

Appointments at Wyre Forest Bureau: 01562 60194

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