Debtors Struggling Under Weight of Creditor Pressures, Charity Report Shows

Christians Against Poverty (CAP) has published a new report outlining the extent of the financial and debt-related challenges that many thousands of people are facing in Scotland and across the UK.

The charity’s report shows that in Scotland the peak debt of the average person who reaches out for help from the CAP now stands at £19,369.

Council tax arrears was highlighted as the most common form of priority debt among new CAP clients, with 40 per cent of people seeking support in dealing with that specific issue.

Meanwhile, 10 per cent of those new clients in Scotland said they were struggling with rent arrears and 9 per cent cited energy debt as being among their main financial problems.

Most people in Scotland who got in touch with CAP for debt help during the most recent full year period were in receipt of one or more social security benefit and around 42 per cent derived all their income from those sources.

In many cases, benefit deductions have made life yet more difficult for people already living in poverty in parts of Scotland.

The CAP’s report includes a case study about a woman called Gillian, who lives in Edinburgh and accumulated debt while she was working but then couldn’t pay those debts off after she was made redundant and later became too ill to work.

Gillian explains in the report that her situation soon became very stressful as creditors applied pressure for repayments that she couldn’t afford.

However, Gillian was able to start turning things around for herself after she reached out for help from the CAP and its personal debt experts.

“CAP gave me the confidence that I did not have to face the endless phone calls and letters from my creditors,” Gillian is quoted as saying. “I didn’t just get advice but I also made a lot of new friends along the way. I knew I was not alone in the journey.”

If you live anywhere in Scotland and you need advice on how to deal with your personal debt situation then Scotland Debt Solutions can help. Contact us directly to arrange a FREE and confidential consultation.