DEBT advisors in Liverpool are being inundated with clients as more and more people in the city face crippling financial problems. Those contacting experts regarding credit problems and mortgage arrears are, on average, in almost three times more debt than they were five years ago. Advisors, who fear a serious rise in house repossessions in 2008, have seen debt levels on credit cards alone double from around an average £25,000 in 2002 to more than £50,000 this year. As tills across the region continued to buzz with sales activity yesterday, Liverpool Specialist Advice Service, a consortium of the city’s Citizens Advice Bureaux, said it was now booked solid with people wanting debt advice at a time of year when they are usually considerably quieter. It is especially concerned for what the New Year will bring for those with money worries. Rachel Howley, of LSAS, said: “There is a huge demand for our service at the moment and that is quite unusual. “This consortium has been going for nine years, and around this time of year we always see a lull, usually between the end of November until the end of January. “This year that hasn’t happened and we are fully booked up until mid-January. We’re seeing a huge increase across the whole city.” LSAS has 22 debt advisors throughout the city and on average deals with 6,000 clients a year. Ms Howley added: “Five years ago, the average person was coming to us with credit card debts of £25,000, and that has at least doubled – some people are in excess of £60,000 in debt just on credit alone. In addition to that, we are seeing more and more clients with mortgage arrears, where the market makes people really stretch themselves. We are expecting more repossessions in the New Year.” Nationally, latest figures show the average Briton owes £33,000. Extra expenses across the holiday period could break the bank for those already struggling. A family on an average income will have spent £564 on the trimmings on Christmas Day alone, not including presents. John Binks, acting regional director for the Legal Services Commission North West region, said: “Any family needs to budget for expensive times like Christmas but for families who will really feel the pinch it is essential to get the right advice now.” The LSC runs the Community Legal Advice helpline, which provides telephone and web advice. Last January calls for debt help to the phone line doubled the calls logged for December. It can be contacted on 0845 345 4345 or at www.community legaladvice.org.uk For more news from the Liverpool Daily Post - click here | 
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