Hollyoaks: Debt

July 2008

This script contains information and support organisations for anyone with a debt or gambling problem. No matter how serious your situation seems right now, there is a way out of it.

National Debtline provides a free, confidential and independent helpline for people with debt problems in England, Wales and Scotland. They can give expert advice over the phone as well as providing a self help information pack. Call 0808 808 4000 (free, Monday - Friday 9am-9pm, Saturdays 9.30am-1pm). You can also download a lot of the information from their website at www.nationaldebtline.co.uk.

You may have heard about or seen adverts mentioning an alternative to bankruptcy called an 'individual voluntary arrangement' or IVA. This is an arrangement made through the county court to pay an agreed amount off your debts over a shorter period. This usually means paying a high monthly instalment over three to five years. The rest of the debts are written off. An IVA is not suitable for everyone, so call the National Debtline 0808 808 4000 to find out the best debt plan for you.

Gamcare is a confidential counselling, advice and information service for people affected by a gambling dependency, including family and friends of compulsive gamblers. Phone their helpline 0845 6000 133 (local rate, 8am-midnight every day). For an online advisory service go to www.gamcare.org.uk.

Gamblers Anonymous is a self help organisation with men and women joining together to do something about their own gambling problem and to help other compulsive gamblers do the same. Call 020 7384 3040 (24 hours a day every day) or go to www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk for information including a list of meetings that take place all over the country.

The sister organisation Gam-Anon is for the friends and families who have been affected by someone else's gambling problem. Call 08700 50 88 80 (24 hours a day every day) or go to www.gamanon.org.uk for more information.

The Consumer Credit Counselling Service or CCCS offer free and confidential services from budgeting advice to practical Debt Management Plans. Call 0800 138 1111 (free, Mondays - Fridays 8am-8pm). If you go to their website you'll see various ways in which you can start to help yourself including an online personalised debt remedy at www.cccs.co.uk.

You can also get help from the Citizens Advice Bureau Service. CAB advisers can help fill out forms, write letters, negotiate with creditors and provide representation at court or tribunals. This service is free, confidential and independent and you can find the location of your nearest office in your phone directory under Citizens Advice Bureau. On their website you'll find masses of information as well as details of CAB support in your area, go to www.adviceguide.org.uk.

If you're feeling distressed and need someone to talk to, you can phone Samaritans at any time of day or night on 08457 90 90 90 or email for support through jo@samaritans.org their website is at www.samaritans.org.

There are three credit reference agencies in the UK. They keep information on people's credit histories which is made available to lenders to help them decide whether or not to accept credit applications from their customers. They have a legal obligation to provide you with access to the information held about you. You can obtain this information from Experian by calling 0800 656 9000 (Monday - Friday 9am-6pm; Saturdays 9am - 1pm). Or by going to www.experian.co.uk which contains a lot of information on credit rating.

Call Credit holds information on over 44 million UK consumers. You can order your personal credit report from Call Credit by using the form available on www.callcredit.co.uk or call 0870 060 1414 for other information.

The third company is Equifax and you can find out about their service and your personal credit rating at www.equifax.co.uk or get other information from 0870 010 0583.

The website Finance Victims is very useful if you have been sold the wrong personal finance product, or a bad product, or if the product you have bought is causing unreasonable problems, or if you have debt problems, go to www.financevictims.co.uk.

Channel 4 Television takes no responsibility for the content of any third-party sites.