About CCCS
People in financial difficulties reach us through our 0800 free phone numbers, or online using CCCS Debt Remedy. Over the telephone, the helpline advisor will perform an immediate assessment of the situation ending in emergency help, self-help material or the offer of a counselling appointment. Through CCCS Debt Remedy, visitors receive online expert debt advice tailored to their individual circumstances.
Whether a client chooses to use CCCS Debt Remedy or has a counselling appointment, CCCS conduct a full review of the credit and debt situation followed by a recommendation.
Our help is available to anyone experiencing financial difficulties,
regardless of the level of debt or financial status.
Our FREEPHONE helpline is open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday.
0800 138 1111
Alternatively you can use CCCS Debt Remedy to obtain online debt advice tailored to your individual circumstances.
In the first instance you should call our helpline on 0800 138 1111. The helpline counsellor will
assess your situation and may be able to answer your questions there and then. If the helpline
counsellor believes that you will benefit from a full debt counselling session they will arrange
an appointment for you.
The most important thing is to ensure that you maintain payments to your priority debts. Priority debts are
so called because non-payment can result in severe consequences, such as loss of your home, liberty or essential
goods and services. They should always be paid before anything else. The following debts fall into this category:
- Mortgage/2nd Mortgage/Rent
- Secured loan/secured overdraft
- Council tax
- Magistrate fine
- Inland Revenue/VAT
- Gas/electricity/other fuel
- TV licence
- Telephone
- Hire Purchase
- CSA/Maintenance Orders
- Existing County Court Judgment
Other debts are called non-priority debts. You should contact each non-priority creditor and give them your client
reference number, informing them you have an appointment booked with the CCCS. If a payment is due and you cannot
afford what they are asking, make a payment of what you can afford. This demonstrates that you are committed to
repaying the debt and can be as little as £1 per creditor.
We cannot give advice about consolidation loans or obtaining further credit. If you are considering one of these courses of action because you are having difficulty maintaining your contractual payments to your creditors, we would suggest you complete CCCS Debt Remedy or call us on 0800 138 1111.