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Debt advice services' pre-Christmas fears have been realised, as the first two weeks of 2006 has seen them besieged by an impossibly large number of calls from despairing consumers.
The National Debtline has reported that it has simply been unable to answer two-thirds of its received calls over the past fortnight, so jammed has its switchboard been.
Since January 3rd it has received 12,000 calls for assistance – some of which have been asking for help with debts of over £100,000.
As a result, the Debtline is to increase its staff numbers by an estimated 40 per cent to ensure that as few people as possible go without the advice that they desperately require.
Between 1994 and 2004 the number of callers per year to the National Debtline grew by almost 100,000 – and this unwelcome growth shows no apparent sign of abating.
The responsibility currently incumbent upon advice groups comes as no surprise and was indeed predicted – before Christmas the Consumer Credit Counselling Service forecast that it will receive 20,000 calls by the time January is out.
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Debt counsellors reveal all
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