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Out of love and
into debt for 25 Britons each day
DIVORCE and relationship
breakdown is leading 25 people to seek help with unmanageable debt
each day, according to new figures from debt charity Consumer Credit
Counselling Service (CCCS). A total of 9,099 people counselled by
CCCS during 2011 cited divorce or separation as the main cause of
their debt problem, with women outnumbering men 2 to 1.
Relationship breakdown costs the UK an estimated £44bn a year and
divorce and separation ranks as the fourth largest cause of problem
debt among CCCS clients, behind unemployment, reduced income and
budgeting problems, with 66% of those affected being women.
CCCS clients attributing their debt problem to relationship
breakdown owed an average of £17,629 in unsecured debt, and had just
£25 each month available to meet debt repayments after meeting their
basic living expenses; a worse financial position than clients in
general, who had an average monthly surplus of £40.
Ruth Sutherland, CEO of Relate, the UK's largest provider of
relationship counselling, said:- "The emotional and financial
cost of break-up has a devastating effect on families and nationally
relationship breakdown costs the UK an estimated £44 billion a year
so it is important to get help to people before their relationships
break down. Relate counsellors are witnessing the huge strain that
money worries place on people's abilities to be good partners,
parents and employees. We must act now so we don't pass this
emotional and financial cost onto future generations."
Delroy Corinaldi, CCCS director of external affairs, said:-
"Separating from your partner is one of those life events that can
cause a significant shock to your income. This often comes at the
same time as significant additional costs, such as legal bills and
the cost of moving home. The combination of these two factors can
quickly lead to a serious debt problem.
It is crucial that lenders act in an understanding and fair way
towards borrowers going through this experience, and show as much
forbearance as possible as they deal with the financial aftermath of
separation.
Separation is stressful enough without having to worry about dealing
with unmanageable debt. Borrowers should take immediate steps to
assess which, if any, joint debts they are liable for and talk to
their lenders to explain their situation. Debt charities such as CCCS
can take much of the stress out of the situation by helping
borrowers to navigate these choppy waters, and can deal directly
with creditors to help deal with the beginnings of problem debt." |
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Snakes Alive! -
UKIP MEP accused of threatening nature
SNAKES in the grass could
become a common danger in Britain's countryside if UKIP politicians
get their way, a Euro-MP has warned the country.
The North West Liberal Democrat
MEP, Chris Davies, says that alien invasive
species, often introduced into the wild by accident, are one of the
greatest threats to the survival of animal species worldwide.
Escaped pythons, growing up to 20 feet long, that have bred in
Florida's Everglades are being held responsible for killing enormous
numbers of animals.
While escaped American mink have had a devastating effect on the
British countryside and threaten the survival of water voles and
other native species.
The European Commission is so concerned about the effect of alien
invasive species on native flora and fauna across Europe that it is
drafting ideas about what should be done to try and slow their
spread.
The proposals have been attacked by the UK independence Party even
before they have been published.
UKIP deputy leader and MEP Paul Nuttall says that the EU
should not be "sticking its nose into such nonsense"
and claims that officials in Brussels want to ban the keeping of
exotic pets.
But Chris Davies has accused him of speaking with a forked tongue.
He said:- "Everyone knows that UKIP hates the EU, but it's now
clear that they hate our environment too. The problem is not with
the keeping of foreign animals but of whether they pose a threat to
other species here by multiplying quickly if released.
In Britain our red squirrels have almost been killed off, native
crayfish in our rivers are retreating before American crayfish,
while Himalayan balsam is taking over our hedgerows and destroying
our plants, yet UKIP thinks invasive species pose no problem to
nature.
If Paul Nuttall wants to avoid looking stupid he should check his
facts and try to engage his brain before he opens his mouth."
So what do you, our readers think? Let us know
by emailing us to:-
news24@southportreporter.com today! |
