Money Adviser Resources

We have compiled a selection of websites which you might find useful in your role as Money Adviser. We have broken these down into sections to make it easier to navigate. Each extract has some explanation about the organisation or agency itself and then highlights some points of interest on their site.

Downloadable Money Adviser Resources

Downloadable Resources

Downloadable Resources

Reviewing Case Files

Money Adviser Support

Money Advice Strategies

Government Departments and Sites

Communities and Local Government
www.communities.gov.uk
Communities and Local Government sets policy on local government, housing, urban regeneration, planning, fire and rescue and community cohesion and race equality issues. Previously the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, this site contains information, research and publications affecting local communities such as Housing, Environment, Planning and Building, Social Exclusion and Community Cohesion. The site includes guidance material for homeowners and tenants and policy information on housing issues. This office is also responsible for Neighbourhood Renewal and New Deal for Communities.

The Court of Appeal
www.justice.gov.uk/court-of-appeal
Deals with applications to re-examine the decision made by a lower court. From 1 October 2009, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom assumes jurisdiction on points of law for all civil law cases in the UK and all criminal cases in England and Wales and Northern Ireland. See Supreme Court.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Formerly Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR) www.bis.gov.uk
The government department covers a whole range of area related to business; economics, regulation, finance and commercial. One of the BIS priorities is to monitor and create the best conditions for private sector growth. The website includes information about business regulation from the Better Regulation Executive (BRE). It links to the Money Advice Service for information on consumer affairs including guidance on consumer protection legislation. BIS also manages the UK’s energy liabilities, including prices, reliability and efficiency, and refers and links to issues around fuel poverty.

Department for Work and Pensions
www.dwp.gov.uk
This site provides thorough and up to date information on all aspects of state benefits. It includes an indispensable resource centre containing Publications, Research and Consultations; Information about Policy and Welfare Reform. There is an A-Z of benefits and services, including introductions to new benefits such as the Employment Support Allowance. The website contains downloadable leaflets and a section specifically for advisers.

Hansard
www.parliament.uk/business/publications/hansard
The Official Report section contains the full text of parliamentary debates in the Houses of Commons and Lords since 1988.

Her Majesty’s Court Service (HMCS) has now been changed to the HM Courts and Tribunals Service and has been integrated into the Justice.Gov website.

Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service
www.justice.gov.uk/about/hmcts
HM Courts and Tribunals Service have now been integrated into one agency (HMCTS) of the Ministry of Justice. It operates as a partnership between the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice and the Senior President of Tribunals as set out in our Framework Document. The agency is responsible for the administration of the criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales and non-devolved tribunals in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The site contains information about court jurisdiction, forms and guidance. Access to all Court Forms is via the Court Form Finder http://hmctsformfinder.justice.gov.uk

HM Treasury
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk
This website contains a great deal of economic information and data on financial services including consultations, including more recently publications and information on the Government strategy to improve financial capability and on the FSA national strategy, 'Delivering Change'. The site has a wealth of financial statistics and information about the UK and Global Economy. Information about and links to the Financial Services Authority for financial regulation.

Insolvency Service
www.insolvency.gov.uk
Informative site about insolvency containing information ranging from general background to how to petition for bankruptcy and alternatives to bankruptcy. It includes helpful leaflets in community languages and audio format, also court forms which can be downloaded. It includes a copy of the Enterprise Act 2002, 2008 amendments, the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 and various guides to the Acts’ insolvency provisions, including rules and regulations for Debt Relief Orders. Bankruptcy petitions can be made on line and access to the Individual Insolvency Register can be obtained by going via the ‘Do it Online’ tab.

Insolvency Services Technical Manual can be accessed from the above site or directly: www.insolvency.gov.uk/freedomofinformation/technical/technicalmanual

Justice.Gov
www.justice.gov.uk
This site will increasingly be the central point for all government produced legal information. The site contains information on the judiciary, legal system, the courts of England and Wales. It includes legislation, White Papers, reports, statistics and consultations. Of key assistance to advisers is the section containing all of the Civil Procedure Rules together with updates. The site also has some useful publications and statistical information about the number of court actions, possession orders by courts and region.

Legal Help Eligibility Calculator http://eligibilitycalculator.justice.gov.uk

Legal Services Commission
www.legalservices.gov.uk
The Legal Services Commission looks after the legal aid system and helps people access the help they need to address their problems. This site will be incorporated into Justice.Gov in 2011. It includes all statutory material and guidance relating to public funding and details about applying for and maintaining the CLS quality mark standard. The site contains all current downloadable contract forms including applications, claims, controlled work, legal funding and reporting forms in PDF.

Ministry of Justice Formerly the Lord Chancellor’s Department, then the Department for Constitutional Affairs. The responsibilities have, since May 07, been transferred to the www.justice.gov.uk .

Money Advice Service – see Money Advice Sites

Parliament
www.parliament.uk
The site includes information on the history and role of parliament. The site provides all current and proposed bills and legislation which is useful for tracking their progress. The site gives information about the House of Lords’ judicial work as the final court of appeal up to 2009, with access to information about the judicial work and judgements. It also provides a calendar of events in both houses and lists and contact information of MPs, Offices and government committees. See also Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

Stop Loan Sharks
www.direct.gov.uk/stoploansharks
Managed by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills this government campaign targets unlicensed money lenders. Information on the site directs users how to report illegal money lending activities.

Supreme Court
www.supremecourt.gov.uk
From 1 October 2009, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom assumes jurisdiction on points of law for all civil law cases in the UK and all criminal cases in England and Wales and Northern Ireland. See Supreme Court.

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Regulators and Adjudicators

Advertising Standards Authority
www.asa.org.uk
The ASA ensures all advertising meets the advertising codes. This is a very informative site about the role of the ASA and the rules on good advertising practice. The advertising standards code can be downloaded. It contains details of adjudication’s by subject index including numerous cases involving credit grantors. The site also has a comprehensive step by step guide to complaints and an online complaint form.

Consumer Focus
www.consumerfocus.org.uk
Created through the merger of three consumer organisations – Energywatch, Postwatch and the National Consumer Council (including the Welsh and Scottish Consumer Councils). Consumer focus now has a more joined-up consumer advocacy, with a single organisation speaking with a more powerful voice and able to more readily bring cross-sector expertise to issues of concern.

Energy Watch - see Consumer Focus

Finance Industry Standards Association
www.fisa.co.uk
FISA is a joint initiative of brokers and lenders in the secured loan (or second mortgage) sector to enhance, but not enforce, standards in the industry. FISA's purpose is to help members comply with Consumer Credit Act and FSA regulation as well as the FISA Code. The website includes a list of lender members, its code of conduct and responses to consultations. For the borrower the site includes an information guide about how secured loans work.

Financial Ombudsman Service
www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk
The independent service for settling disputes between consumers and businesses providing financial services. This site provides information about the scope of the Ombudsman scheme, how to complain and the type of redress available. The complaint form can be completed on screen. Also provides useful case studies via its “Ombudsman News” bulletins and some useful factsheets relating to complaint areas such as cheques, insurance and endowments.

The Financial Services Authority
www.fsa.gov.uk
The FSA is the UK’s financial services watchdog. The site contains a huge amount of material including the FSA handbook where the Insurance and Mortgage Codes of Business can be accessed (of particular interest for Money Advisers are sections 12 and 13 of the MCOB). The site has consultations and policy statements on financial services issues. There is a search tool which identifies FSA authorised individuals and companies and provides further details including their disciplinary history.

Insolvency Practitioners Association
www.insolvency-practitioners.org.uk
The Insolvency Practitioners Association (IPA) is a membership body recognised for the purposes of authorising (licensing) insolvency practitioners (IPs) under the Insolvency Act 1986. The site mainly contains information for members but also includes a guide to professional conduct.

The Office of Fair Trading
www.oft.gov.uk
The OFT is responsible for making markets work for consumers. This is a very informative site with significant emphasis on credit and debt issues for which it includes a consumer information section. Various reports of the OFT on consumer credit and unfair contract terms are downloadable. It also has an “Advisor Resources” section written specifically to provide resource information to different categories of consumer advisers.

Ofcom
www.ofcom.org.uk
Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services. The site contains advice for customers, information about licensing and complaints.

Ofgem
www.ofgem.gov.uk
The regulatory body for all Gas and Electricity companies. The site contains information about the energy company regulations, codes, licensing and complaints.

Ofwat
www.ofwat.gov.uk
The Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) is the economic regulator of the water and sewerage industry in England and Wales. Ofwat’s role is to seek value for consumers. The site contains access to help for vulnerable groups, the regulations, codes of conduct and customer complaints.

The Lending Standards Board has replaced the Banking Code Standards Board which closed in 2009
www.lendingstandardsboard.org.uk
The role of the Lending Standards Board is to monitor and enforce the Lending Code and to ensure subscribers provide a fair deal to their personal and micro-enterprise borrowing customers. The website explains the role of the LSB and how it monitors compliance of the code and how complaints are handled. The Lending Code and guidance to subscribers is available to download. The site includes a list of those who have signed up to the code and also those organisations who have not.

Upper Tribunal (Administrative Appeals Chamber)
Courts and tribunals guidance
A Superior Court of Record with UK wide jurisdiction it aims to assist those wishing to appeal against, or involved in, decisions of the General Regulatory Chamber, the Health, Education and Social Care Chamber, Social Entitlement Chamber, and the War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber. The site provides comprehensive information on the appeal procedures and also previous case decisions.

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Credit Industry and Trade Bodies

UK Payments Administration (previously Association of Payment Clearing Services)
www.ukpayments.org.uk
Is not itself a membership body but the service company providing people, facilities and expertise to the UK payments industry. This site contains information explaining the operation of payment methods such as automated (BACS) cheques, direct debits, CHAPS and plastic cards. The site has a number of guides and publications which can be downloaded, including a guide to best practice.

Association of British Credit Unions
www.abcul.org
ABCUL is the main trade association for credit unions in the UK. This website includes sections on the role of credit unions, a list of members, a credit union search engine how they are run and regulated. It also contains information about the CONNECT project, which assists in the building of relationships between advice agencies and local credit unions.

British Bankers Association
www.bba.org.uk
The BBA is the leading association for the UK banking and financial services sector. The site has information about banking regulations, legislation, up to date statistics on finance and credit. The Banking Code which can be downloaded. The site also has a section of consumer fact sheets and leaflets covering topics like borrowing money, managing finances and debt, finding lost accounts, availability of basic bank and business accounts, banking aboard and information about mental capacity.

British Cheque Cashers Association
www.bcca.co.uk
The British Cheque Cashers Association is the trade association of the cheque cashing industry in the UK. The site has a copy of their code of practice and a search engine to find members.

Building Societies Association
www.bsa.org.uk
The Building Societies Association (BSA) is the trade association for all of the UK's building societies. The website Includes general information about building societies and its members. It has consumer fact sheets covering topics such as dormant accounts, mental capacity, fraud, mortgages and ISAs. There is also a facility for tracing and finding lost accounts.

Civil Court Users Association
www.ccua.org.uk
The CCUA is a membership organisation that represents the interest of those using the courts. The CCUA lobbies the Ministry of Justice and The Court Service on behalf of users mainly creditors or collectors to improve the service provided by the courts.

Council of Mortgage Lenders
www.cml.org.uk
The trade association for the mortgage lending industry. The site lists all CML members with links to the lenders’ own sites. It has a good deal of information about mortgage regulation and home ownership matters. It includes The Mortgage Code, various policy statements and a range of consumer information. It also has factsheets dealing with complaints under the mortgage code, policy about arrears and possession and the voluntary agreement on mortgage shortfalls.

Consumer Credit Trade Association
www.ccta.co.uk
The CCTA is a trade association which supports and represents some businesses involved in consumer credit, hire and debt collection, motor finance and insurance brokers.

Consumer Credit Association
www.ccauk.org
The CCA is the trade body of the home credit industry. With around 500 lender members it is the focal point for contact by government, local authorities, other finance sector representative bodies, consumer groups who have an interest in the home credit industry and the media. The site has information about making a complaint to the CCA and includes the members pledge and the Code of Practice.

Credit Services Association
www.csa-uk.com
The UK trade body for companies connected to the tracing, collection and recovery of debt. The site includes their code of conduct and list of members. Also has a sub-site for the Debt Buyers and Sellers Group which represents the debt sales and purchase industry.

Debt Buyers and Sellers Group – see Credit Services Association

Enforcement Services Association
www.ensas.org.uk
A central organisation for certificated bailiffs and civil law enforcement agents. Formerly the Certificated Bailiffs Association, the ESA promotes ethical and professional conduct among members. The site includes access to the rules, code of conduct and complaints procedure.

Finance and Leasing Association
www.fla.org.uk
Consumer finance trade body for the asset, consumer and motor finance sectors in the UK. The site contains a search facility for members. All FLA Lending Codes can be accessed depending on the relevant year of the agreement. The site contains useful consumer guidance about money advice and payment difficulties and has a detailed explanation about early repayment charges under the Consumer Credit Act. The site contains information about the FLA’s complaints procedure.

National Pawnbrokers Association
www.thenpa.com
Includes basic information about pawn-broking and its history.

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Law Websites

British and Irish Legal Information Institute
www.bailii.org
BAILII is a charity who operates an interactive database of full text primary legal materials available without charge on the Internet. You can find British and Irish case law and legislation, European Union case law, Law Commission reports, and other law-related British and Irish material, including all High Court and Court of Appeal judgments.

Direct Gov
www.direct.gov.uk
The site includes a search directory of solicitors and legal advisors linked to legal issues and locality, also a calculator to check whether clients qualify for “legal aid”. There are also factsheets and leaflets about different types of legal issues including debt related problems.

Epolitix.com
www.dodslegislation.com
A very good commentary site regarding bills before parliament and forthcoming legislation.

Her Majesty’s Court Service
www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk
An indispensable site, providing details of court fees and all court forms and leaflets which are downloadable. The site provides access and guidance to the online claims service. It includes a facility for tracking claims and has details of all court addresses in the UK and has a directory to check which county court has jurisdiction in a particular location. The site has daily listing of cases in the Royal Courts of Justice and also provides many Court of Appeal judgments.

House of Lords Judgments
www.parliament.uk/judicial_work/judicial_work.cfm
Contains the transcripts of all House of Lords Judgments handed down since November 1996 until 31 July 2009. For judgments after July 2009 see Supreme Court.

Info Law
www.infolaw.co.uk
UK based Legal Information Service providing a legal resource and a gateway to an large amount of legal information, resources and material (some material at a cost). The site lists and links all Local Authorities including departments, Solicitors, ADR services and Barristers.

Incorporated Council of Law Reporting
http://iclr.co.uk/
Includes access to Daily Law Notes which provide a free summary of cases, often just 24 hours after the judgment has been handed down. It also contains a useful list of Court Reference Abbreviations.

The Law Commission
www.lawcom.gov.uk
The Law Commission is the statutory independent body created to keep the law under review and to recommend reform where it is needed. The site includes law presently under review by the Law Commission with reports and consultations available on-line.

Legal Services Research Centre (LSRC)
www.justice.gov.uk
Is the independent research division of the Legal Services Commission. It was set up in 1996 to inform legal aid policy and the implementation of reform. It has a broad remit to conduct strategic research in civil and criminal justice, and related social policy fields. This site has moved to the central government site as part of an initiate to reduce the number of government websites.

Legal Resources in the UK
www.venables.co.uk
One of the best legal resources sites with information and links to lawyers and solicitors, listing those with free initial advice and those in specialist areas. The site provides information about CPD and training with a section for law students. There is also information about legal publishers, free case law and legal research services.

Office of Public Sector Information
www.legislation.gov.uk
Is the office responsible for regulating public sector information. The site offers free access to all Acts of Parliament since 1988 including statutory instruments, and many but not all from 1837 onwards including new legislation and changes to legislation. The site provides information, guidance and regulations on many topics including copyright, reproduction and publication of information.

Property Law UK
www.propertylawuk.net
This site is maintained by Barrister Garry Webster and contains a property law updating service and research tool and provides access to training, mediators, links, courses, books and more. (Subscription required).

Supreme Court
http://www.supremecourt.gov.uk/decided-cases/index.html
The 1 October 2009 marks a defining moment in the constitutional history of the United Kingdom: transferring judicial authority away from the House of Lords, and creating a Supreme Court for the United Kingdom in the historic setting of the former Middlesex Guildhall on Parliament Square.

Various Law firms
Numerous firms of solicitors have websites that contain useful briefings and articles, and there are many other legal and legally related sites. Some firms of solicitors also provide a free email updating service. For example:

Wragge & Co at www.wragge.com
TLT Solicitors at www.tltsolicitors.com
CMS Cammeron McKenna LLP at www.law-now.com/law-now/about.htm
Matthew Arnold and Baldwin at www.upload-finance.com/

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Europe

Eurofinas
www.eurofinas.org
Eurofinas is the European Federation of Finance Houses of which the credit trade bodies of members’ states belong. The site provides a lot of news about developments in consumer credit across Europe. It also includes a database of consumer credit law in each of the member states.

European Court of Human Rights
www.echr.coe.int
Provides historical background about the Court, how to apply to the Court and details of judgments granted.

European Union Law
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm
EUR-Lex provides direct free access to European Union law. The site allows you to consult the Official Journal of the European Union as well as the treaties, legislation, case-law and legislative proposals and provides a vast amount of EU law material and information about how the Court of the European Communities works.

European Parliament
www.europarl.europa.eu/en/headlines
The European Parliament is the directly-elected body of the European Union, it is the Community institution that represents the peoples of the Member States within the European Union. The website includes an overview of the Parliament and details of all ongoing legislative activities.

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Consumer Information

Bank of England
www.bankofengland.co.uk
The Bank of England sets interest rates to keep inflation low, issues banknotes and works to maintain a stable financial system. The site provides information about legislation, governance and structure of banking and also has extensive statistical information and publications.

Consumer Direct
www.direct.gov.uk/Consumerrights/index.htm
Consumer Direct is the government funded telephone and online service delivered in partnership with Local Authority Trading Standards Services. This site offers information and advice on consumer issues and legal rights.

Direct Gov
www.direct.gov.uk
This is a Government information site giving access to information about all public services, including sections on benefits and debt information. This site now incorporates the Community Legal Advice

Financial Services Consumer Panel
www.fs-cp.org.uk/
This is the watchdog that keeps the FSA in check. The site includes policy statements and research concerning financial and banking matters.

Liberty
www.yourrights.org.uk
The National Council for Civil Liberties (Liberty) on line guide to human rights and how to enforce them.

Money Saving Expert
www.moneysavingexpert.com
Martin Lewis is a specialist journalist dedicated to assisting members of the public get value for money in purchases, services, insurance, overdrafts and mortgages etc. This consumer advice website highlights deals, discounts and saving opportunities. Lewis presents information in a comprehensible way and helps the consumer navigate round ostensibly complex issues.

Personal Finance Research Centre
www.ggy.bris.ac.uk
University of Bristol site containing information on research undertaken on debt and poverty issues.

Trading Standards Central
www.tradingstandards.gov.uk
This site is supported and maintained by the Trading Standards Institute. It contains general information and leaflets about consumer rights and provides a search facility by location to find contact details of local trading standards departments.

TV Licensing
www.tvlicensing.co.uk
This site gives comprehensive information about TV licensing, including information about the newly universal ‘cash payment scheme’, with optional text reminders. The agency now has online facility for customers payments and change of details.

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Money Advice Sites

Advice NI
www.adviceni.net
Advice Northern Ireland is the membership organisation for the independent advice network in NI. The website includes a money advice section with an advice locator for clients and a members section for advisers. The site has access to publications, statistics and social policy work.

Advice UK
www.adviceuk.org.uk
AdviceUK is the UK's largest support network for free, independent advice centres. The site contains information about its training facilities and about the services and support Advice UK can provide to its member agencies.

Birmingham Settlement
www.birminghamsettlement.org.uk
A voluntary community organisation serving local community needs. The site has information about the settlement and its free services including Money Advice, care services, employment training and social policy work.

Citizens Advice
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
All CAB in the UK are members of Citizens Advice, the national charity which sets standards for bureaux. The site has information about, policy issues including evidence reports and responses to consultations which are available for download. The site provides access to order the Adviser Magazine (subscription required to non members). Also on the site is a facility to find local bureaux and access to Adviceguide www.adviceguide.org.uk , the online information system.

Christians Against Poverty
www.capuk.org
Is a national debt counselling service with a network of 160 centres based in local churches.

Consumer Credit Counselling Service
www.cccs.co.uk
CCCS is a registered charity offering free, confidential telephone and online debt advice and support. The site contains a comprehensive self help Debt Management Plan service with links to specific advice and FAQs.

Church Action on Poverty
www.church-poverty.org.uk
Provide information about campaigns dealing with poverty, including the ‘Debt on your Doorstep’ and ‘Get Fair’ campaign.

Credit Action
www.creditaction.com
Credit Action is a national money education charity aiming to help people to manage their money. This site contains a section on money saving, budgeting ideas and (via CCCS) access to self-help guide for dealing with personal debt. There is also a section containing debt statistics and publications.

Debt Advice Foundation
www.debtadvicefoundation.org
Is a debt advice and education charity also focussing on research and financial education initiatives (Money Diaries) in UK schools. The website contains various tools for users to help to maximise income and find out more about resolving debt.

Grant Thornton
https://debt.grant-thornton.co.uk/
Grant Thornton is an independent company who provide free debt advice and IVAs with no upfront fees to the client. Grant Thornton offer free telephone debt advice to the public and case management support to caseworkers. The website gives consumer information about IVAs and comparisons to other debt resolution options and includes an online IVA application facility and tips for helping with debt. By selecting the home page you can also access press releases and publications.

Institute of Money Advisers
www.i-m-a.org.uk
The IMA is the professional body acting for money advisers in England and Wales. The website has information about the specialist Money Advice journal Quarterly Account. The still developing website contains the IMA’s qualifications, accreditation scheme, training and seminar programme, the contact details of branch representatives, information about the annual conference and a page for job opportunities across the sector. The site also contains a resource page which includes an electronic version of this web-based resource document.

Law Centres Federation
www.lawcentres.org.uk
The LCF is the national body for a network of community based Law Centres. The site has a Law Centre finder and information about legal aid and access to justice.

Legal Action Group
www.lag.org.uk
The Legal Action Group is a national independent charity which promotes equal access to justice for all, and aims to improve law and practice, the administration of justice and legal services. The web-site includes details of training and publications on debt, housing and benefits, and access to the Legal Action magazine (subscription required).

London Advice Services Alliance
www.lasa.org.uk
Useful resource for advisers providing support on information systems, quality issues and benefits representation. LASA produce a yearly updated benefits rates wall chart.

The Money Advice Map
www.moneyadvicemap.com
Which contains many local debt advice agencies and is designed to help people find advisers. The Money Advice Map has been developed by Credit Action and is supported by Callcredit.

Money Advice Scotland
www.moneyadvicescotland.org.uk
MAS is the umbrella organisation to represent individuals and agencies involved in all areas of money advice in Scotland. The site has a local debt advice finder and links to advice, training and publications which including research, statistics and good practice guidance.

Money Advice Service
moneyadviceservice.org.uk
Is an independent body set up by government and funded by a levy on the financial services industry. For consumers, the Health Check offers an in depth guide to assessing users financial situation, making the most of money, understanding financial products including mortgages, and calculation tools for testing affordability of products and comparisons of products.

Money Advice Trust
www.moneyadvicetrust.org
The Money Advice Trust is a charity organisation working to increase the quality and availability of free, independent money advice in the UK. The invaluable website contains the newly developed Information Hub providing access to a wide range of Money Advice related material, access to and guidance for the Common Financial Statement.

National Debtline
www.nationaldebtline.co.uk
National Debtline is a national free, confidential and independent telephone helpline for people with debt problems in the UK. The site provides contact details and essential information and resources for dealing with debt including facts sheets, self-help packs, sample letters and personal budget sheets which can be downloaded. The site has a separate section for Scotland or Scottish debts and the site also has a useful links page.

Payplan
www.payplan.com
The site provides information about Payplan’s free to the client debt advice services such as the Mortgage Possession Advice, IVA’s and DMPs. The site also has information resources about specific debt issues and how to deal with them including links to legislation and other useful sites.

Public Law Project
www.publiclawproject.org.uk
The charity which provides public law remedies for those restricted by poverty and discrimination. The site includes case law and policy and research information.

Royal British legion
www.britishlegion.org.uk
This site helps users to find ways in which the legion can help and who might be an eligible beneficiary; these include grants, support, benefits and money advice.

Shelter
www.shelter.org.uk
Shelter is a charity working to alleviate the distress caused by homelessness and bad housing. The site gives details of campaigns, and also advice, information and access to advocacy for people in housing need.

Law Works
www.lawworks.org.uk
Solicitors pro bono group working to increase the delivery of free legal advice to individuals and communities in need. The site contains information about how to apply for help and gives information support and training to advice agencies.

Wiseradviser
www.wiseradviser.org
The training arm of the Money Advice Trust. The site provides access to E-learning and training resource for money advisers and includes news items and discussion forums. Free access allowed to members of IMA, AdviceUK, Citizens Advice, Money Advice Scotland and Advice NI.

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Benefits and Welfare Rights

Child Poverty Action Group
www.cpag.org.uk
CPAG is the leading charity campaigning for the abolition of child poverty in the UK and for a better deal for low-income families and children. The site contains access to training and campaigns, information and advice on welfare rights issues and access to ordering the handbooks and other publications.

Disability Alliance
www.disabilityalliance.org
Disability Alliance is a national registered charity with the principal aim of relieving the poverty and improving the living standards of disabled people. The site provides a comprehensive guide to benefits for disabled people and access to ordering the Disability Rights Handbook.

Newcastle Welfare Rights Service
www.newcastle.gov.uk
Very informative guide to benefits and debt issues, including tables of benefit rates and an A to Z of debt information.

Rightsnet
www.rightsnet.org.uk
The welfare rights web site produced by London Advice Services Alliance for advice workers which is immensely informative. Includes benefit rates posters which can be downloaded and an online discussion forum.

Turn2us
www.turn2us.org.uk
Providers of information and contacts to help people find appropriate sources of financial support, based on their particular needs and circumstances. Website features a benefits checker, grants search and interactive tools covering subjects on welfare benefits, grants and managing money.

Welfare Rights.net
www.welfarerights.net
Set up by Dumfries Welfare Rights, this site contains a comprehensive guide to benefits rights in the UK.

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Data Information and Credit Referencing

Credit Information and Fraud Avoidance Service
www.cifas.org.uk
CIFAS is a not for profit membership association dedicated to the prevention of financial crime and staff fraud. The site contains information about their work and its fraud prevention information sharing scheme and complaints system.

Credit Reference Agencies
Experian www.experian.co.uk
Equifax www.equifax.co.uk
Call Credit www.callcredit.co.uk
All three main credit reference agencies provide useful information about personal credit information held, how to access your credit file and privacy and data protection issues.

Information Commissioners Office
www.ico.gov.uk
The Information Commissioner's Office is the UK's independent authority set up to promote access to official information and to protect personal information. The site contains everything you wanted to know about data protection and includes a free online search facility of its public register of all data controllers.

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Campaingning and Policy

Advice Service Alliance
www.advicenow.org.uk
The ASA is the umbrella organisation for independent advice services in the UK. Their aims are to promote quality advice and legal services, ensure access to services encourage co-operation and integration of common interest between organisations.

Citizens Advice Campaign for Change
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/campaigns
One of Cit A’s joint aims is to improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives by campaigning, speaking up for clients and creating public debate around Social Policy issues.

Directory for Social Change
www.dsc.org.uk/PolicyandResearch
Directory of Social Change (DSC) is an independent charity pushing for an independent voluntary sector central to social change. This group provides information, training, research, campaigns and fundraising for the voluntary sector.

Justice for All
www.justice-for-all.org.uk
A coalition of charities, legal and advice agencies, politicians, trade unions, community groups and members of the public. They campaign to ensure everyone is treated fairly under the law having access to free, independent advice and representation on legal matters.

Money Advice Trust
www.moneyadvicetrust.org
Co-ordinate and prepare joint consultation response papers on behalf of the partner agencies including which are relevant to the money advice sector. Partner agencies included are Advice NI, Advice UK, Citizens Advice (including NI and Scotland) Institute of Money Advisers, Money Advice Scotland, National Debtline and Payplan.

National Council for Voluntary Organisations
www.ncvo-vol.org.uk
NCVO’s work includes campaigning and influencing policy around four key themes set out in their Civil Society agenda; wellbeing, social cohesion, climate change and financial security.

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Calculators

Benefit Checker
www.turn2us.org.uk
From Turn2Us in association with Elizabeth Finn Care Trust.

Benefit Checker
www.dwpe-services.direct.gov.uk
Via Direct Gov

Credit Programs Website
brian-stewart.orpheusweb.co.uk
This site is produced by Brian Stewart containing advanced credit programs for free downloading such as APRs and rebates.

FISA APR calculator
www.fisa.co.uk
Has an extremely useful APR calculator which can be downloaded for free and is simple to operate.

Legal Help Eligibility Calculator
http://eligibilitycalculator.justice.gov.uk

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Journals and Publications

The Adviser (see Citizens Advice – above)
Quarterly Account (see Institute of Money Advisers - above)
Legal Action (see Legal Action Group – above)

These are essential reading for advisers who wish to keep up to date with case law developments. They all contain abstracts or summaries of new cases and essential articles. The Times has regular law reports, occasionally relevant to debt work, and the Solicitors Journal and the New Law Journal also sometimes have case reports and articles that are of interest.

Credit Today
www.credittoday.co.uk
The free online version of the credit sector magazine.

Institute of Credit Management Journal
www.icm.org.uk
Site includes access to its journal (Subscription required).

The Lawyer
www.the-lawyer.co.uk
Access to subscribe to the online version of the lively and informative legal magazine including a search engine for its archive of backdated material (Subscription required).

Roof
www.roofmag.org.uk
Access to subscribe to online information about the magazine from Shelter including information about back copies and summaries of articles (Subscription required).

Solicitors Journal
www.solicitorsjournal.com
Access to subscribe to the magazine and members zone but also contains much free information about legal system and current issues.

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IT and Software

Advice Pro
www.advicepro.org.uk
AdviceUK produces this online casework and business solution software for independent Advice Centres and Law Centres. The site provides access to the information about the software and support.

Advisernet
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/publications/advisernet
The Citizens Advice Information System including an online demo, how to subscribe, support and training information.

Common Financial Statement
www.cfs.moneyadvicetrust.org
Available from the Money Advice Trust website and incorporated into various Case Management Software. The CFS represents a uniform approach to how financial statements are prepared, to encourage consistent responses from creditors.

IIZUKA
http://www.iizuka.co.uk
This Case Management System (formerly WROSeS) for Benefits and Money Advice is designed to work cost-effectively in a multi-agency environment. It can generate reports which reflect the activity of one agency or the total organisation. Cases can be made accessible securely between agencies, (subject to the normal data and confidentiality procedures) assisting collaborative and referral networks. The package incorporates the CFS and mail-merge facility.

Lisson Grove Benefits
www.lissongrovebenefits.co.uk
Lisson Grove Benefits Program produces computer programs to help advisers calculate entitlement to UK social security benefits and payments due under the child support formula.

PG Computing
www.pgcomputing.co.uk
This Company produces specialist software for debt counsellors incorporating the Common Financial Statement. The owner is retiring and the software will no longer be available to purchase after 2011, however existing owners will be supported after 2011.

Zebra Computer
www.zebracomputer.co.uk
This is a software development company specialising in Case and Client Management software products including a new Money Advice Case Management System which incorporates the Common Financial Statement. The site provides also access to software support.

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