Advice on hand to help meet those festive presents bills

Feb 14 2008

WITH the bills for those Christmas presents and celebrations about to pop through the letterbox, North Lanarkshire Council’s Money Advice Service is reminding the public that stuffing the demand letters at the back of a drawer will not make the creditors or debt collectors go away.

Dave Roderick, Trading Standards Manager, in charge of the council’s money advice and debt counselling service, said: “Buying presents and preparing for parties is an exciting time, but the long term effects on your bank balance need to be kept in mind.

“During the festive season creditors may have actively marketed themselves offering you the chance to borrow money, but bear in mind everything bought on credit in December must be paid back from at least February onwards”.

Mr Roderick recommends that anybody who is worried that they may have over-stretched themselves financially over Christmas, contact the money advice staff for a free copy of the council’s Self-Help Debt Guide.

The booklet provides useful information on how to assess your financial situation as well as setting out how to contact creditors if you have trouble making their demands for payment.

Pick up your free guide at one of the council’s Consumer and Money Advice Centres at

81 Merry St, Motherwell; 10 Motherwell Road, Bellshill.

For a copy posted out call 01698 302020.