Debtors get 30 days breathing space

Debtors will get 30 days breathing space from debt collectors under new government rules.

The delay in debts collectors chasing people is designed to allow debtors time to get help in repaying their bills.

To get the extra time, debtors will need to get debt advice from such as a charity, Citizens Advice or the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) for example.

The ruling means that from the time a debtor is first contacted by a debt collector they have 30 days to try and take control of their finances and seek debt advice.

The ruling has been reached by agreement between the government and the Credit Services Association (CSA), which represents debt agencies, and will be written into the CSA’s code of practice which governs its members.