National Debtline and CFS

I know this is not OFT, but is so related to today's Debt Management advice I thought this e-mail, which I have just received from the Money Advice Trust, would be of interest:

National Debtline self-help pack moves over to CFS format
Work is almost completed on the 19th edition of National Debtline’s self-help pack ‘Dealing with your debts’.
A user-testing exercise showed approval for the adoption of a CFS style budget. People in debt told National Debtline that they would find it easier to complete a more detailed budget that could then be summarised into the CFS format if they needed to negotiate with creditors. This means that when someone is sent the new pack they will also receive two budgets.

• The longer ‘personal budget sheet’ will help them work out their best option and they will be encouraged to keep this for reference and to help with budgeting and so on.
• The pack will advise them to send the shorter ‘budget summary’ to creditors if they need to negotiate reduced payments.

The ‘Dealing with your debts’ pack is a self-help debt tool and, as such, does not include any information about trigger figures. Instead, some guidance is included around typical amounts of expenditure for housekeeping and clothing.
The substantially redesigned and streamlined pack will be available from 30th April 2012.

• Dealing with your debts’ is available free of charge to any individual in debt.
• Money Advice Trust (MAT) partner agencies in England & Wales can obtain the MAT version of 'Dealing with your Debts' free of charge by completing the order form on the National Debtline website.
• Agencies who are not MAT partners can purchase the self-help pack at a price which covers publication and administration costs. An order form is available on the National Debtline website.

National Debtline freephone 0808 808 4000
National Debtline website www.nationaldebtline.co.uk.