At Smart Money Credit Union we aim to achieve the following:
· Encourage our members to save regularly
· Provide loans to our members at very low rates of interest
· Provide our members with help and support on managing their financial affairs (if required).
You can get good advice and support from your local Citizen’s Advice Bureau:
Caerphilly County and Bargoed Citizen’s Advice Bureau
41B Hanbury Road
Bargoed
CF81 8QU
Tel: 0844 4477 2020
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Bleanau Gwent Citizen’s
High Street
Blaina
NP13 3AN
Tel: 08444 772020
Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS)
If you are considering taking on a debt management plan (DMP), get some impartial debt advice first to find out if a DMP really is the best route for you, or if another solution is more appropriate. Charity CCCS (Consumer Credit Counselling Service) provides debt management with no fees attached. You can find out which debt solution is right for you by using CCCS Debt Remedy - their free, anonymous debt counselling service.
FREEPHONE helpline is open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday.
0800 138 1111
www.cccs.co.uk
Housing Debt Helpline Wales
Tel: 0800 107 1340
www.housing-debt-helpline-wales.org
Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)
www.fscs.org.uk
You can also call the Financial Services Authority (FSA) Consumer Helpline on 0845 606 1234 for information about money management. Or visit the website at: www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk
The website has online tools which can help you manage your money better, including:
· a budget calculator to help you take stock of what money you have coming in and going out of your household
· a mortgage calculator to help you check what your repayments might be if interest rates change
· a debt test to help you see whether you are likely to have problems with borrowing in the near future.
There is also a guide, 'Making your budget work for you'. This has lots of really useful, practical tips about how to budget and how to save money.