Support & Resources

On this page you will find links and self help guides provided by non-commercial organisations providing free impartial advice on a number of debt and money related matters.

PDF Guides...

AIB - Debtor Application Pack 1
Form of debtor’s application (without concurrence of qualified creditor) under the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985, as amended. You should use this pack if you are applying for your own bankruptcy but you do not have the support of one or more of your creditors in doing so. This support or agreement is called “concurrence”. If you are applying for your bankruptcy with the concurrence of one or more of your creditors, you should use Debtor Application Pack 2. If you are not an individual, for example if you are a partnership or trust etc, use Debtor Application Pack 3. The fee for your application is £100. There are no exemptions or waivers for this fee and it is not refundable. Instructions on how to make payment are included on page 3.

CAB - Child Support & maintenance Arrears
This fact sheet tells you what can happen if you get into arrears of Child Support or maintenance in a legally enforceable agreement or ordered by the court.

CAB - Payment Protection Insurance
When you take out a loan, credit or store card, you're often asked to take out an insurance policy at the same time. The policy is meant to cover the loan or card repayments if you become unable to afford them yourself because of illness, unemployment or because you have an accident or become disabled. Most policies also include a life benefit which will pay off the outstanding balance on a loan or card if you die. This leaflet outlines what you should consider before signing any Payment Protection Insurance (PPI).

CAB - Rent Arrears
If you have been told you owe rent arrears you must try to sort out the problem quickly or you could lose your home. Use the information in this factsheet to work out what to do next.

CAB Budget Sheet
Use this budget sheet to help you sort out your debts. You can use it to list all the income and expenses for your household. When you've added up all the figures, you'll see if you have any money left over to pay your debts. You can show the budget sheet to the people you owe money to, to help you come to an arrangement to pay back what you owe.

CAB Sample Debt Letters
Various templates to assist in writing to a creditor to whom a debt is owed.

CPAG - Poverty - the facts
There is an ongoing debate about what ‘poverty’ means and how to measure it. Peter Townsend
offers perhaps the most authoritative definition and emphasises the relative nature of poverty:
Individuals, families and groups in the population can be said to be in poverty when they
lack the resources to obtain the types of diet, participate in the activities, and have the living
conditions and amenities which are customary, or are at least widely encouraged and
approved, in the societies in which they belong. Further information & statistics are available in this summary.

FSA - Dealing with your mortgage shortfall
This leaflet explains the different ways you can try to make up the shortfall - som offer more certainty than others.

FSA - Making Your Budget Work for you
Why Budget? Whether your finances are a bit under the weather or fighting fit, it’s always a good idea to keep track of your money. This leaflet provides advice, guidance & assists in a practical approach to budgeting.

FSA - Stay in control of your mortgage
Your fixed-rate, tracker or discountedrate deal is coming to an end soon. You’re looking to move home or remortgage. You think you may struggle to meet your mortgage repayments if your circumstances change. If yes then this leaflet offers guidance to help with your choices.

FSA - What to do if you can't pay your mortgage
If you’re having trouble making your mortgage repayments, contact your mortgage lender as soon as possible to discuss your difficulties. They need to know if there are specific reasons why you cannot make your mortgage payments. Further information is available in this guide.

R3 - SIP 3a - Trust Deeds
This Statement of Insolvency Practice (SIP) is one of a series of guidance notes issued to licensed insolvency practitioners with a view to maintaining standards by setting out required practice and harmonising practitioners’ approach to particular aspects of insolvency. SIP 3A (Scotland) relates in particular to Trust Deeds.

AIB - Apparent Insolvency
Certain conditions are needed for someone to be sequestrated (made bankrupt) in Scotland. They must be ‘apparently insolvent’ whether they are making themselves bankrupt or
being sequestrated by someone else. You will find the full legal meaning of apparent insolvency in section 7 of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985. However, the most common forms of apparent insolvency are in this leaflet.

AIB - Bankruptcy Restriction Guide
This booklet provides general information about restrictions that can be imposed on you and will continue after you have been discharged from your bankruptcy, as a result of your behaviour either before or during your bankruptcy. It is not intended as a full statement of the law on bankruptcy.

AIB - Creditor's Guide
This booklet provides general information regarding bankruptcy for people who are owed money (creditors). It is not intended as a full statement of the law on bankruptcy.

AIB - Debt Advice & Information Package
This leaflet is issued in a number of circumstances where a creditor (someone you owe money to) must, by law, provide you with this leaflet. It must be provided if they are taking steps to recover the money you owe through a court or legal process or if they intend to petition for your bankruptcy.

AIB - Debtors Guide
This booklet provides general advice for people who owe money (debtors) and is not intended as a full statement of the law on bankruptcy. It is intended for people who have not made themselves bankrupt or whose creditors have not taken steps to make them bankrupt before 1 April 2008.

AIB - Trust Deed Guide
This leaflet gives general guidance on trust deeds. It is aimed at people who might be thinking about signing a trust deed but it will also be helpful for people who are owed money by someone who has signed a trust deed. It is not intended to be a complete guide to the law. This leaflet reflects the rules in force from 1 April 2008. For protected trust deeds that started before 1 April 2008 see the AiB publication ‘AiB 7 – Protected Trust Deeds’.

External Links & Guides..

The Advice Guide provided by Citizens Advice Bureau is the online advice guide produced by CAB covering amongst other subjects, Debt, Tax, Benefits, and Housing.

The FSA is UK’s financial watchdog set up by the government to regulate financial services and protect your rights. They have a comprehensive website known as Money Made Clear which offers useful practical advice and guidance. In their regulatory capacity, they also offer information on your rights.

Money Advice Scotland (MAS) was set up in 1989 courtesy of a grant from the Scottish Consumer Council as the umbrella organisation to represent individuals and agencies involved in all areas of money advice (debt advice).

Money Scotland is a Scottish Government founded website and is the home of the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) and provides general information and advice about debt.

The office of the Accountant in Bankruptcy is an Agency of the Scottish Government. It supervises Insolvency Practitioners in insolvency processes and provides guidance to individuals seeking debt advice.

Welfare Rights Advice Service is a recognised charity with its principal aim being to relieve poverty, by helping and educating people in Welfare Rights and other related matters.