Shiney Advice & Resource Project

What does Money Advice include?

ShARP's highly trained Advice team can give advice to Shiney Row and Houghton le Spring area residents about their debts, and help people who owe money and are having problems paying it back.

There are various sorts of debt problems, for example: 

behind with the rent or mortgage, owing money for electricity, gas or water, behind with the council tax, 

behind with repayments under a Credit Agreement, owing money to a loan shark,

owing money to a bank or other lender,

owing money for fines, behind with catalogue payments, etc. 

Often people have more than one debt - we can help people sort out multiple debt problems.

We can help in a number of ways:

• we can help you sort out your debt problem in the best way for you, and with your agreement

• we can check your benefits and tax to make sure you are getting all the money that you should

• we can help arrange for the payments on what you owe to be reduced

• we can help with court papers and go to court with you

• we can help you to regain control of your finances

Our job is to help sort out the problem, however the debts arose.

Insolvency

If bankruptcy proceedings are taken against you, or you are thinking of making yourself bankrupt, you should seek your own legal or financial advice from a Citizens Advice Bureau, a solicitor, a qualified accountant, an authorised insolvency practitioner, a reputable financial adviser or a debt advice centre.  Other organisations also offer insolvency advice and debt counselling.

The Insolvency Service

ShARP's Funders & Supporters

Northern Rock Foundation, Coalfield Regeneration Trust, Strategic Initiative Budget, Sure Start, Sunderland Teaching PCT, Lloyds TSB