Debt advice in Luton and Bedfordshire

At One Stop Advice Centre we are dedicated to providing comprehensive support and guidance to help you manage your finances, address debt issues, and challenge unfair decisions. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by financial pressures, struggling with debt repayments, or need assistance navigating complex government processes, our multilingual team are here to simplify the journey for you.

Our team offers tailored solutions, practical advice, and hands-on help with:

Completing essential forms such as Income and Expenditure statements.
Setting up affordable repayment plans and putting debts on hold.
Negotiating with third parties on your behalf.
Developing effective strategies to regain control of your finances.
Challenging decisions made by the DWP, HMRC, or Local Councils.

Income and Expenditure Forms

We can assist you in completing detailed Income and Expenditure forms (such as those required by creditors, and local councils). These forms are essential for accurately representing your financial situation and negotiating with creditors. For guidance, refer to the UK Government's advice on managing debts via MoneyHelper.

Visit Money Helper

Arrangements to Pay

We help set up manageable payment plans with creditors, including utility providers, councils for council tax arrears, or HMRC for overdue taxes. Forms such as the Income and Expenditure Statement are often needed to demonstrate affordability.

Start the Income and Expenditure Form

Debt Holds and Breathing Space

We can assist in putting debts on hold, especially through schemes like the Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space), introduced by the UK government. This allows you to pause debt enforcement actions for 60 days while you seek advice.

Disputes and Reconsiderations

We specialise in challenging decisions from agencies such as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), and Local Councils, including challenging decisions, requesting mandatory reconsiderations and appeals for decisions related to benefits (e.g., Universal Credit, PIP, or ESA), completing forms and help obtaining medical reports, financial documentation, or other expert evidence to strengthen your case.

Third-Party Liasion

Acting on your behalf, we liaise with creditors, utility companies, councils, and other relevant parties to negotiate better terms, reduce payment demands, or address disputes. This is especially useful for those feeling overwhelmed by direct contact with creditors.

Advice on Benefit Overpayments

Explaining overpayment notices and challenging recoverability when appropriate. This includes identifying whether overpayments arose from official errors or misinformation and referencing the DWP's guidance on recoverability criteria.

Strategies for Tackling Debt

We will work with you to help you find ways to manage and reduce your debt including:

Reducing Unnecessary Spending. Review your outgoings to identify and cut non-essential expenses
Focus on basic needs and prioritise essential expenses, such as rent/mortgage, utilities, and food, to ensure financial stability.
Generating additional income by selling items on platforms like eBay, Gumtree, or Facebook Marketplace.
Finding Competitive Service Providers - Reviewing energy, broadband, and insurance providers to secure better rates, help on using online comparison tools and trusted platforms like MoneySuperMarket, Compare the Market, and Uswitch.
Breaking Down Personal Finances - organising your financial commitments to create a clear action plan.
Setting Realistic Targets and Goals - short- and long-term objectives to regain financial control and prevent future issues.