People finding it difficult to pay bills this month urged to seek free advice from charity
dailyrecord.co.ukA new poll suggests six-in-10 Scots are worried about affording their bills this year including mortgage repayments, monthly rent, and energy costs.
The Survation poll for Scotland’s national advice charity, Advice Direct Scotland, also indicated 17 per cent of those with debt have fallen behind in their repayments.Energy bills, credit cards, and Council Tax arrears were selected as the most common forms of debt for those in this situation.
The poll also found concerns among Scots about housing costs, with 47 per cent of those with a mortgage worried about being able to afford monthly payments, and 55 per cent of those who rent their home expressing the same concern.Around a fifth (21%) of those with a mortgage said they are on a fixed-rate deal which ends in the next 12 months, in a sign of the challenges ahead amid rising interest rates.
However, the poll shows that 63 per cent of those who have fallen behind on repayments have not sought independent expert advice about their debt.Commenting on the findings, John Baird, head of debt services with Advice Direct Scotland, said: “This poll demonstrates the alarming scale of Scotland’s debt crisis.
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