Borrowing and debt: Your questions

BBC Radio 4's Money Box Live Wednesday 4 February 2009, at 1502 GMT On Radio 4 and Online Programme transcript (21 pages)

On Wednesday's programme Paul Lewis took your questions about debt and borrowing and put them to a panel of experts.

Redundancy, falling incomes and increasing expenditure are making it harder for many of us to balance our budgets and make ends meet.

It is a subject very much on people's minds.

National Debtline had its busiest December on record with a 70% increase in calls received between October and December 2008 compared to the same period the year before.

And Scottish Debtline is getting about 3,000 calls per day, 87% more than they expected.

Meanwhile the cost of credit is going up - many credit card companies have been increasing interest rates and withdrawing cheaper deals.

In 2007 about 200 providers offered longer term 0% balance transfers but now only a handful remain.

So on this week's Money Box Paul Lewis and guests answered your questions about debt and borrowing.

What can you do if you are falling behind with credit cards, bills or mortgage payments?

How do you prioritise debt and where can you find free, impartial advice?

Can you negotiate with your creditors?

Or perhaps you are facing insolvency or bankruptcy - what are the options?

If you have a credit card, is there a cheaper deal and how do you use balance transfers successfully?

And if you live in Scotland, are you aware of the new "Low Income, Low Asset" route to bankruptcy?

Whatever your concern, our panel of experts was here to give you advice.

Paul Lewis was joined by:

• Beccy Boden-Wilks, debt adviser at National Debtline

• Liz McVey, managing counsellor of Scottish Debtline

• Martin Lewis, moneysavingexpert.com

Presenter: Paul Lewis
Producer: Diane Richardson

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