Our Community Money Advice Centre offers free, confidential and independent advice to anyone who lives within Birmingham City boundaries. Backed by a Matrix Mark and members of the Institute of Money Advisers, we provide specialist help in both debt and welfare benefits. Our advisers are paid, trained and experienced staff who understand that being in debt can be stressful and difficult. They offer practical advice and help in following the chosen solution.

Drop in

Our drop-in surgery at the Reynolds House site runs Monday and Wednesday mornings from 9.30 am on a first come first served basis. We run the same service at the Centre for the Aston Family on Fridays, and occasional surgeries are held at various venues throughout the city; please ring us on 0121 250 3000 for details. At a brief interview an adviser will assess whether a problem can be dealt with there and then, or whether it would be better to make an appointment or refer the case to another agency.

Casework

Once someone becomes a client of the Money Advice Centre, an adviser will take details of their debts and help draw up a list of income and expenditure. This helps us and the client to work out what they can and can’t afford to pay. We will then prioritise the debts, deal with the most important ones first (like rent or council tax or gas), then help work out other repayments (like store cards and catalogue debts) and negotiate with creditors. If a client has to go to court, we’ll normally be able to represent them. If part of the debt problem is due to not being paid the correct benefits, then we’ll help to resolve this too.

"Thank you for all your help and advice. Without you and Birmingham Settlement we would still be badly in debt with no way out. So thank you always."