Help is offered to home owners to beat credit crunch

Aug 28 2008 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

HELPFUL advice is on hand for local people worried about paying their mortgage.

West Lothian Council is offering support to home-owners who are having difficulty paying their mortgage.

Andrew Binnie, the Advice Shop’s senior money adviser, urged any worried homeowner to contact his service.

She said: “We can negotiate with lenders on their behalf, help people work out a realistic budget that the lender will accept and maximise their income if possible.”

Isabel Hutton, Executive councillor for social policy, said it’s important that everyone who needs help askst.

She said: “This is a worrying time for some home owners. The credit crunch could be making it difficult for people to pay their mortgage.

“West Lothian Council's Advice Shop will be able to advise and help people through the process of sorting things out with their lender but the important thing is to seek advice early.

“People’s lender will be anxious to try to help, it’s not in their interests to go down the road of repossession.”

If people want advice phone the money advice freephone on 0800 328 9470 or e-mail advice.shop@westlothian.gov.uk.