Advice agencies

The following national advice agencies can give you details of independent advice agencies in your area.

UK: Advice UK
12th Floor, New London Bridge House
25 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9ST
Tel: 020 7407 4070

Scotland: Money Advice Scotland
Suite 306, Pentagon Centre
36 Washington Street
Glasgow G3 8AZ
Tel: 0141 572 0237

Northern Ireland: Advice NI
1 Rushfield Avenue
Belfast BT7 3FP
Tel: 028 9064 5919

Birmingham Settlement
Reynolds House Annexe
Newbury Road
Birmingham B19 2RH
Tel: 0121 250 3000

Citizens Advice Bureau 
Listed under 'C' in your local phone book.

Consumer Credit Counselling
Wade House
Merrion Centre
Leeds LS2 8NG
Tel: 0800 138 1111 (freephone)

Money Advice Trust
21-26 Garlick Hill
London EC4V 2AU

The Money Advice Trust runs National Debtline (0808 808 4000), a free helpline for people with money problems. National Debtline produces 'Dealing with your Debts', an advice pack free to individuals with money problems. You will need to specify whether you rent or own your home when you ask for the pack. A separate pack is available for people in Scotland.

National Debtline
Tricorn House
51-52 Hagley Road
Birmingham B16 8TP
National Debtline: 0808 808 4000

Other useful organisations

Financial Services Authority
25 The North Colonnade
Canary Wharf
London E14 5HS
Helpline: 0845 606 1234

The FSA is the independent watchdog set up by the Government to regulate financial services and protect your rights. They have booklets, fact sheets and a consumer helpline giving advice on saving, investing or generally looking after your money.

The Finance and Leasing Association
Imperial House
15-19 Kingsway
London WC2B 6UN
Tel: 020 7836 6511

Produces the free leaflet 'Repaying your Loan Early'.

Registry of Credit Unions and Industrial and Provident Societies (Northern Ireland)
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Waterfront Plaza
8 Laganbank Road
Belfast BT1 3BS
Tel: 0845 604 8888

The Registry can tell you if there is a Credit Union in your area.

Association of Friendly Societies
4th Floor, 51 Gresham Street
London EC2V 7HQ
Tel: 020 7216 7436

Friendly societies provide a wide range of savings, assurance, insurance products that are often tax free.

Computershare Investor Services
PO Box 2411
The Pavilions
Bridgwater Road
Bristol BS3 9WX
Tel: 0870 703 0143

For general enquiries about gilts and to get a copy of the 'Investing in Gilts' booklet.

IFA Promotion Ltd
2nd Floor
117 Farringdon Road
London EC1R 3BX
Hotline: 0800 085 3250

The IFA Promotion Hotline can give you details of independent financial advisers in your area.

Myvesta
The Heath Business & Technical Park
Runcorn WA7 4QX
Tel: 0800 111 6885

Myvesta is a not-for-profit organisation that produces factsheets on money matters but doesn't give individual advice.

Investments and Savings National (NS&I)
Tel: 0845 964 5000

NS&I provide a range of savings and investments that are backed by MH Treasury UK.

Social Investment Forum (UKSIF)
Unit 203, Hatton Square Business Centre
16 Baldwin Gardens
London EC1N 7RJ
Tel: 020 7405 0040

The UK Social Investment Forum aims to promote and encourage the development of socially responsible investment throughout the UK. UKSIF can provide details of socially responsible fund providers and specialist financial advisers, both through printed directories and through its website.