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Financial Counselling

Do you have-
Debt Problems
Can't pay bills
Behind in payments
Being hassled by finance companies

A Financial Counsellor may be able to help you.

Sussex Street Community Law Service Inc delivers financial counselling services to low income earners experiencing financial difficulties by

  Providing a free and confidential service
  Making arrangements on your behalf to negotiate with creditors to pay outstanding bills and debts
  Assisting you to develop budgeting skills
  Assistance with consumer protection issues including credit and debt
  Assistance with WA No Interest Loan Scheme applications
  Providing you with information on bankruptcy and its effects
The Financial Counselling Service does not provide
  legal advice, nor can it
  provide assistance to businesses or
  tax advice or prepare tax returns.
Sussex Street practices preventative law by encouraging people to seek information prior to making a financial decision. As part of that commitment we offer education sessions to small groups of consumers or community groups or as part of professional development to employees. For more information see the community education page

To discuss your concerns with a Financial Counsellor, you will need to make an appointment. Please be aware that at busy times it can take up to two weeks to get an appointment. When you come in for your appointment you will need to bring

  Proof of your income including a concession card if your have one
  All outstanding bills and accounts that need to be paid
  Copies of any letters you have received from creditors
You will need to have a good idea of how much you spend on food, rent, electricity and gas and day to day expenses.

During the interview the financial counsellor may

  Discuss with you all your sources of income and bills you pay, not just the one that is causing you problems right now
  Prepare an income and expenditure statement showing you where your money comes from and where it goes each fortnight
  Verify these details with your creditors
  Talk with you about how your got into debt
  Check that the debts really are your responsibility
  Sort out with you about being taken to court, what a bailiff can do and if bankruptcy might be for you

To make an appointment

Call 6253 9500
Monday to Friday
9.30am - 4.30pm

Sussex Street provides this service to people in the Town of Victoria Park including suburbs of Victoria Park, East Victoria Park, Bentley, Lathlain St James and Carlisle.

This service is funded through the Western Australian Department of Community Development.

Links

Financial Counsellors Resource Project is a service established by financial counsellors to support them to keep up to date with what they need to know. It can help your to locate a financial counsellor in your area, shows you online copies of their publications, and tells how you can train to become a financial counsellor.

www.fcrp.org.au

Financial Counsellors Association of Western Australia is the peak body for financial counselling in Western Australia. This site will assist you to find out more about financial counselling, how it may benefit you, and lead your to a vast range of useful links to legal government and community support services.

www.financialcounsellors.org

WA No Interest Loan Scheme (WANILS) assists low income earners to apply for an interest free community loan for essential household items.

www.wanils.asn.au/home/index.asp

For a more comprehensive list of other useful information go to the links page
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