Useful links
Below are links to some other websites that may be of interest to you.
External Links and Further Information
- Debt advice for consumers
- Other sites of interest to consumers
- Sites of interest to merchants and business
Debt Advice for Consumers
Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB)
CAB gives free, confidential and impartial advice on credit.
Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS)
A free confidential service to help provide counselling on personal budgeting and advice on the sensible use of credit.
Dealing with Debt advice guide
The British Bankers' Association (BBA) has put together an advice guide for people experiencing financial difficulty
Debt Advice Foundation
A registered national debt advice charity offering free, impartial support and advice to anyone worried about debt.
Financial Services Authority (FSA) debt test
Use the FSA debt test to reveal if you might be borrowing too much.
Moneymadeclear
The Financial Services Authority money and debt advice site.
Money Advice Trust
A charity formed to increase the quality and availability of money advice in the UK. It works in partnership with government, the private sector and the UK's leading money advice agencies.
Money Advice Scotland
The umbrella organisation to represent individuals and agencies involved in all areas of money advice (debt advice).
National Debtline
A free phone helpline for people with debt problems in England, Scotland and Wales.
Payplan
Provides free confidential advice to anyone with a debt problem.
Other Sites of Interest to Consumers
Bank Safe Online
Simple steps you can take to help keep safe when banking online.
Be Card Smart
Simple steps you can take to help keep safe when using your cards online.
Card Watch
An industry initiative that aims to raise awareness of card fraud prevention amongst police, retailers and consumers to fight plastic card fraud.
Choosing and Using
A site explaining how credit cards work, the factors that you should consider when making your choice and the best ways to use your card.
Financial Ombudsman Service
The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) provides a free, independent and confidential service for resolving disputes between consumers and financial firms. Before the Ombudsman can look at your case, you must go through your card company's complaints procedure. All card companies have a complaints process - just contact them to find out more.
The Ombudsman will tell you whether they think your card company is being fair to you, and if they think they are not being fair the FOS will tell you how they think your dispute should be resolved. You do not have to accept the Ombudsman's ruling - you are always free to go to court instead. But if you do accept it, it is binding on both you and your card issuing company.
Financial Services Authority (FSA)
An independent non-governmental body, given statutory powers by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
Gamble Aware
A site helping consumers to manage their gambling, to understand how gambling works and to find out where to get treatment and advice if they feel that their gambling is getting out of hand.
Identity Theft
A website that has been produced in conjunction with a number of public and private sector bodies to combat the threat of identity theft.
Payments Council
The Payments Council is the organisation that sets strategy for UK payments. It has been established to ensure that UK payment systems and services meet the need of users, payment service providers and the wider economy.
Shop Safe Online
Shopsafeonline is designed to provide information on MasterCard SecureCode & Verified by Visa: secure services that make shopping online safer. Advice is available to both consumers and retailers.
Sites of Interest to Merchants and Business
There are a number of organisations that can provide help and guidance to merchants and retailers who want to accept card payments and also provide general business advice.
Business Banking Code
Over 25 banks based in the UK have signed up to a voluntary code, which sets standards of good practice for banks to follow when they are dealing with their business customers.
Business links
The government, through Businesslinks, has a comprehensive website providing a self‑help portal of action-focused information for small and medium businesses, linking to all relevant ministries and departments.
Contactless
A website specifically designed for retailers in the UK who have an interest in Contactless card acceptance
Forum of Private Business
Lobbies on behalf of small and medium-sized enterprises to create a better political and economic environment for businesses the Forum is a non-profit-seeking, membership-based organisation that represents around 25,000 businesses.
Retailers and Cards
The Retailers and Cards website provides general help and guidance for both new and existing merchants on accepting cards for their businesses.
Trade Associations
British Bankers’ Association
The trade association for banks operating in the UK.
Building Societies Association
The trade association for the UK's building societies.
Council for Mortgage Lenders
The trade association for the mortgage lending industry.
Finance & Leasing Association
The trade association for the asset, consumer and motor finance sectors in the UK.
Irish Payment Services Organisation (IPSO)
The body which represents the Irish payments industry.
Payment Schemes
Bacs
Provides two principal electronic payment schemes; Direct Debit and Bacs Direct Credit.
CHAPS Co
Processes and settles both systemically-important and time-dependent payments through its two payment schemes: CHAPS Sterling and Faster Payments.
Cheque & Credit Clearing Company
A membership-based industry body which manages the cheque clearing system in Great Britain
Other Sites
UK Payments
On this site you will find information on making a payment in the UK; links to the specific groups within the payments industry; and membership information for payment industry membership bodies and schemes.
