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Debt Advice Handbook 16th edition
Chapter 3: Stages of debt advice
Debt Advice Handbook 16th edition
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Debt Advice Handbook 16th edition
Chapter 3: Stages of debt advice
Back to previous
Chapter 3: Stages of debt advice
1. Exploring the debt problem
Obtaining information from the client
2. Dealing with urgent issues
3. Listing creditors and minimising debts
The creditors
The debts
The threats
Action to be taken
4. Listing and maximising income
Whose income to include
What income to include
Capital
Maximising the client’s income
5. Listing expenditure
Items of expenditure
Housing
Childcare
Fuel
Furniture and bedding
Health costs
Transport
Hire purchase
Fines
Laundry and dry cleaning
Phone, television and broadband
Other household items, toiletries and food
Clothing and shoes
Gifts, charitable donations, and religious and cultural activities
Other costs
Students
Bank accounts
6. Drawing up a financial statement
Standard forms of financial statement
The common financial statement
The standard financial statement
7. Dealing with priority debts
8. Choosing a strategy for non-priority debts
9. Implementing the chosen strategies
When advising a client, it may sometimes be relevant to consider whether they are eligible for the breathing space scheme; this is covered on
here
.
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CPAG. "Chapter 3: Stages of debt advice." In
Debt Advice Handbook 16th edition.
, 2026. Accessed March 21, 2026.
CPAG,
https://askcpag.org.uk/?id=-268015CITANCHOR.
CPAG. "Chapter 3: Stages of debt advice." In
Debt Advice Handbook 16th edition.
, 2026. Accessed March 21, 2026. https://askcpag.org.uk/?id=-268015CITANCHOR.
Contributor(s):
CPAG
Title:
Debt Advice Handbook 16th edition
Site name:
CPAG
Publisher:
Publication date:
February 24, 2026
Date accessed:
March 21, 2026
URL:
https://askcpag.org.uk/?id=-268015CITANCHOR
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