Money problems? Help is at hand

LONDON (Reuters) - People struggling with debt or in need of financial guidance need not suffer in silence: there are plenty of help services out there.

Here are some to consider:

* Citizens Advice Bureau (www.citizensadvice.org.uk) provides free, confidential and independent advice from more than 3,000 locations, including bureaux, doctors' surgeries, hospitals, colleges, prisons and courts.

Advice is available on debt, benefits, housing, legal issues, discrimination, employment, immigration and consumer rights.

* Consumer Credit Counselling Service (www.cccs.co.uk, 0800 1381111) has a free national telephone service, 10 regional centres and an online "debt remedy" tool (www.cccs.co.uk/debtremedy) to help people with problems.

It provides advice on personal budgeting, using credit wisely and can help devise plans to repay debts.

* National Debtline (www.nationaldebtline.co.uk, 0808 8084000) provides free, confidential and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems.

* You and your money (www.youandyourmoney.info), launched by government-backed savings provider National Savings & Investments this week, has been designed to help people make more informed financial decisions.

The website has general information on managing money and saving, as well as dealing with debt and improving credit ratings.