Tenant newsletter final - Flipbook - Page 8
OUR PARTNERS
The England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) is the government body behind Stop
Loan Sharks. The team was set up in 2004 to investigate and prosecute illegal money
lenders while protecting those who have borrowed money from a loan shark.
Since its launch, the England IMLT have supported over 30,000 people and written
off over £83 million worth of illegal debt.
NOT SURE WHAT A LOAN SHARK IS?
If you can answer yes to one or more of these questions you might be borrowing
from a loan shark:
•
Did they offer you a cash loan?
•
Did they not give you paperwork?
•
Did they add huge amounts of interest or APR to your loan?
•
Have they threatened you?
•
Are you scared of people finding out?
•
Have they taken your bank card, benefits card, passport, watch or other
valuables from you?
GETTING HELP
The Stop Loan Sharks team are here to
help you. They are the only government
agency in the UK who have the power to
investigate and prosecute loan sharks and
illegal money lenders.
You are not in trouble if you have
borrowed cash or have been paying back
a loan from an illegal money lender,
the loan shark is. They are the people
committing a crime, not you.
By looking on the Stop Loan Sharks
website you have taken the first step to
getting your life back and managing your
money and debts. They will keep you safe
whilst they investigate the loan shark.
www.stoploansharks.co.uk
www.westcountry.org.uk
weekdays between 9.00am and 12:30pm
0800 304 7041 or 03300 563994.
Don’t resort to loan sharks or high cost lenders if you are having money worries, please
talk to our partner Credit Union, Westcountry Savings and Loans.
They can also talk to you about starting to save when things are
back on track.
TIPS FOR A
CAREFUL CHRISTMAS
SECRET SANTA
Only buy one gift in a group...
If you don’t want to cut down
who gets a present, run a
‘secret Santa’ gift swap where
you each only buy for one
other person
SAVE MONEY ON GIFTS
Don’t pay more than you need
to
Shop around for the high value
items you’ve chosen.
Make gifts by hand - people
will appreciate something
unique!
Buy early to spread the cost
but not at the expense of your
ordinary bills - make sure you
can afford your important
regular payments like rent or
your mortgage
WHO TO BUY FOR
Think about what you
can afford
To help those on reduced
incomes, suggest to family and
friends that perhaps you don’t
get each other gifts this year.
Instead, arrange to spend time
with them in person or online if
that’s safest.
PLANNING A BUDGET
Take control of Christmas
spending
Agree cost limits for presents
between family and friends
(including children).
Create a budget - a list of who
you need to buy for and how
much you’re going to spend
on them.
Update your list everytime you
buy something (so you don’t
forget and buy somethign
else!).