Debt charities report January spike in calls as worries mount

Debt charities say they are receiving an influx of calls as people worry their financial situation has slipped towards becoming unmanageable.

The first weeks of January are usually the busiest time of year for helplines following a particularly expensive period.

Advice charity StepChange said Monday was busier than any single day last year, and credit counselling service Money Wellness said a fifth of those accessing its services at the turn of the year did so between 22:00 and 03:00.

Dave Murphy is working his way out of debt and said demands from creditors could have become overwhelming, but he urged anyone struggling to ensure they asked for help – for their financial and mental…