The Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCSS) has used its customer information to draw up a “debt map” of the United Kingdom.
The average debt of CCSS’s UK customers, not including mortgages, was £19,338 in 2010, while Scotland and Northern Ireland alone had debt levels averaging £17,069 and £18,855. In terms of individual towns, Shetland and Slough found themselves at opposite ends of the scale, with averages of £12,278 and £24,946 respectively. In terms of region, the North was better off than the South, with only one of the ten most indebted postal codes, the other nine being either in London or the South-East.
Martyn Saville, representing Which? magazine, commented that the level of debt across the country was more surprising than its distribution, and that the North may actually be more at risk than the South due to inflation and other factors. Moneyhighstreet.com advised consumers to “seek independent debt advice. An independent advisor will be able to assess your financial situation and make recommendations based on it.”
