With many local families still struggling to survive the ongoing national cost-of living crisis, Sefton Council is urging people to seek help if they are facing financial difficulties rather than turning to unscrupulous loan sharks.

Struggling

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “Increased food prices, inflation, rocketing mortgage interest rates and steeply rising rents, means households across the country, including many thousands in Sefton, are struggling.

“Struggling to put food on the table, struggling to keep a roof over their heads, struggling to pay their fuel and utility bills.

“Some of them are struggling just to keep their heads above water day today and this will make it tempting to take what seems like an easy way out of their problems, through the false offers of loan sharks.

“But we know that by taking a loan from one of these heartless predators will only add to their problems and in the long term, make them worse.

“Loan sharks use social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat to target their victims with attractive offers that look like way out of their problems.

“The problem is that once they have their teeth into you, interest rates shoot up and payments become sky-high leaving people owing many many times what borrowed and if they can’t pay up, facing threats of violence to them and their family.”

Advice and support

Instead, Sefton Council is urging local people with financial difficulties to visit www.sefton.gov.uk/cost-of-living where there are links to a range of advice and support including debt advice. Or they can get in touch with The Council’s Contact Centre on 0345 140 0845 from 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Thursday and from 9am to 5pm Fridays.

There is also information about the Council’s Emergency Limited Assistance Scheme which can provide a one-off payment to help local residents experiencing severe hardship, a disaster or emergency.

People can also visit The Sefton Support Hub at www.sefton.gov.uk/seftonsupporthub where they can find help, advice and guidance, as well as financial and social support.

People who do not have access to the Internet or a PC or smartphone can get online at their local Sefton Council Library where there is free computer and Wi-Fi access.

Warm and Welcoming Spaces

Cllr Hardy added: “Sefton Council is working across the board to help local people who are victims of this national cost-of-living crisis on initiatives that have ranged from providing Warm and Welcoming Spaces where people can go to building and making available new, affordable homes.

“Sadly, we have a lot of experience of helping people facing financial hardship. I know it not easy to face up to, but I can promise people, it’s much easier if you let us try to help you than it will be turning to the loan sharks.”

Report it

Anyone who thinks they have been targeted by a loan shark can report it in confidence to an Illegal Money Lending Team by

• calling 0300 555 2222;
• texting 07860022116 with your message;
• reporting it online at www.stoploansharks.co.uk;
• emailing reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk.

Updates can be found from Stop Loan Sharks England on Twitter and on Facebook. 

And there is also a Stop Loan Sharks page on the Sefton Directory, which is at www.seftondirectory.com.