Debt inquiries `on the rise in West Sussex`

The number of inquiries made by consumers who were concerned about debt in West Sussex has risen this financial year compared with last year.

This is according to the local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), which said that such inquiries have increased by 15 per cent over the first three-quarters of 2008-09 compared with 2007-08, the Argus reports.

Meanwhile, concerns reported to the CAB over mortgage arrears went up by 71 per cent and reported worries over council tax arrears increased by 19 per cent.

Concerns over fuel poverty also went up by 13 per cent over the first three-quarters of this financial year.

In order to help cope with the demand for debt advice, West Sussex county council has provided local CABs with additional funding worth £100,000.

Recently, KPMG predicted that there will be a rise of 40 per cent this year in the number of people who enter into insolvency compared with 2008.