New website aims to help Brits cope with debts

The interactive website, My Money Steps, offers people personalised debt advice based on their individual circumstances.

After asking people a series of questions about their situation, it offers them an action plan and sends people e-mail reminders about what they should do.

Details are stored securely on the site, so that users can return to it for ongoing help or to get new suggestions if their circumstances change, without the need to restart the process each time.

The website, which has been set up by the Money Advice Trust in partnership with Barclaycard, will direct people with complex situations or who need urgent help to the National Debtline for one-to-one advice.

UK consumers currently collectively owe nearly 1.5 trillion in mortgages and unsecured debt, and debt advice agencies have been struggling to keep up with a surge in demand for their services.

Providing debt advice online is not only more efficient than doing it face-to-face or by telephone, but anecdotal evidence also suggests that many people prefer to receive help in this way, because they are embarrassed about their situation.

Joanna Elson, chief executive of the Money Advice Trust, said: "During the recession we saw demand for advice at National Debtline, run by the Money Advice Trust, almost double, so we needed to find other ways of giving advice.

"As people become more internet-savvy, banking and shopping online, it's important that we enable them to get advice in a way that suits them best too."

David Chan, chief executive of Barclaycard Consumer Europe, said: "The launch of My Money Steps means consumers will now have more choice around how they get the advice they need."