Useful contacts and specialist organisations

Step 7 is all about knowing when to get help. If you've got a problem, there are a number of organisations that can offer information and support to help you resolve it. Here we list some of them and explain what they do.

Useful contacts

Advicenow
We bring together the best law and rights information from over 200 internet providers and produce our own, easy to follow step-by-step guides. You can also use our information search to find advice agencies that specialise in your problem.
Advicenow Home

AdviceUK
AdviceUK is a network of independent advice centres. Some give general information and advice whilst others specialise in one or more area of law. You can use their search to find out if there is an AdviceUK centre near you.
Find an Advice UK advice centre
020 7407 4070

Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) help people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free information and advice. Find your local CAB by visiting their website.
Find a CAB

Community Legal Advice
Community Legal Advice is a free confidential service to help people deal with their legal problems. You can also use their site to search for a local advice service or solicitor.
www.clsdirect.org.uk
0845 345 4345

Law Centres Federation
Law Centres are staffed by both solicitors and other workers who specialise in legal problems. They offer a free and independent service. You can find out if there is a Law Centre near you by visiting their website.
www.lawcentres.org.uk
020 7387 8570

The Law Society
The Law Society is the organisation that governs lawyers. You can search for a solicitor by area of law on the Law Society website.
www.lawsociety.org.uk

Specialist organisations

Some organisations specialise in giving advice and support to particular groups of people or about specific problems. Here we look at the problems we mentioned earlier and give an example of an organisation that covers that area. Of course there are many other organisations that might be able to help you with your problem. Use the information search on Advicenow if your problem isn't listed here.

Sean's gas bill
Energywatch is the independent gas and electricity watchdog. They offer free and independent advice and can take up your case for you if you feel you have been treated unfairly by your gas or electricity supplier.
www.energywatch.co.uk
08459 06 07 08

Linda and Suzgo's evictions
Shelter offer specialist information and legal advice through their local housing aid centres and free helpline. You can use their website to learn about your housing rights and find out where your nearest centre is.
www.shelter.org.uk
0808 800 4444

Tom's broken necklace and Asif's defective computer
Consumer Direct gives help and advice to consumers. Use their website to find out what your rights are, or speak directly to an adviser on their helpline.
www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
08454 04 05 06

Pauline's harassment at work
Equal Opportunities Commission provides information on rights about sex discrimination and a step-by-step guide on making a claim.
www.eoc.org.uk
0161 838 8312

Darrah's credit card debt
National Debtline gives free, confidential and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems, as well as example letters to write to creditors and help with budgeting.
www.nationaldebtline.co.uk
0808 808 4000

March 2006