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	<title>DEBT NEWS from Payplan</title>
	<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news</link>
	<description>Debt News from Payplan: Debt News, Debt Advice and Debt Help from Payplan, the Free Debt Management Company</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:20:41 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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	<language>en</language>
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		<title>10 Ways To Spend Less Preparing Food</title>
		<description><![CDATA[You can save money planning your meals and shopping carefully. You can also save money in the kitchen by cooking and storing food economically to reduce your electricity and gas bills.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2012/01/27/10-ways-to-spend-less-preparing-food/</link>
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		<title>How People Are Trapped By Payday Loans</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We recently conducted a survey about borrowing over the last 12months. Our infographic highlights the growing number of people that are turning to payday loans.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2012/01/25/payday-loan-borrowing-the-facts/</link>
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		<title>Is your mortgage your top priority?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Regardless of your financial situation if you have your own home with a mortgage it should always be your priority to pay it above all other debts. If you are in debt and owe money to many different lenders you will probably have experienced creditors chasing you for money.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2012/01/25/is-your-mortgage-your-top-priority/</link>
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		<title>Does the class system apply in debt?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[A myth with debt is that it only happens to people in the lowest socioeconomic groups in society, but it is little more than a myth. It has become apparent in the last few years that debt affects everyone regardless of class or background.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2012/01/23/does-the-class-system-apply-in-debt/</link>
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		<title>Understanding interest rates and charges.</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Whatever your reason for debt, it is always important for you to have an understanding about the charges that are applied to your credit cards and loans.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2012/01/20/understanding-interest-rates-and-charges/</link>
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		<title>Loan Sharks &#8211; who and what are they?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Over recent years, borrowing from 'traditional' lenders, banks and credit card companies, has been harder and hard to do. As a result we have seen a rise in the number of people turning to payday loans and illegal loan sharks.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2012/01/11/loan-sharks-who-and-what-are-they/</link>
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		<title>Preparing for your credit card statement.</title>
		<description><![CDATA[A recent study by Visa found that one in five of us plan to fund this Christmas on credit cards, meaning many will be expecting the bill to drop of their door step any day now.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2012/01/09/preparing-for-your-credit-card-statement/</link>
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		<title>New year, new you. Changing your spending habits</title>
		<description><![CDATA[With the state of the economy getting worse and families seeing the biggest squeeze to their budgets for 60 years, many may be seeing the New Year as an opportunity to change the way they are spending their money.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2012/01/04/new-year-new-you-changing-your-spending-habits/</link>
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		<title>Preparing for the New Year</title>
		<description><![CDATA[With the New Year fast approaching many of us are reflecting on the last year's events and preparing for the new year ahead of us. For many of the people who contact Payplan, they may be looking for free debt advice or some assistance with their financial issues.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/12/27/preparing-for-the-new-year/</link>
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		<title>What Can I cook With Leftovers?  from Penny&#8217;s Recipes</title>
		<description><![CDATA[As you plan your Christmas food, you order the turkey, goose or beef, ham and a pork pie. Plan a nut roast for the vegetarians, cheese and crackers, ice cream, puddings, plenty of fruit and chocolate. The list gets longer and the cupboards start to fill.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/12/24/what-can-i-cook-with-leftovers-from-pennys-recipes-2/</link>
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		<title>What Can I cook With Leftovers?  from Penny&#8217;s Recipes</title>
		<description><![CDATA[As you plan your Christmas food, you order the turkey, goose or beef,  ham and a pork pie. Plan a nut roast for the vegetarians, cheese and crackers, ice cream, puddings, plenty of fruit and chocolate. The list gets longer and the cupboards start to fill.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/12/23/what-can-i-cook-with-leftovers-from-pennys-recipes/</link>
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		<title>Christmas Wishes</title>
		<description><![CDATA[From all of us at Payplan we want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/12/22/christmas-wishes/</link>
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		<title>Christmas spending &#8211; avoiding the pitfalls</title>
		<description><![CDATA[As Christmas draws closer, many are using these last few days to get last minute gifts. This Christmas the average person will spend &#038;pound364 on gifts for friends and family, with parents spending over &#038;pound100 of their children and 20% of adults spending in excess of &#038;pound100 on their partners, according to figures released by American Express.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/12/20/christmas-spending-avoiding-the-pitfalls/</link>
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		<title>Christmas dinner on a budget</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Families are currently facing the biggest squeeze in budgets for 60 years and with Christmas day fast approaching, we are all looking for ways in which we can still have a delicious traditional dinner without it costing the earth. So here are our smart tips for budgeting this festive season.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/12/16/christmas-dinner-on-a-budget/</link>
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		<title>Running out of money? What NOT to do.</title>
		<description><![CDATA[As we approach the end of the month some may be feeling the pinch and be running out of funds before the next payday. It is easy enough at times like that to think about quick cash loans such as Payday Loans and in some cases, loan sharks.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/12/14/running-out-of-money-what-not-to-do/</link>
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		<title>Is it acceptable to make your Christmas gifts?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[People are looking at ways of cutting down the cost of Christmas with things like ‘Secret Santa’, registering gift lists and gift certificates. However there is one other way that can cut your spending by creating and making your own gifts.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/12/13/is-it-acceptable-to-make-your-christmas-gifts/</link>
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		<title>How are you funding this Christmas?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The last twelve months have seen the biggest squeeze in people budgets for 60 years. This Christmas many are looking at ways to cut costs and make the festive season more affordable.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/12/12/how-are-you-funding-this-christmas/</link>
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		<title>Learning from your mistakes</title>
		<description><![CDATA[For those who have experienced debt and what it feels like to not know how the monthly bills will be paid, how the family will be fed or whether their creditor commitments will be met may be looking for where it went wrong and ensure they learn from their mistakes. ]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/12/12/learning-from-your-mistakes/</link>
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		<title>Karl&#8217;s story</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Payplan client Karl knows only too well how being in debt often leads to severe depression. Here he shares his story in the hope that it will help other people.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/12/09/karl%e2%80%99s-story/</link>
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		<title>Christmas Countdown Begins&#8230;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[December is finally upon us with 24 shopping days left until Christmas Day. As the festive season fast approaches many households may be feeling the pinch, with finances becoming more and more strained.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/11/29/christmas-countdown-begins/</link>
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		<title>Is Bankruptcy the easy way out?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[On many occasions I have encountered people who say that bankruptcy is the "easy way out" of debt.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/11/29/is-bankruptcy-the-easy-way-out/</link>
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		<title>Selling your home to repay for debts?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[For some people in debt selling their home is an option to raise the funds to pay off their creditors. If you are a home owner with equity in your property this could be an option for you.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/11/28/selling-your-home-to-repay-for-debts/</link>
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		<title>Why do I need help with my debts?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I recently came across a thread on a forum where a debtor asked "what can I do about my debt?" The reply from a debt advisor suggested that they call a free debt advice agency such as Payplan to get free and impartial advice. To which a reply for another forum user suggested they set up a plan with their creditors without the help of anyone else.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/11/23/why-do-i-need-help-with-my-debts/</link>
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		<title>The Eurozone Debt Crisis Explained.</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Unless you have been living on the moon for the past couple of months you will be well versed on the impending doom that is a "double dip" recession. But do any of us really understand what this means for each of us? See our interactive infographic on the eurozone debt crisis.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/11/22/the-eurozone-debt-crisis-explained/</link>
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		<title>In a plan and taken out more credit.</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I recently came across a post from a worried Payplan client on a forum, they had been in a Debt Management Plan for a couple of years with everything running smoothly until an unexpected cost came along and they found themselves having to take out credit to pay for it. Then they panicked about getting into trouble with their DMP provider.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/11/21/in-a-plan-and-taken-out-more-credit/</link>
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		<title>Is my job at risk?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Many people coming to Payplan have various worries and concerns about debt management solutions. The main concern we hear is "will I lose my home?" After than comes "will it affect my employment?"]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/11/16/is-my-job-at-risk/</link>
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		<title>Does anyone need to know I am in debt?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We live in a culture where discussing debt is taboo. We worry about what people will think if they were to find out that we had money troubles.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/11/14/does-anyone-need-to-know-i-am-in-debt/</link>
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		<title>Bank of Mum and Dad</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The bank of "Mum and Dad" can seem like the best bank to go to, they won't charge you interest, they won't chase your debts and they won't threaten you with legal action. But is it really the easy way out?]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/11/10/bank-of-mum-and-dad/</link>
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		<title>Don&#8217;t let your finances go up in smoke.</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The most common phrase we hear when our clients call is "I wish I had called you sooner." Some bury their heads in the sand whilst others ignore things completely, hoping the problems will go away.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/11/05/don%e2%80%99t-let-your-finances-go-up-in-smoke/</link>
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		<title>Does Saving Really Pay Off?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[You have all been there, living comfortably until something goes wrong - the washing machine breaks down, the car fails its MOT, or the children need new shoes. ]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/11/04/does-saving-really-pay-off/</link>
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		<title>Debt Write Off – Trick or Treat?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We've all seen the adverts on TV that claim they can get your debts written off. Some people receive phone calls, others get letters or text messages from companies that claim they can write off debts  - anything from 90% to 100% all due to new government legislation.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/10/28/13745/</link>
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		<title>DMP vs IVA</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Two of the most common debt solutions that our clients opt for are DMPs and IVAs. They are two very different options and many people have to choose between the two.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/10/25/dmp-vs-iva/</link>
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		<title>Top tips to cut down your energy bills.</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This winter it is thought that hundreds of thousands of families will struggle with their energy bills after seeing a huge hike in the cost of fuel over the course of the summer. ]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/10/18/top-tips-to-cut-down-your-energy-bills/</link>
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		<title>Am I in a DMP or an IVA?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Time and time again I come across people in a particular plan, who are under the assumption that they are in a completely different plan. In my experience this is down to either miscommunication or misunderstanding.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/10/11/am-i-in-a-dmp-or-an-iva/</link>
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		<title>Redundancy brings a rollercoaster of emotions</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I’m new to Payplan and really pleased to be part of the team. It’s not just that this is a great place to work – and it is – it’s just that after being made redundant last year I was worried I may be out of work for some time.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/10/10/redundancy-brings-a-rollercoaster-of-emotions/</link>
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		<title>What can Payplan do differently?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I recently spoke to a lady who had previously contacted a debt management company for some advice. They explained to her that she didn’t have enough money to begin a Debt Management Plan and that her only option was bankruptcy or to come to an agreement with her creditors where she pays token payments.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/10/10/what-can-payplan-do-differently/</link>
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		<title>What is a Self Help Pack?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Hundreds of thousands of people contact Payplan each month seeking financial assistance. Many are in a serious debt crisis and come to us looking for help and advice.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/10/04/what-is-a-self-help-pack/</link>
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		<title>Ending the credit card cycle.</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It is easy to run up credit card debt. It starts by using your card to pay for things when money is tight. You tell yourself you will pay it off next month and that stops you worrying about the interest.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/09/29/ending-the-credit-card-cycle/</link>
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		<title>The Shocking Truth About The UK Debt Problem</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I am pretty sure we are all aware by now that our economy is weakening, as it seems, by the minute. Many are fearing that we will soon fall into another recession.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/09/26/debt-in-the-uk/</link>
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		<title>My day at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Yesterday I attended the Liberal Democrat party conference and witnessed the party pass an amendment to the Quality of Life motion.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/09/21/my-day-at-the-liberal-democrat-party-conference/</link>
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		<title>I can&#8217;t afford bankruptcy.</title>
		<description><![CDATA[If you don't have any assets or a job that is easily affected then the chances are bankruptcy is an option for you. Many people choose to avoid bankruptcy as they have a home or other assets to protect, they have a job that would be at risk or they would prefer to pay as much back towards their debts as possible. However some avoid it as they feel they cannot afford the fees.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/09/20/i-cant-afford-bankruptcy/</link>
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		<title>Dawn&#8217;s Story</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Here is the story of Dawn, she has now finished her DMP and is debt free! Congratulations.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/09/19/dawns-story/</link>
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		<title>Self Employed with debt? You can still get help.</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Many people earn their living by running their own business. Unfortunately due to the recession, many self-employed business men and women suffered a great deal of financial strain.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/09/15/self-employed-with-debt-you-can-still-get-help/</link>
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		<title>Help with Utility Arrears</title>
		<description><![CDATA[With gas, electric and water companies often billing us for 'estimated' usage, when you read your meter and see the actual usage, arrears can pop up and give you a nasty surprise.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/09/13/help-with-utility-arrears/</link>
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		<title>Over 65 and still working!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It was recently suggested that a third of people over the age of 65 years head into retirement with debts of around &#163;25,000 according to The Guardian.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/09/08/over-65-and-still-working/</link>
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		<title>Are You A Stay At Home Parent?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Many years ago it was common for one parent, usually the mother, to stay at home and take care of the children while the other parent went out to work.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/09/07/are-you-a-stay-at-home-parent/</link>
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		<title>Too cool for school?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It is that time of year again as we pack the children back off to school. On one hand we are relieved to have a bit of peace and quiet and a bit of normality back, but on the other the expense of the uniform and other bits and bobs can provide a lot of stress and anxiety.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/09/06/too-cool-for-school/</link>
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		<title>What are you doing this summer?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I read in a recent online blog that a number of people would be funding this year's summer holidays on credit; credit cards, loans or overdrafts! ]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/08/10/what-are-you-doing-this-summer/</link>
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		<title>Payday Loans &#8211; Good or Bad?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[There always seems to be a large amount of controversy surrounding Payday Loans. With high interest rates, quick repayment time and easy availability, Payday Loans can often be the downfall of many people in debt.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/08/04/payday-loans-good-or-bad/</link>
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		<title>What are you planning this summer?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The summer holidays are upon us and any parent will understand the costs involved in keeping children entertain during the six long weeks. If you are in debt or already struggling to make ends meet then it can be a difficult time for you.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/08/02/what-are-you-planning-this-summer/</link>
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		<title>Help! Our children are in debt</title>
		<description><![CDATA[If your son or daughter is in financial difficulty it can be tricky for you to help them.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/07/29/help-our-children-are-in-debt/</link>
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		<title>Can I change my DMP company?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[People call us for several reasons: it may be that they realise they can no longer afford to manage their debt, they know their situation is about to change so they are planning ahead, or they simply decide that they can no longer ignore their debts and they must deal with them.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/07/27/can-i-change-my-dmp-company/</link>
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		<title>Gambling &amp; Debt</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It is thought that some 68% of the UK population participate in some form of gambling activity over a one year period.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/07/20/gambling-debt/</link>
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		<title>A Clients Journey&#8230; Special Advice Team</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Many clients that call us have very little or no cash to spare at the end of the month once all essential expenditure has been paid out. This means that, as much as we would like to, we are unable to put these clients into a plan with us. ]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/07/18/a-clients-journey-special-advice-team/</link>
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		<title>Debt:Perception versus Reality</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The aim of the survey was for us to gage what people’s perceptions of debt are. It is usually the case that people’s perceptions are a lot different to the reality, this survey turned out to show exactly that.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/07/12/debt-perception-versus-reality/</link>
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		<title>A Clients Journey&#8230;Complimentary Support</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Here at Payplan we have a Complimentary Support Team who deal with a whole range of areas; legal document handling and debt settlements to name a couple.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/07/12/complimentary-support/</link>
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		<title>A Clients Journey… DMP Client Support</title>
		<description><![CDATA[A Payplan client will travel through several different stages during their journey with us. So far in the journey I have taken you through all of the stages that either identify your needs or set up a plan for you, with your creditors.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/07/07/a-clients-journey-dmp-client-support/</link>
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		<title>A Clients Journey&#8230; DMP Client Services</title>
		<description><![CDATA[For many people admitting to having trouble paying your creditors is hard, but once you do you may find yourself in a situation where you can comfortably sleep at night without having the worry hanging over you.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/07/05/a-clients-journey-dmp-client-services/</link>
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		<title>Our Debt Demographics Survey, The Results</title>
		<description><![CDATA[A couple of weeks ago we announced that we were doing a survey to find out what people’s perceptions of debt are. We asked seven different questions to gage your views of the demographics of debt.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/07/04/our-debt-demographics-survey-the-results/</link>
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		<title>A Payplan Clients Journey&#8230; Assessment</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Once you have made the initial call to us we will arrange for someone to call you back, usually the same day, or whenever is convenient for you. This is what we call the Assessment stage.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/07/01/a-payplan-clients-journey-assessment/</link>
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		<title>A Payplan Clients Journey&#8230; Helpline</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The very first person a Payplan client will speak to on their journey with us is a debt advisor from our team. On an average day the Helpline advisor will take around 200 calls]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/06/29/a-payplan-clients-journey-helpline/</link>
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		<title>Please Help Us By Taking Part In Our Debt Demographics Survey</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Payplan are conducting a survey to help us understand current perceptions about people who are experiencing debt difficulties.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/06/22/please-help-us-by-taking-part-in-our-debt-demographics-survey/</link>
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		<title>A Clients Story&#8230;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It started a few years ago. Our bank accounts were being maxed out and to pay our bills we had to use our credit cards.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/06/21/a-clients-story/</link>
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		<title>Mortgages &amp; Remortgages</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Buying a home and getting a mortgage is a huge financial commitment whether you are a first time buyer or whether this is your second or third home. ]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/06/16/mortgages-remortgages/</link>
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		<title>OFT Issue Revised Guidance</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Today the Office of Fair Trading has issued a revised guidance  consultation report for the debt management industry. You may remember  that they issued their first report into the findings of a report they  did where they found 129 debt management companies acting unfairly.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/06/14/oft-issue-revised-guidance/</link>
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		<title>Credit Cards &#8211; What Are They?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Credit cards are a quick and easy way for you to pay for something that perhaps you can't afford at the time of purchase. Some people find it easier to pay for something by card than with cash, however falling into the 'credit card trap' can be dangerous and very difficult to get out of.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/06/10/credit-cards-what-are-they/</link>
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		<title>What Are Your Reasons For Debt?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Thousands of clients call us each week as they struggle repaying their debts. Our specialists speak to hundreds of clients a day, all of whom have varying reasons for their current financial difficulties.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/06/07/what-are-your-reasons-for-debt/</link>
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		<title>What motivated you to contact us?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We recently asked a number of our clients at what point did they decide it was the right time to contact us. From the 1,300 of responses we received there was a clear pattern as we split them all down into 11 different categories. The most common reason for people contacting us, with 33%, was [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/06/03/what-motivated-you-to-contact-us/</link>
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		<title>Payplan Response to the OFT Review</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Today, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) responded to the super-complaint, submitted by Citizens Advice (CA) on 3 March 2011. The original complaint, lodged by the CA, called for a ban on debt management services cold-calling consumers and charging them up-front fees. Whilst Payplan welcomes today’s response from the OFT, the focus of the report’s [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/06/02/payplan-response-to-the-oft-review/</link>
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		<title>Debt Consolidation Pro&#8217;s &amp; Con&#8217;s</title>
		<description><![CDATA[For many people debt consolidation is a solution to help them with their debt problems. For some people they are successful, however for others it just adds to their already spiralling debt problems.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/06/01/debt-consolidation-pros-cons/</link>
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		<title>BBC Investigates Debt Management Industry</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The BBC has today released their findings of a recent investigation they did on Debt Management Companies]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/05/27/bbc-investigates-debt-management-industry/</link>
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		<title>So Who Were The Top Money Tweeters?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[As you may or may not be aware, for the whole of last week we were conducting a poll to see who you thought were the best money related tweeters on Twitter.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/05/26/so-who-were-the-top-money-tweeters/</link>
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		<title>Mental Health Awareness Week</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Mental Health Foundation are this week launching an awareness campaign for Mental Health, in particular sleep disorders. In order to support the campaign we have asked them to write a guest blog for us to talk about the effects mental health and debt have on people.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/05/25/mental-health-awareness-week/</link>
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		<title>Dealing with depression and debt</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It was recently suggested by the BBC that over the last four years prescriptions for anti-depressants have risen by over 40% due to people struggling with debt and with job worries fuelled by our current economic problems.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/05/17/dealing-with-depression-and-debt/</link>
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		<title>Poll: Who Are The Best Money Tweeters?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[With over 200 million users worldwide and around 1600 tweets happening every second Twitter is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. With so many tweeters out there to follow it is possible that those of you who are interested in money matters may be missing some of the best money related tweeters to follow. With this [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/05/12/poll-who-are-the-best-money-tweeters/</link>
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		<title>Joint &amp; Several Liability &#8211; What does this mean?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[If you take out a credit agreement in joint names, with your partner for example, then you may or may not be aware that you are both liable for the full amount of credit that you borrowed. This blog will go through all you need to know about Joint &#038; Several Liability.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/05/09/joint-several-liability-what-does-this-mean/</link>
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		<title>Your Credit Report&#8230;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Your credit report can help decide whether you are given credit or not and holds all the information a creditor needs to make that decision.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/05/04/your-credit-report/</link>
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		<title>Weddings &amp; Debt, do they go hand in hand?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It is estimated that the average wedding in the UK costs &#163;21,000 and the average couple will underestimate the cost of their wedding by &#163;11,000.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/04/21/weddings-debt-do-they-go-hand-in-hand/</link>
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		<title>Repossession</title>
		<description><![CDATA[If you have a mortgage and you fall into arrears with your payments you risk losing your home and having it repossessed.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/04/14/repossession/</link>
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		<title>What benefits can I claim for?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[With a rise in unemployment, redundancy and many people struggling on low income benefits, any increase to your monthly income can help relieve the financial strain. There are lots of different benefits out there, but I just want to go through the main ones for now.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/04/12/what-benefits-can-i-claim-for/</link>
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		<title>2011 Benefit Changes</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Here are the key changes to the benefits that came in action on 6th April.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/04/07/2011-benefit-changes/</link>
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		<title>Mortgages &amp; Debt</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Being in debt is scary enough, but when you have a property there can be added pressure on you. Today I want to talk about mortgages, and debt and how they come together.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/04/07/mortgages-debt/</link>
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		<title>Full &amp; Final IVA</title>
		<description><![CDATA[If for whatever reason you have received a sum of money, no matter how small or large, you may be able to use that to pay your creditors in a Full &#38; Final IVA. Today I am going to explain what a Full &#38; Final IVA is and discuss the criteria of it. What is [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/04/05/full-final-iva/</link>
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		<title>Fee vs Free</title>
		<description><![CDATA[For a long time now there has been a debate about free debt advice and fee charging debt advice. I think that it is safe to say that this debate will go on for a very long time. I wanted to just go through what the differences are between the two different types of debt advice providers.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/04/01/fee-vs-free/</link>
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		<title>Breaking News &#8211; Daily Mirror Stop The Debt Rogues</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We at Payplan have welcomed the Stop the Debt Rogues campaign launched today in the Daily Mirror.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/03/30/breaking-news-daily-mirror-stop-the-debt-rogues/</link>
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		<title>Surviving On A Budget</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Whether you are in a DMP, an IVA, filing for Bankruptcy or maintaining your own repayment arrangement then you will know what it is like living on a budget.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/03/29/surviving-on-a-budget/</link>
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		<title>Budget 2011</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The 2011 Budget has been officially announced and, after allowing time for it to sink in, here are some key points.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/03/28/budget-2011/</link>
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		<title>Hiding Debts From Your Partner?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Whether the debts built up before you met your partner, or whether the debts occurred when together, hiding something from your partner can put immense strain on your relationship.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/03/21/hiding-debts-from-your-partner/</link>
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		<title>Weekly Debt Question</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Can a bailiff force entry into my property?]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/03/18/weekly-debt-question-3/</link>
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		<title>Redundancy</title>
		<description><![CDATA[During the recession, redundancy has played a major part in people’s struggles with repaying their debts. Many people have been made redundant as businesses struggled with the economic downturn, which has led to rather a sharp increase in unemployment.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/03/17/redundancy/</link>
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		<title>Helping Family In Debt</title>
		<description><![CDATA[When someone is in debt they often try and keep it to themselves and try and hide it from their loved ones.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/03/15/helping-family-in-debt/</link>
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		<title>Weekly Debt Question</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I am already in debt; I might as well take out more credit.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/03/11/weekly-debt-question-2/</link>
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		<title>What are you giving up for lent?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This year it is time to get rid of the negative outlook and give up something for lent that you can stick to as well as being something that will set you on the road to becoming debt free.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/03/09/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/</link>
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		<title>Weekly Debt Question</title>
		<description><![CDATA[If I ignore my debts, they will go away?]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/03/04/weekly-debt-question/</link>
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		<title>Students and Debt</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It is no big secret that today's students will leave university with an average of &#163;25,000 of debt according to figures on BBC.co.uk.  With the cost of tuition fees rising and the cost of living constantly going up, students are going to be leaving education with more and more debt.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/03/02/students-and-debt/</link>
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		<title>Latest News From The OFT &#8211; Payplan&#8217;s Reaction</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Today the Office of Fair Trading has announced they are imposing requirements on Money Advice Direct Limited (or MADL). This comes after concerns from consumers about them being mislead by their advertising.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/02/22/latest-news-from-the-oft-payplans-reaction/</link>
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		<title>What is a Trust Deed?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[A Trust Deed is a voluntary, legally binding agreement between you and your creditors and deals with only unsecured debts.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/02/22/what-is-a-trust-deed/</link>
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		<title>Debt Collectors</title>
		<description><![CDATA[A debt collector is NOT A BAILIFF. A debt collector will either buy a debt from a creditor or they will be assigned by the creditor to simply collect the debt on their behalf.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/02/17/debt-collectors/</link>
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		<title>Debt Relief Orders</title>
		<description><![CDATA[A Debt Relief Order (or DRO) is sometimes referred to as BankruptcyLite. It is very similar to bankruptcy except it doesn't hold as much stigma and it costs a lot less to do. A Debt Relief Order can only be authorized by a qualified intermediary, Payplan are one of few that can do this.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/02/15/debt-relief-orders-2/</link>
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		<title>Debt Consolidation Launch</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We are pleased to announce the arrival of our brand new website www.debtconsolidation.org.uk.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/02/11/debt-consolidation-launch/</link>
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		<title>Bailiffs &#8211; who are they?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[A bailiff is someone who is employed by the courts to take your possessions in order to sell them and give the money to your creditor to pay back the debt that you owe them. The court would only send the bailiff if you fail to maintain payments towards your CCJ.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/02/10/bailiffs-who-are-they/</link>
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		<title>Payplan on Rip Off Britain</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Did you all see Rip Off Britain on BBC1 last night?]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/02/10/payplan-on-the-rip-off-britain/</link>
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		<title>Court Action &#8211; Charging Orders</title>
		<description><![CDATA[A Charging Order is where an unsecured creditor secures the amount owing to them on your property. This is done through the courts, just like with a CCJ.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/02/08/court-action-charging-orders/</link>
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		<title>Court Action &#8211; Attachment of Earnings</title>
		<description><![CDATA[An Attachment of Earnings (or AOE) is where your creditor applies through the court to be paid directly from your wages in order to guarantee their money. If the AOE is granted then your employer will be notified and each time you are paid, a percentage is given straight to the creditor and you will get the remaining amount.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/02/03/court-action-attachment-of-earnings/</link>
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		<title>Payplan is free and proud to be.</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Payplan offer completely free debt advice and completely free debt management plans. We are one of the very few companies that do this and we are also one of the biggest.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/02/01/payplan-is-free-and-proud-to-be/</link>
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		<title>OFT Close 35 Debt Management Companies.</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Office of Fair Trading have released a statement announcing that 35 debt management companies have surrendered their consumer credit license and have ceased trading.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/01/31/breaking-news-from-the-office-of-fair-trading/</link>
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		<title>Court Action &#8211; County Court Judgements</title>
		<description><![CDATA[A CCJ is where the creditor or claimant attempts to reclaim the money that is owed to them by going through the County Courts.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/01/27/court-action-county-court-judgement/</link>
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		<title>Default Notices</title>
		<description><![CDATA[People often get very worried if they receive a default notice through the door. Today I want to go through what they are and what you need to do so hopefully you needn't worry in the future.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/01/25/default-notices/</link>
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		<title>Story of the Week</title>
		<description><![CDATA[All week you get to read my blogs about debt, what to do or not to do or what your options are. Today, and hopefully everything Friday, I want to share some of our client’s stories to give you all a chance to read about the people we have helped in the past and still [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/01/21/story-of-the-week/</link>
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		<title>Right to Offset</title>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the most important things to do when you are in debt is change your bank account. If you owe money to the same bank where your income is paid into then they can apply what is called the Right to Offset. It is therefore important, whether doing a DMP, IVA, Bankruptcy or arranging your own plan to change banks as soon as possible.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/01/20/right-to-offset/</link>
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		<title>Bankruptcy</title>
		<description><![CDATA[For todays instalment I am going to be talking about bankruptcy. I want to continue on with the journey of making everyone savvy with all issues relating to debt and getting out of it.

Bankruptcy is usually thought of as the last resort in solving financial problems. From my past experience, whenever the word is mentioned people get instantly scared and go into a bit of a panic.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/01/18/bankruptcy/</link>
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		<title>Top 10 ways to beat Blue Monday</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The third Monday in January is supposedly the most depressing day of the year. It factors in the miserable weather, the distant cheer of Christmas as well as post Christmas debt, failure to stick to New Years resolutions and low motivation to add on top of it all.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/01/17/top-10-ways-to-beat-blue-monday/</link>
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		<title>IVA&#8217;s Explained Blog 5</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Welcome to the fifth and final instalment of this weeks IVA themed blogs. All week I have been talking about IVAs and hopefully giving you all a basic knowlegde of what they are and how they work.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/01/14/ivas-explained-blog-5/</link>
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		<title>IVA&#8217;s Explained Blog 4</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Good afternoon and welcome to the fourth blog in this week series. So far I have spoken about a whole host of topics relating to IVAs and today I am going to concentrate on your income.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/01/14/ivas-explained-blog-4/</link>
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		<title>IVA&#8217;s Explained Blog 3</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Hello and welcome to day three of this weeks IVA themed blogs. Today I am going to be talking about creditors; the different types, how they deal with IVAs and what they do to approve your IVA.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/01/12/ivas-explained-blog-3/</link>
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		<title>IVA&#8217;s Explained Blog 2</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Welcome to day two of my week long series of IVA blogs. Yesterday's first instalment hopefully explained all of the basics of an IVA and gave you a general overview of what it is. On today's blog I am going to focus on your assets; what is an asset and how the IVA will impact them. I also want to go through what happens to your mortgage property in the IVA.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/01/11/what-is-an-individual-voluntary-arrangement-blog-2/</link>
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		<title>What is a Individual Voluntary Arrangement?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[An IVA or Individual Voluntary Arrangement as it is otherwise known is a legally binding agreement between you and your creditors. An IVA usually lasts for five years; however it can be longer depending on any modifications your creditors may put forward at the time of the IVA being approved.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/01/10/what-is-a-individual-voluntary-arrangement/</link>
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		<title>What Is A Debt Management Plan?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Good afternoon bloggers. Now you know who I am, I want to share with you what I do and all that I know. I want to start with the basics so today I will be sharing with you what a Debt Management Plan is.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2011/01/04/what-is-a-debt-management-plan-2/</link>
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		<title>Our Christmas Opening Times</title>
		<description><![CDATA[If you would like to contact us between these dates, our Helpline (0800 280 2816) will be open at the following times:]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/12/23/our-christmas-opening-times/</link>
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		<title>Debt Consolidation Loans advice</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This is my first video about Debt Consolidation Loans. It will be going on www.debtconsolidation.org.uk soon]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/12/15/debt-consolidation-loans-advice/</link>
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		<title>Payplan welcomes OFT action</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Payplan, one of the UK's leading and oldest established free debt solutions providers, has welcomed today's warning by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to 129 debt management firms to start complying or face losing their consumer credit licence.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/09/28/payplan-welcomes-oft-action/</link>
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		<title>Payplan joins call for safeguards on payday loans</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Research by Consumer Focus suggests that 1.2 million people are taking out a payday loan every year, borrowing a total of £1.2 billion. The number has quadrupled since 1996, according to the watchdog group despite some companies charging interest rates of more than 2,500% a year. The group is now calling on the industry to [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/09/10/payplan-joins-call-for-safeguards-on-payday-loans/</link>
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		<title>‘Shopaholic’ epidemic hits Britain</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Four million British women and three million British men have become addicted to shopping, using credit cards, store cards and loans to supply their obsession.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/09/06/shopaholic-epidemic-hits-britain/</link>
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		<title>5 Ways To Save On Childcare Costs</title>
		<description><![CDATA[5 money saving tips to reduce childcare cost 1. Make sure you register for childcare vouchers If your employer offers childcare vouchers, make sure you&#8217;re a member of the scheme they provide, so that you get the best value from your claim. These vouchers can be used on numerous types of care, including nursery, after-school activities [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/08/30/5-ways-to-save-on-childcare-costs/</link>
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		<title>Figures On Childcare Costs Are Released</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Childcare costs are rising Daycare Trust has published a report on the typical childcare costs for 2010. The findings show that: The Average cost for 25 hours a week childcare in England is £88; this is more than 50% of the average part time earnings which are £153 per week Parents in London can pay [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/08/24/figures-on-childcare-costs-are-released/</link>
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		<title>Further Costs Of Living Rising</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This time it’s the cost of healthy living Although food generally only accounts for 12% of household spending, the increase in the price of vegetables and mineral water is going to put a strain on living healthily on a budget. This is in stark contrast from the market a year ago when vegetables were dropping [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/08/23/further-costs-of-living-rising/</link>
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		<title>5 Ways To Save On Your Fuel Consumption</title>
		<description><![CDATA[5 tips to cut the costs of your fuel bill With fuel prices set to increase, why not follow Payplan&#8217;s money saving tips to help reduce your petrol or diesel costs. 1. Find the cheapest petrol near you You can find the cheapest petrol and diesel prices nearest to where you live by visiting www.petrolprices.com. 2. Use a customer loyalty [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/08/23/5-ways-to-save-on-your-fuel-consumption/</link>
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		<title>Petrol Price Set To Increase</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Petrol prices will reach £1.26 a litre by 2011 Presently, it costs £7 more to fill up the tank of an average car than it did a year ago. This is yet another petrol price increase which will hit consumers, after the recent announcement that bread and gas prices will also increase. The Retail Motor Industry [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/08/13/petrol-price-set-to-increase/</link>
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		<title>Holiday debts soaring in the UK</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Association of Business Recovery Professionals (R3) has released new figures which state that holidaymakers will take seven months to pay back the average sum of over £1000 they borrowed to pay for their holiday.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/08/10/holiday-debts-soaring-in-the-uk/</link>
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		<title>5 tips to cut the costs of living alone</title>
		<description><![CDATA[5 ways to save if you live alone Although living alone can have its advantages, it can also lead to financial difficulties. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s research showed that it would cost a single person £14,400 a year to reach a basic standard of living. Follow Payplan’s 5 top money saving tips to reduce living expenses: [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/08/02/5-tips-to-cut-the-costs-of-living-alone/</link>
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		<title>Money Saving Tips – 5 free things to do at home with the children</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The school holidays have arrived yet again, but with family day tickets to major attractions costing more than £100, it is prudent to check for alternatives. Here are some handy money saving tips from Payplan  to cut the cost of your summer holiday, but still allowing your children to have a fun filled six week break and reducing their boredom at home.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/07/29/money-saving-tips-5-free-things-to-do-at-home-with-the-children/</link>
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		<title>The UK Tax System is to be simplified to attract foreign investment and decrease the burden on businesses</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne  is preparing an Office for Tax Simplification to reduce the 11,000 page tax code; due to Britain having one of the most complex tax codes in the world.

It is hoped that the tax code will become more readable and more people will understand the tax laws they are being asked to comply with.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/07/27/the-uk-tax-system-is-to-be-simplified-to-attract-foreign-investment-and-decrease-the-burden-on-businesses/</link>
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		<title>Lenders can turn new arrears rules to their advantage</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The regulator's latest changes to the way lenders should treat customers in arrears – particularly the requirement for lenders to consider all options before starting action to repossess a property – are to be welcomed.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/07/23/lenders-can-turn-new-arrears-rules-to-their-advantage/</link>
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		<title>New FSA Proposals Could Help Mortgage Customers</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has outlined new suggestions for mortgage borrowers to ensure that they can afford monthly mortgage payments. The FSA wants to ensure that mortgage customers are protected and that lenders only lend to those who can afford mortgage payments.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/07/15/new-fsa-proposals-could-help-mortgage-customers/</link>
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		<title>New insolvency figures released</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Insolvency Service data shows that in 2009, the North East of England had the highest number of personal insolvencies. Cases of insolvency are at their highest as a result of unemployment levels and an increase in unsecured personal debts.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/07/13/new-insolvency-figures-released/</link>
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		<title>Living costs have reached £14,400 for a single person</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Increased living costs &#8211; It now costs £29,200 a year to keep a family research shows The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) publishes its annual update on ‘minimum income standard’. They review what people think is an essential living cost. Key Points A single person in the UK needs to earn at least £14,400 a year before tax [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/07/09/living-costs-have-reached-14400-for-a-single-person/</link>
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		<title>5 Free Things To Do This Summer</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Things to do for free this summer holiday If you are on a tight budget and are struggling for things to do for free this summer, why not try one of the many free days out being offered throughout the UK? 1. Visit a museum Free day out in London Many of the museums throughout [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/07/01/summer-holidays-5-free-things-to-do-in-britain/</link>
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		<title>New Pension Age Rise to 66 Years</title>
		<description><![CDATA[New pension age rise introduced for 2016 The new Government has proposed that a new pension age threshold will come into force from 2016. The new pension age threshold is set to rise to 66 years for men by 2016 and by a further two years to 68 by 2048. Work and Pensions Secretary Ian [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/06/25/new-pension-age-rise-to-66-years/</link>
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		<title>Cost of Owning a Pet &#8211; 5 Ways to Cut Pet Ownership Costs</title>
		<description><![CDATA[As a nation of pet lovers, the cost of owning a pet can add up over time as we try to provide our beloved animals with the best care and protection. Many Payplan clients already owned a pet before they got into financial difficulty &#8211; making the cost of caring for them part of their [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/06/11/owning-a-pet-cut-the-cost-of-pet-ownership/</link>
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		<title>Problems with debt; PM&#8217;s bleak warning over UK&#8217;s severe deficit problem</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Deficit problem will affect &#8216;every single person&#8217; Prime Minister David Cameron warned yesterday about the UK&#8217;s problems with debt and that plans to cut the deficit will have &#8220;enormous implications&#8221; for the country, stating in a speech; &#8220;How we deal with these things will affect our economy, our society &#8211; indeed our whole way of [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/06/07/problems-with-debt-bleak-warning-over-deficit-problem/</link>
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		<title>5 Ways to Cut Your Bills</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Can you cut your bills? The following bill cutting tips could help you save money on your monthly outgoings. Click here for further budgeting advice 1. Cut your TV package Ask yourself this question; do you really watch all the channels you subscribe to? If the answer is no, then maybe you should consider cutting [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/06/04/5-ways-to-cut-your-bills/</link>
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		<title>New Spending Cuts Announced by Chancellor</title>
		<description><![CDATA[New spending cuts for many sectors Figures released today by the coalition Government&#8217;s new Chancellor George Osbourne reveal £6.2 billion in new spending cuts in a bid to take &#8216;urgent action&#8217; against the budget deficit. The new Government spending cuts can be seen in the following sectors: Child Trust Fund Payments will be axed by [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/05/26/new-spending-cuts-announced-by-chancellor/</link>
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		<title>Loan Shark Debt Campaign Update</title>
		<description><![CDATA[<strong>24th May, 2010</strong> The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has joined the 'Stop Loan Sharks' campaign which helps to prevent unscrupulous and sometimes violent unlicensed money lenders from operating and lending money to vulnerable people struggling to make ends meet. ]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/05/24/loan-shark-debt-campaign-update/</link>
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		<title>Home Information Packs Suspended by Coalition</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Home Information Packs to face permanent abolition by new Government In a bid to help the current fragile housing market, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and Housing Minister Grant Shapps today announced that with immediate effect, they will be abolishing the requirement for home owners to provide a Home Information Pack (HIP) when selling their homes, [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/05/21/home-information-packs-suspended-by-coalition/</link>
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		<title>Budgeting Loans from the Social Fund</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Low-income? (Information on this page is taken from Direct.gov.uk) If you&#8217;re on a low income and need help with certain important costs, you may be able to get an interest-free Budgeting Loan from the Social Fund that you pay back. Debt Problems? If you also have debt problems &#8211; you can use our Debt Help [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/05/20/budgeting-loans-from-the-social-fund/</link>
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		<title>Inflation Increase in April 2010</title>
		<description><![CDATA[As Payplan previously reported on the predictions made about inflation, the latest updates are as follows: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) annual inflation was up from 3.4% in March to 3.7% in April, well above a Government target of 2% and the highest rate since November 2008. The largest upward pressures to the change in [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/05/18/inflation-increase-in-april-2010/</link>
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		<title>5 Ways to Save on Your Water Bill</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Could you save water? Find out if you can cut the cost of your monthly water bill by reading Payplan&#8217;s 5 simple tips to conserving water. 1. Don&#8217;t leave taps running Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth to avoid any unnecessary waste. When running a bath or shower, instead of leaving the tap [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/05/18/5-ways-to-save-on-your-water-bill/</link>
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		<title>Voting in the General Election 2010</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Information for voters about tomorrow&#8217;s General Election UK Parliamentary and Local Elections 6th May 2010 &#8211; Polling Stations open from 7am-10pm. As Payplan previously reported you can vote either by post, proxy or in person for tomorrow&#8217;s election but please note that the deadline to register to vote or apply for a postal or proxy [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/05/05/voting-in-the-general-election-2010/</link>
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		<title>5 Ways to Cut Impulse Buying</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Are you an impulse buyer? If you find it hard to resist unnecessary purchases when shopping, read Payplan&#8217;s 5 simple tips to help you beat the temptation. 1. Make a shopping list &#8211; Whenever you go shopping, think about what you really need and make a list. This way you&#8217;ll only buy the things you [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/04/30/5-ways-to-cut-impulse-buying/</link>
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		<title>Volcanic Eruption &#8211; Your rights and refunds</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Are you entitled to a refund? As we previously wrote in Money Worries For Stranded Passengers, the unexpected expense and disruption caused by the recent Volcanic eruption has undoubtedly affected people&#8217;s finances in many cases. Here is a guide to your rights, refunds, compensation and employment matters relating to these events. Refund Policies If your [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.payplan.com/debt-news/2010/04/27/volcanic-eruption-your-rights-and-refunds/</link>
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