You can get independent advice on your finances through a variety of organisations, however to ensure the advice you receive is impartial and free of cost we recommend you contact either Sandwell Citizens Advice Bureau, the National Debt Line or the Consumer Credit Counselling Service.

Sandwell Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
CAB Advice line: 0121 552 2022
(please note this line is answered by volunteers)
Web Address: www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Help at the heart of your community…

The Citizens Advice Bureau is an independent organisation and a registered charity. It provides free, confidential and impartial advice to everybody in the community regardless of race, sex, disability, sexuality or nationality.

Sandwell CAB have bureaux in five towns across the borough. These are based in: West Bromwich, Smethwick, Oldbury, Tipton and Cradley Heath.
These bureaux act as a one-stop-shop for clients. Advisers provide up-todate advice and information using a unique electronic information system, link clients with other services and agencies, write letters and complete forms on behalf of clients. In the twelve months between April 2004 and March 2005 CAB Advisers helped almost 19,000 people, who brought over fifty thousand enquiries to the bureaux.
The problems brought to the CAB by clients are varied, covering areas such as employment, debt, housing, benefits, consumer rights, legal matters and immigration. Advisers explain to clients their options and the possible outcomes of different courses of action, encouraging clients to make their own decisions and to act on their own behalf.

The CAB Service is based on four principles. It is:

• Independent -we always act in the interests of our clients, without influence from any outside bodies.
• Impartial – we do not judge our clients or make assumptions about them. Our service is open to everyone and we treat everyone equally.
• Confidential – we won’t pass on anything a client tells us – or even that they’ve visited us – without their permission.
• Free – no-one has to pay for any part of the service we provide. The work of the CAB impacts on people’s lives in many different ways. Through advice, campaigns, free skills training for volunteers, empowering individuals, increasing incomes and much more.

Contacting the CAB
There are several options to get advice from the CAB and details of all the alternatives are listed below.

Dedicated CAB Advisor

– available to all Sandwell Homes tenants and leaseholders
Providing you are a Sandwell Homes tenant or leaseholder, you can access a service funded by Sandwell Homes and book an appointment with a dedicated CAB Debt Advice Worker.
Sandwell Homes have forged links with the Sandwell Citizens Advice Bureau and you can book an appointment for money advice by calling 01384 564394. Appointments are available at several of our neighbourhood offices for your convenience.

CAB Offices and opening times

As previously stated, the CAB has five offices located within Sandwell. This service does not operate on an appointment basis and advice through this channel is provided on a first come first serve basis. For more information please contact the Sandwell Advice line on 0121 552 2022 or www.citizensadvice.org.uk

CAB Offices

West Bromwich CAB
22 Lombard Street,
West Bromwich B70 8RT

Monday 9.30am - 2.30pm Tuesday 9.30am - 2.30pm Wednesday Closed Thursday 9.30am - 2.30pm Friday Closed

Oldbury CAB
Old Municipal Buildings,
Halesowen Street,
Oldbury
B69 3DB

Monday 9.30am - 2.30pm Tuesday Closed Wednesday 9.30am - 2.30pm Thursday 9.30am - 2.30pm Friday Closed

Cradley Heath CAB
Reddal Hill Community Centre,
Reddal Hill Road,
Cradley Heath
B64 5JG

Monday Closed Tuesday 9.30am - 2.30pm Wednesday Closed Thursday 9.30am - 2.30pm Friday 9.30am - 2.30pm

Tipton CAB
Neptune Health Park,
Sedgley Road West,
Tipton
DY4 8LX

Monday Closed Tuesday 9.30am - 2.30pm Wednesday 9.30am - 2.30pm Thursday Closed Friday 9.30am - 2.30pm

Smethwick CAB
370 – 372 High Street,
Smethwick
B66 3PJ

Monday 9.30am - 2.30pm Tuesday Closed Wednesday 9.30am - 2.30pm Thursday Closed Friday 9.30am - 2.30pm

Telephone Advice Line
0121 552 2022 (answered by volunteers)
Monday 9.30am - 1.30pm Tuesday 9.30am - 1.30pm Wednesday 9.30am - 12.30pm &
1.00pm - 4.00pm Thursday Closed Friday 9.30am - 12.30pm

CAB Outreach sites

CAB also has a number of surgeries (referred to as Outreach sites), which are run at local doctors surgeries, libraries, SureStart centres etc. Several Outreach Sites offer the opportunity to book an appointment at your convenience (appointments are limited so please ensure you attend on time or give at least 24 hours notice if you wish to cancel). For further details please contact the CAB telephone advice line on 0121 552 2022.

Important!

For any CAB debt advice appointment, it is vital that you bring evidence of all your income (e.g. wage slips, benefit letters, bank statements), which must be dated no more than one month from the date of your interview.
You must also bring proof of expenditure including rent card, gas / electric bill, other bills. You should also take a copy of all the forms you have completed in this self-help booklet. Unless you bring this proof of income and expenditure, you will not receive money advice from the CAB Money Advice Worker.

Other Debt Advice Organisations

National Debt Line

• Contact number: 0808 808 4000
• www.nationaldebtline.co.uk
• The National Debt Line can offer you over the phone advice on your finances. The service is government funded.

Consumer Credit Counselling Service

• Contact number: 0800 138 1111
• www.cccs.co.uk
• A registered charity whose purpose is to assist people who are in financial difficulty by providing free, independent, impartial and realistic advice.