THOMAS CHARLES ADVISER SHORTLISTED FOR DEBT COUNSELLOR OF THE YEAR

		- Julia Simavi achieves special commendation at Credit Today Awards 2007 -

(London, 29/05/07) Leading debt consultancy, Thomas Charles (www.thomascharles.com), is proud to announce that Julia Simavi, a Senior Debt Counsellor, has received the honour of being shortlisted for Debt Counsellor of the Year at the Credit Today Awards 2007.

At the Awards dinner on May 17th, Julia was given special commendation by host Graham Norton and praised for her dedicated and personal approach to her work as a Debt Advisor.

Thomas Charles operates throughout England and Wales and has a personal, consultative approach to debt management. It focuses primarily on providing formal solutions for debt problems including Individual Voluntary Arrangements and Bankruptcy.

As a Thomas Charles Debt Adviser, Julia provides 24 hour support for every client by phone, email and text and always works to find the best debt solution for her clients by advising them on all the possible options.

Julia is well known for going that extra mile to help a client in need, even assisting those not suitable for formal debt solutions by helping them to get jobs in order to alleviate their financial situation. Not only is her customer service is impeccable but Julia also puts through the most Individual Voluntary Arrangements a month for Thomas Charles, helping her to make it on to the Credit Today’s Debt Counsellor of the Year shortlist.

Julia Simavi commented:

“Being shortlisted for Debt Counsellor of the Year is a huge honour for me. My role as a Thomas Charles Debt Adviser is to give the right advice to people in order to help them deal with their debts and to be there to support them every step of the way. I love my job and to receive recognition is wonderful.”

James Falla, Managing Director of Thomas Charles, added:

“We are all extremely proud of Julia, this special commendation is testimony to her dedication to quality of service and appropriate advice. At Thomas Charles, every Debt adviser is carefully trained to work closely and professionally with each individual to achieve the best solution for every client. We are thrilled by her achievements..”

Consumers wishing to contact Thomas Charles for advice on debt can do so via the company’s website (www.thomascharles.com) or by phone on 0800 072 5988.

CONSUMER DEBT

Top tips

• Don’t bury your head in the sand. Try working out your financial position using the debt-help-uk.org.uk ‘debt wizard’.


• Consider transferring credit card debt to a 0% card while you deal with more pressing bills, such as any council tax or mortgage payments. But don’t use this as an excuse to run up more debt elsewhere.


• Don’t take out other loans to pay off the original debt or use a consolidation loan. If you must do this, be disciplined and don’t use the new loan money for anything else.


• Talk to your creditors about structuring a realistic repayment plan.


• If you cannot do a repayment plan and you do not want to go bankrupt then try an IVA. Visit IVA.co.uk or call the IVA helpline (0800 197 48 38).


• If you want to consider bankruptcy then try the Citizens Advice Bureau (citizensadvice.org.uk) Useful contacts


• CAB: www.citizensadvice.org.uk


• IVA Helpline: 0800 197 48 38 (www.iva.co.uk)


• Bankruptcy Help Website: www.bankruptcyhelp.org.uk


• The Insolvency Practitioners Association: www.insolvency-practitioners.org.uk


- Ends -

About Thomas Charles & Co Ltd Thomas Charles & Co Ltd

was set up in 2004. The Joint Managing Director, James Falla has 7 years experience in the insolvency and debt management industry and was involved in the set up of debt help specialists, Brookvale Group PLC, listed on OFEX since 2001.

Thomas Charles operates throughout England and Wales with its head office in Acton (West London). It has a personal, consultative approach to debt management. It focuses primarily on providing formal solutions for debt problems including Individual Voluntary Arrangements and Bankruptcy. However, it will also provide advice around informal debt repayment plans where appropriate. It works with third party Insolvency Practitioners around the UK.

About James Falla

James Falla has advised people who have personal debt problems since 1997. During this period he has helped 1000s of people through the IVA process and worked with many others who have decided to undertake both Bankruptcy and informal Debt Management Plans.

James co-founded Thomas Charles (www.thomascharles.com) with William Berry in 2004 with the objective of providing clear impartial advice and solutions for people in serious debt. James has made numerous TV and radio appearances, including BBC1 News, BBC News 24, and Wake Up To Money.