THE decision to axe 900 jobs from Citizens Advice Bureaus could not come at a worse time for consumers, a local debt adviser has warned.

Government funding cuts have led to the decision to get rid of 900 debt advice staff nationally.

It was announced as the Money Advice Trust warned of consumers facing unmanageable debt problems and an increased demand for debt advice.

But Worcester-based EuroDebt adviser Vance Parsons said the cuts would have a bigger impact on the commercial sector.

EuroDebt is a founding member of the newly established Association of Professional Debt Solution Intermediaries (APDSI), which aims to help UK consumers gain more confidence in the specialists or advisers they seek debt help from.

Mr Parsons said: “Now with dramatic cuts in the number of CAB debt advisers, it is likely to fall on the commercial sector to plug the gap, especially in terms of the provision of face-to-face debt advice.

“The good news is that the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is now taking enforcement action against those it identified as non-compliant with their debt management guidance in 2010.

“We should therefore see an improvement in the quality of debt advice provided by fewer, but more reputable and compliant, service providers.

“With the sharp reduction in access to free advice, combined with an increased need, we would strongly urge consumers to check the credentials of their debt adviser before engaging their services.”

CAB had previously secured funding to increase the availability of face-to-face debt advice to financially excluded clients.

APDSI secretary general Alasdair Warwood said: “The association was created to help intermediaries and brokers offer a range of debt solutions to financially disadvantaged clients, while complying with regulations on consumer credit and debt advice.”

For more information, visit eurodebt.com or call 0800 8046988.