<p> Money Advice Service - Stirling Council SERVICE AGREEMENT</p><p>Stirling Council’s Money Advice Service is free, confidential and provided by skilled advisers. Our aim is to help you gain control of your money. To be able to help you we need to assess your financial position. The procedures we use to do this are recognised by most creditors. (People or organisations that are owed money)</p><p>In order for you and your creditors to benefit as much as possible from our service it is essential that you understand what the service is able to do and what will be expected from you.</p><p>You will be expected to -  Attend all appointments or tell us if you are unable to attend. (Failure to attend or to tell us that you cannot attend appointments may force us to withdraw our services).  Supply accurate details of your circumstances, including all income and outgoing expenditure. (We will need to see your payslips). We need this information so we can give you and your creditors’ correct advice and information.  Keep us informed of any change in your circumstances (for example, if you get married, move house or have children). Any change may make it more difficult for you to make agreed repayments, particularly where you have a Debt Payment Programme in place.  Not enter into separate agreements with creditors or take out further credit without reference to the money advice service who will advise you accordingly.  Provide your written permission to allow us to contact your creditors and act on your behalf, and for the service to forward any application for a Debt Payment Programme to the Debt Arrangement scheme Administrator.  Not approach another money advice service while asking us to act on your behalf. We will -  Treat everyone equally and fairly by not discriminating against clients on grounds of race, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation or age.  Assess your income and advise how this might be increased (for example by claiming benefits).  Contact your creditors on your behalf after our discussions. If appropriate we will request they suspend recovery action and freeze any interest charges on your account.  Make other service areas aware of any change in your circumstances when appropriate and help to protect public funds.  Help you prepare a financial statement and/or a personal budget.  Discuss with you, all the options available to resolve your financial problems and help you to decide which option might be best for you.  Send your financial details if appropriate and with your written permission to creditors in order to negotiate affordable repayments. Where appropriate assist you to complete relevant forms and act for you in respect of Debt Payment Programmes.  Keep you informed of the progress we are making on your case.  Make you aware of any potential conflict of interest.  Withdraw our services and not act on your behalf should you fail to maintain this agreement. In such circumstances creditors would also be informed.  Issue customer surveys and questionnaires each month to a proportion of our clients. We will also deal with any comment or complaint made under Stirling Council’s Talkback. This is a comments and complaints scheme, to find out what people think of our services. We need to know how we are doing so we can put things right and improve our services – You can contact us and tell us about your issue. You can write, phone, or visit the local office/Viewforth. We will try to resolve the problem on the spot. If we can’t and need time to check it out, we will get back to you within an agreed time. </p><p>I/we agree to abide with the conditions of this agreement and authorise Stirling Council’s Money Advice Service to act on my behalf in all matters relating to my financial affairs, including court proceedings. </p><p>Client Signature Client Name </p><p>Client Signature Client Name </p><p>Address </p><p>Date</p><p>Employment, Communities & Youth Service, Stirling Council N:\Money Advice Team\2009Money Advice, Standard Room N:\Money 35, Viewforth, Advice Team\2009 Stirling, Standard FK8 2ET DocumentsDocuments Tel: 01786 442460 Fax: 01786 442839 Email [email protected]</p>