Released on = February 9, 2006, 5:23 am

Press Release Author = Clear Start

Industry = Financial

Press Release Summary = The high streets had a very busy Christmas in 2005 with
average weekly spending amounting to £6,400 million. Although this was good news for
retailers, over-spending in December has hit consumers hard in January.

Press Release Body = The high streets had a very busy Christmas in 2005 with average
weekly spending amounting to £6,400 million. Although this was good news for
retailers, over-spending in December has hit consumers hard in January.

Clear Start, the UK's national consumer debt service has recorded record numbers of
calls to its helpline this January. Calls to Clear Start in January increased by
123% against the number made in December.

Clear Start says the increase in calls is not just because of consumer spending, but
also and more importantly, because people realise that help is at hand.

The fact that the vast majority of people calling the Clear Start debt helpline were
interested in IVAs shows that people are aware of the solutions on offer. And given
the advantages of an IVA to both a debtor and creditor, Clear Start believes that
this growing awareness is a very good thing.


Web Site = http://www.clearstart.org

Contact Details = 5th Floor, Horatio House
77 Fulham Palace Road
Hammersmith
London
W6 8JA
Tel: +44 (20) 8237 9700
Fax: +44 (20) 8237 9756