Debt Awareness Week (29th Jan - 2nd Feb)

DEBT DEBATE

Debt Awareness Week (29th Jan - 2nd Feb)

IVA.co.uk held the UK’s first Debt Awareness Week from 29 Jan – 2 Feb 2007.
Consumer groups, MPs and debt consultancies alike backed the initiative.
Events took place throughout the week and received attention from national press.

The key event was The Great Debt Debate on 1 Feb as high profile figures gathered in Canary Wharf to take questions from the press and general public.

• Wondering who was involved in the debt awareness week? See who took part
• View transcript
• Watch the event on IVA TV

Day

Activities

Key: indicates level of scale for event

Debt Day
Monday 29th Jan

11am: Exclusive interview with Neil Hamilton:

A personal story of bankruptcy.

Watch it on IVA TV.

1pm: IVA TV Debt Surgery

IVA TV launched their first ever debt surgery programme, taking questions from the public about their debt problems.

The programme gave users a chance to have their questions tackled by a panel of experts:
- Elaine Williams, Director of SAFE (Struggle Against Financial Exploitation);
- Richard Reid, Psychologist at Pinnacle Therapy; and
- James Falla, Director, Author of Debt Book and TV Debt expert.

Watch it on IVA TV

Awareness Day
Tuesday 30th Jan

9am: Exclusive interview with Benjamin Fry:

Why and how people get into debt.

Watch it on IVA TV.

11am: Raising Debt Awareness with the Public of London

1000 debt books were donated by James Falla and handed out in central London warning of perils of careless budgeting.IVA TV captured peoples thoughts on debt and budgeting

Watch it on IVA TV.

Find out more

1pm: Struggle Against Financial Exploitation

Presentation from S.A.F.E. at the Regus Liverpool Street Centre. SAFE drew attention to how both the banks and other governing institutions seemingly condone systemic fraud and deception upon unsuspecting individuals throughout the UK. SAFE used the event to present their strategy for 2007 and to launch their new website.

-Lord Nazir Ahmed,
-Elaine Williams (SAFE charity),
-Rob Owen (SAFE charity).

Find out more

Watch it on IVA TV.

Education Day
Wednesday 31st Jan

9am: Exclusive interview with Matt Buttery:

The Importance of Debt Education.

Watch it on IVA TV.

11am: School Education

Experts from the Debt industry visited schools to explain how important good financial management is.

1pm: Unfair Penalty Charges

Stephen Hone presented case studies of individuals who have successfully claimed back £1000s in unfair bank charges using his advice and templates.Stephen also explained why these charges are unfair and what this means for the banking industry.

Find out more

Watch it on IVA TV.

Debate Day
Thursday 1st Feb

10am: Exclusive interview with Bishop Selby:

The ethics of borrowing and lending.

Watch it on IVA TV.

11am The Great Debt Debate, chaired by Peter Hobday

The debate, to be held at The Museum in Docklands, will be chaired by heavyweight Peter Hobday of Radio 4’s Today Program, who will invite questions from the audience.

	Melanie Giles, an Insolvency Practitioner and authoritative voice on regulation, having worked at the forefront of the insolvency industry for over 20 years;
	James Falla, debt author with over 10 years experience as MD of a debt consultancy, also regularly featured on BBC as a debt expert;
	Mark Hoban, Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury. Mark is a Chartered Accountant and previously worked for PricewaterhouseCooper.
	Prof. Eric Pentecost, professor of Economics and Programme Director for MSc in Economics and Finance at Loughborough University;