About us

Direct Debt Line - about us

DDL specialises in providing money advice to the financially excluded

Direct Debt Line (DDL) was formed in 1994 to answer the growing need for debt advice in the South East. In its first year it was jointly funded by the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, East Sussex County Council and we received a National Lottery Grant for the following three years.

The Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) agreed to fund DDL and in return our advisers interviewed CCCS clients on their behalf. This enabled DDL to continue with its core service of telephone casework for vulnerable and low income clients, whilst providing an additional service of Debt Management Plans for those clients with a reasonable disposable income.

Since the contract with CCCS concluded in May 2006 we have been developing a specialism by designing sustainable and joined up services that meet the needs of people on the lowest incomes. We are currently rapidly expanding our work on behalf of Housing Associations and are looking into ways of joining our services with other community finance initiatives

Direct Debt Line is a charity that provides money advice to anyone experiencing problems with debt. If you would like help or advice please visit our advice page

If you would like to work with Direct Debt Line to increase access to money advice services please visit our read our information about contracting with us.

You can also find out about the latest news and read our recent annual review