North East Aberdeenshire Citizens Advice (NEACAB)
Free, impartial and confidential help with budgeting, rent/mortgage questions, getting out of debt, bankruptcy options and more.
Debt & money advice
Local help
Aberdeenshire Council — Money Advice & Welfare Rights
Help with benefit forms, challenging decisions, some low-level debts and onward referrals. You can request advice via their referral form.
Gordon Rural Action — The Huntly Hub
Multi-agency advice hub (with partners incl. North Aberdeenshire Foodbank & Barnardo’s). Free, confidential help with benefits (Best Start, Young Carers, Funeral Support, SWF), Universal Credit, Warm Home Discount, Blue Badge, housing, Council Tax Reduction/Housing Benefit and more.
- Foodbank referrals & emergency food support
- Supported Digital Access (by appointment, 5 days a week, 10am–2pm)
- Uniform Exchange & Baby Bank access
National helplines & online advice
National Debtline (Scotland)
Phone: 0808 808 4000 · Webchat & Scottish factsheets
mygov.scot — Free debt advice
Overview of free advice options across Scotland (phone, online and face-to-face).
Emergency help for essentials
Crisis Grant (Aberdeenshire Council) — if you’ve run out of money for essentials. Decisions are often same day, with payment to your bank account if eligible.
Self-help tools
If you’re being chased by a creditor
- Keep paying priority bills first (rent, Council Tax, energy).
- Ask the creditor for breathing space/help; an adviser can support you.
- Don’t ignore court papers — take them to an adviser quickly.
- Keep notes of calls/letters and what was agreed.