Murwillumbah Community Centre

Financial Counselling - A free confidential service for people worried about their debts

Are you worried because you can't pay your debts?
Are your creditors putting you under pressure?
Can our Service help you?

FINANCIAL COUNSELLORS provide free and confidential assistance to people who are having problems dealing with their bills.

They can help you to look at the choices you have to make when you are being chased by the people you owe money to.

They help YOU to take CONTROL of YOUR finances!

What is a Financial Counsellor?
We work with people who are having money problems, in particular, with debts. Our staff are Financial Counsellors who are accredited by FCAN (Financial Counsellors Association of NSW) and receive continuous training and supervision.

We won't tell you what to do but we can assist you to make decisions.

We can offer support when you decide what to do.

What do we do?
We act independently and without conflict of interest as we do not receive any funding or monatary payments from banks, credit unions etc.

If you are having problems with debt we can help you look at the choices and actions available to you. We can also help you understand what will happen once you've made your decision.

What don't we do?
We don't give information on investments or tax returns.
We don't recommend sources of credit or help you to get extra credit.
We don't give out charitable assistance, emergency relief money or electricity (EAPA) vouchers.

What sort of things can we help with?
We can provide you with information on:

• Your rights regarding debt and debt collection
• Assessing your financial situation and your options
• Bankruptcy
• Credit laws and practices
• How to talk with people that claim you owe them money

We can talk to your creditors directly if you give us permission and written authorisation.

What does it cost?
Financial Counselling is a free service paid for and supported by the Federal and State Governments.

Our funds come from the NSW Credit Counselling Program administered by NSW Office of Fair Trading and Commonwealth Financial Counselling Program.

Where are we and when?

Murwillumbah Community Support Centre:
Knox Park

• Monday 9.00 am - 4.30 pm
• Tuesday 2.00 pm - 4.30 pm
• Wednesday 9.00 am - 4.30 pm
• Thursday 9.00 am - 4.30 pm

The Family Centre:
15-17 Rivendell Drive Tweed Heads South

• Tuesday 9.00 am - 12.30 pm

How do I see you?
To see us you will need to make an appointment by contacting us via telephone, mail or visiting us in person.

This is a free and confidential service. Attendance at interviews is purely voluntary. You should want to see a Financial Counsellor for yourself and not feel compelled to attend by pressure from other external agencies.

You can see a Financial Counsellor for as long and as often as the issues require.

Demand is high and many people wish to use our service so please ensure you have made an appointment.

What do I need to bring?
Please remember that demand for our services is high so please bring all papers, contacts, details of your debts etc with you. Our ability to assist is dependent on being supplied with the relevant information.

Please phone us if you are unable to attend an appointment so as we may cancel the appointment.

Confidentiality is very important to our service and we will not discuss your affairs with other entities without your express permission.

Where can you find us?
In Murwillumbah at;
Murwillumbah Community Centre
Nullum Street
Knox Park
Murwillumbah.

In Tweed Heads South at;
The Family Centre
15-17 Rivendell Drive
Tweed Heads South

Contact us for an appointment on:
Tel: (02) 6672 6237
Fax: (02) 6672 6277
Postal: PO Box 722, Murwillumbah NSW 2484
Email: murfin@netspace.com.au

If you need to speak to someone in an emergency you can phone the Credit & Debt Hotline on 1800 808 488 or the Rural Debtors Hotline on 1800 247 890.

See also:

Home page for all of the Financial Counselling Services from Coffs Harbour to Tweed Heads.

Financial Counsellors provide a FREE service for people having Money Problems, in particular with Debts, Bankruptcy and Harassment by Creditors.
Site updated 06/04/2009

Financial Counselling Services on the North Coast (NSW)

Please see the Services page for more services

General Enquiries

• Opening Hours
  Monday - Thursday
  9.30 am - 3 pm
  Lunch
  12.30 pm - 1 pm
  Closed Friday
• Address
  Knox Park, Nullum St
  Murwillumbah NSW 2484
  PO Box 722
  Murwillumbah NSW 2484
  Phone: 02 6672 3003
  Fax: 02 6672 6280
  Email: