Personal counselling
Contacting financial and debt counselling is worthwhile, even if you are not sure how we might help you. Financial difficulties are common, and anyone can face them in their lifetime. A financial and debt counsellor can help you confidentially and the service is free of charge.
In e-services, we ask you for information to help us understand your financial situation, you will then be contacted by a financial and debt counsellor.
If you are not comfortable acting electronically, you can contact the financial and debt counselling telephone service.
Be prepared
- to discuss your financial situation, including your income, housing costs and debts
- set aside 15–60 minutes for the call.
For service numbers and call times, see the contact details of the offices.
What happens in financial and debt counselling?
At the beginning of your case, you will discuss your situation with a financial and debt counsellor, usually over the phone. The aim of the discussion is to get an overall view of your situation.
The financial and debt counsellor will look at your financial situation holistically and help you sort it out. You can weigh up different options and think of ways to deal with your everyday finances. If necessary, a financial and debt counsellor can help you with payment arrangements or to apply for debt adjustment, for example.
If your case continues, you will usually be asked to supply attachments. Once you have submitted these, the preparation of your case will continue and proceed according to the specific needs of your case.
Financial issues and shame
Financial issues are often associated with feelings of shame. Feelings of shame can make it difficult to talk about money matters or mean that it takes a long time to build up the courage to ask for help. Taking the first step can feel difficult, but it is an important step forward.
You may feel hopeless, but together we will work through your situation and find solutions so that you can move on with your life.
Dealing with financial and debt counselling may cause anxiety. Our clients have told us that they have felt relieved when they have been able to talk to an expert about an issue that is weighing on their mind.
Every year, financial and debt counsellors at the National Legal Services Authority advise and assist around 30,000 people who need different levels of help with financial matters. The need for help may be experienced by anyone, regardless of level of income, profession or age.
Enforcement
The National Enforcement Authority Finland is an impartial agency operating between a debtor and their creditors. The National Enforcement Authority Finland ensures that a debtor’s income or assets are used to pay the statutory share of the debts. Enforcement is part of legal protection and safeguards not only the rights of the debtor but also those of the creditor.
The National Enforcement Authority Finland is responsible for enforcement. The agency gives guidance and advice on its own services. Feel free to contact customer service of the National Enforcement Agency Finland for your own enforcement inspector for more information. The website of the National Enforcement Authority Finland provides information on enforcement.