The most recent Survey confirms what you'd probably expect - that secured and unsecured credit did indeed become less available in April-June 2008. But the news isn't all bad. Lenders may be more cautious about giving people loans, but they're still lending significant amounts of money for all kinds of purposes, including debt consolidation.

What's the point of debt consolidation anyway?

For many people in debt, debt consolidation can be an effective way of reducing their monthly outgoings. In general, the longer the time period over which they repay their consolidation loan, the smaller each monthly payment will be. Of course, this does mean that they'll be in debt for longer, and that they'll end up paying interest for longer, which can also increase the overall amount they repay.

However, a debt consolidation loan can also save borrowers money. First of all, consolidation loans tend to come with lower interest rates than debts such as credit cards and store cards, and this means the interest will build up more slowly. Second, when a borrower consolidates their debts, they're making their finances much easier to handle - not just because they've reduced their monthly payments, but because they've brought all their debts together into a single payment. Obviously, remembering one payment is far easier than remembering multiple payments, so debt consolidation can reduce the risk of being charged for late / non-payment (something which also looks bad on a credit rating).

What other debt solutions are available?

Some people may find they can't get a consolidation loan - or decide they want a different way of regaining control of their finances. The important thing is to talk to a debt specialist who offers a wide range of debt solutions, from debt management plans and debt consolidation mortgages to IVAs (Individual Voluntary Arrangements) and Trust Deeds (for residents of Scotland).