Credit Action - History

History

Credit Action was founded in 1994 by Keith Tondeur with support from the Jubilee Centre, working primarily through the church in the UK. In 2002 Credit Action transferred its financial advice helpline to CCCS as demand was greater than Credit Action could meet. They have been known to make a stand for consumers where they believe that they are being exploited by unfair lending practices. A prime example of this is the campaign launched in May 2008 criticizing illegal credit advertisements on social networking sites.

In November 2007 Credit Action, in partnership with GE Money, launched a mobile phone budgeting tool called the Moneybasics Spendometer as a key part of their strategy to develop practical money management solutions.

At the start of 2008, in conjunction with One Parent Families, Credit Action released a handbook for single parents - as single parents often specific money management issues to deal with.

Credit Action has highlighted the growing issue of payday loans in the United Kingdom, with Credit Action's Chris Tapp saying in mid 2008: "Over the past year, payday loans have become an issue in the UK, and the growth in people who have problems who have such a loan has been notable in the last six months.".

Credit Action is having an increasing role in helping form government policy in financial education and over-indebtedness. Most recently, they were mentioned by Lord Anderson of Swansea and Archbishop of Canterbury in a debate on indebtedness in the House of Lords.

The charity was recently selected by New Philanthropy Capital as a recommended charity for donation in its July 2008 report Financial Exclusion: short changed