Help on the web
If you have a problem and aren't sure where to look for an answer, the web is a great place to start. Throughout our advice pages, we suggest other websites that can offer you help and advice. Here are some sites that we think are particularly useful.
Tips for finding advice on the web
There are over 100 million websites on the internet, so whatever your situation, you're sure to find information to help you. An easy way to find advice and information online is to use a search engine such as Google and enter key words describing your problem. However, not everything you read on the internet is true! Make sure the information you find comes from a trustworthy source, such as a charity or a UK government agency.
You also need to make sure that the information is relevant to you and the area you live in. For example, information about healthcare on an American website won't apply to you. Even in the UK, the law is different in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so make sure the website you're looking at applies to where you live.
Get advice from Shelter
Shelter's advice pages contain everything you need to know about solving housing problems, from burst pipes to noisy neighbours, eviction to relationship breakdown issues. Our advice pages will:
- fill you in on the background information
- suggest things you can do to sort your problem out
- show you where you can get help if you don't want to go it alone.
Because housing law is different in England and Wales and Scotland, we have two separate websites:
http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/getadvice
http://england.shelter.org.uk/getadvice
Adviceguide from Citizens Advice
The Adviceguide website covers lots of common problems you may experience, including problems concerning debt, taxes, relationships and employment. Adviceguide has information for people living in Scotland, and in England and Wales, so make sure you're in the right part of the site.
www.adviceguide.org.uk/scotland
National Debtline
If you've got money worries, the National Debtline website has lots of information to help you sort things out, including budget plans, sample letters to write to your creditors and advice on dealing with bankruptcy. The National Debtline has separate information for people living in Scotland, and for people living in England and Wales.
www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/scotland
Direct.gov
The Direct.gov website is run by the UK Government. It contains information on a wide range of topics, including health and well being, money, benefits and tax, employment and education. Direct.gov is a very useful website, but some of the information (such as the housing information) only applies to people who live in England.
