This information is provided as a general guidance only; you should confirm whether any special requirements apply in your case by contacting the bureau and discussing your case with an adviser.

Portsmouth Citizens Advice Bureau offers a generalist advice service and some specialist services. Using the Citizens Advice service's unique information system we can give you free, confidential, impartial and independent advice and information on a wide range of subjects. We offer a drop-in service for an interview to assess how we can best assist you with your enquiry. These usually last for 10 minutes. During the interview the adviser will:

• Briefly explore your situation
• Offer practical advice
• Offer leaflets or brief information
• Signpost you to another organisation
• Offer you to return to the bureau for an appointment at the next available opportunity detailing what information you need to bring with you
• Make a referral to a specialist adviser.

If you are unsure about your entitlement to benefits, at Portsmouth Citizens Advice Bureau we can advise you. We can help with unemployment benefits, income support, housing benefits, the social fund, tax credits, disability and sickness benefits and jobseekers allowance.

We can give practical assistance by helping you to work out your entitlement to benefits, maybe help you fill in the appropriate forms and help you to write review and appeal letters.

We also press for improvements in social security law by using our knowledge of how people are affected by the current rules. For self help in dealing with welfare benefits, the Legal Services Commission has produced a leaflet entitled 'Claiming benefits Advice on claiming and dealing with benefit problems.'. Click on this link to download a copy from the internet or call into the bureau for a copy.

>>Take me to 'Benefits FAQ' (This will take you to the Adviceguide Benefits Section.)

You are entitled to complain about any goods that are damaged, faulty or unsafe. You may also complain if you feel that the goods are not appropriate for the purpose for which you bought them, or that they do not fit the description given.

When you buy something, you and the seller make a contract. This contract is between you and the seller, not between you and the manufacturer.

If you have a valid complaint, you have a right to have the problem sorted out. It may take some effort on your part, but keep trying. In some cases it may be necessary to go to court to get the matter settled.

This is not as difficult as it sounds and just taking some action could be enough to resolve matters.

If you are unsure about your consumer rights, at Portsmouth Citizens Advice Bureau we can give you practical help by negotiating with shops and traders, help you to write letters or fill in forms, or assist you with small claims procedures at the county court.

For self help in dealing with goods and services visit the Citizens Advice Adviceguide website.

>>Take me to 'Consumer affairs FAQ' (This will take you to the Adviceguide Consumer Affairs Section.)

Useful numbers if you have a Consumer complaint.

We all owe money to various people all the time: bills are a fact of life. But, from time to time, you may find yourself overwhelmed by your debts, and can't see a way of paying them all. But you should NEVER IGNORE BILLS. You must get help to find a way of dealing with them.

At Portsmouth Citizens Advice Bureau we can advise you on all aspects of debt and the courses of action open to you. We can help with preparing a budget statement and negotiation with creditors.

We press for improvements in how people in debt are treated by creditors or the law by using our knowledge of how people are affected by current rules.

For self help in dealing with debt problems, the Legal Services Commission has produced a leaflet entitled 'Dealing with debt'. Click on this link to download a copy from the internet or call into the bureau for a copy.

>>Take me to 'Money management FAQ' (This will take you to the Adviceguide Money Management Section.)

Useful numbers if you have debts.

Every worker has the right to be paid and to enjoy a reasonably safe place of work in the same way. Your employer has a duty to you, including a duty of honesty, loyalty, confidentiality and personal service.

If you are having problems, then you should seek help and find out your legal rights when you are at work, including what your employer must (and must not) do for you and how they should behave towards you.

Portsmouth Citizens Advice Bureau can advise you according to your written contract. If you don't have a written contract we can advise you about your statutory rights including the minimum wage and holiday pay. We can give advice about benefits or tax credits you are entitled to, when in work and can also advise on discrimination issues at work, redundancy and unfair dismissal.

If necessary we can help you make a claim to an employment tribunal. If your problem is complex we can arrange an appointment with a specialist employment adviser.

For self help in dealing with employment problems, the Legal Services Commission has produced a leaflet entitled 'Your rights at work. Making sure you are treated fairly.'. Click on this link to download a copy from the internet or call into the bureau for a copy.

>>Take me to 'Employment FAQ' (This will take you to the Adviceguide Employment Section.)

Useful numbers if you have employment related problems.

Having nowhere to live is a terrifying thought, but there are laws that are meant to protect you from being homeless, especially if you are a vulnerable person: for example, if you are young, pregnant, or being threatened by someone.

Acting quickly is important if you are homeless or facing homelessness. The sooner you get help the more likely you will be able to find somewhere suitable to live, or to prevent your home being repossessed.

At Portsmouth Citizens Advice Bureau we can advise you on all aspects of housing including: rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants, tenancies, housing benefit, rent problems, establishing 'fair rents', advice on eviction and problems with neighbours. If your problem is complex we can arrange an appointment with a specialist adviser.

We press for changes in housing law by using our knowledge of how people are affected by the current rules.

For self help in dealing with eviction and homelessness, the Legal Services Commission has produced a leaflet entitled 'Losing your home – Help if you are homeless or facing eviction.'. Click on this link to download a copy from the internet or call into the bureau for a copy.

>>Take me to 'Housing FAQ' (This will take you to the Adviceguide Home and Neighbourhood Section.)

Useful numbers if you have housing related problems.

If someone owes you money and you cannot settle things any other way, you may decide to issue a claim in the county court. People can also claim for other reasons, including:

• bad workmanship;
• damage to their property;
• personal injury;
• road traffic accidents; and
• goods not supplied.

Marriage difficulties can bring out the worst in people, but domestic violence is only one of the reasons for relationship breakdown and there is help available for those suffering domestic violence. However, remember that if you do decide to divorce or separate, there are advantages in trying to keep things civil between you and your husband or wife.

• In the first place, the legal proceedings will cost less. There is no point wasting money over an argument if there is another way of reaching agreement.
• If you have children, a bitter fight will only harm them, try to put them first.
• A fight will also be more damaging for you. Once the divorce is over you have to get on with the rest of your life. It is harder to do this if you know that you have behaved badly.

Housing costs are a large part of most people's expenses. Whether you own your home or pay rent, you will probably have to pay council tax and if you are on a low income, this can be difficult to manage.

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are schemes to help claimants pay for rent and council tax. They are assessed and paid by local councils.

At Portsmouth Citizens Advice Bureau we can give advice on benefit and tax problems, including income tax, tax credits, inheritance tax and council tax.

We press for improvements in tax law by using our knowledge of how people are affected by the current rules.

>>Take me to 'Tax FAQ' (This will take you to the Adviceguide Tax Section.)

>>Take me to 'Housing Benefit FAQ' (This will take you to the Adviceguide Housing Benefit Section.)

>>Take me to 'Council Tax FAQ' (This will take you to the Adviceguide Council Tax Section.)

Useful numbers if you have a tax query.