As the buy now, pay later culture takes its toll on the population, reporter CORINNE McPARTLAND looks at the spiralling debt crisis facing residents.

THE offices of the Citizens' Advice Bureaux (CAB) in Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley have been left "shocked" by the rise in debt owed by residents.

Dartford CAB saw more than 620 people come through its doors with money problems in the past financial year.

The organisation, based in Essex Road, Dartford, managed 160 cases, with each owing an average of £25,000 each.

People with debt problems being managed by the CAB get help with things such as planning repayments and contacting credit companies.

Centre manager Chris Baker says the problem is getting worse.

She said: "The number of people coming through our doors with cashflow problems is a real concern.

"I have seen a real increase in the amount of debt people are getting themselves into.

"People have got into the habit of wanting something and buying it straight away without saving up for it and just putting it on a credit card."

Swanley CAB manager Nils Janson agrees the problem is increasing.

He said: "We dealt with 968 cases of debt last year.

"We are managing around 70 of those cases, with a total value of £1.5m.

"I am shocked to see so many people coming in with the same underlying debt problems.

"We see more people with serious problems regarding consumer debt rather than problems regarding their mortgages."

Mr Janson, who works at the centre in High Street, Swanley, says he has also seen an increase in people filing for bankruptcy.

He said: "The social stigma has been lessened when it comes to people declaring themselves bankrupt.

"We have seen more people going down the bankruptcy route as they think it is going to be an easy way out of their debts.

"But it isn't always the case and they have to think about it before they make the move."

Gill Porter, the manager of Gravesham CAB in Windmill Street, Gravesend, is worried the vulnerable are being targeted.

She said: "We have seen a definite rise and at the moment we are dealing with around 140 cases of people who have debts amounting to around £4m.

"This is a huge amount of money to be owed by a relatively small number of people.

"Lenders often target the vulnerable and those are the types of people we are dealing with every day.

"When someone knocks on your door offering to help you out with your money problems or a credit card looks tempting and you can't afford it just say no."

For more information, call Swanley CAB on 01322 664535, Dartford on 01322 270947 or Gravesham on 01474 361239.