Get Advice

**We are currently booking appointments 3-4 weeks ahead. If you have an issue you want help with, particularly where there is a deadline, please get in touch as soon as possible. You may also get the advice you need from the webchat and email options and the Citizens Advice website detailed below and the resources on our Advice and Information page.**

Who can we help?

We help people who live or work in Exeter and the surrounding area. If you do not live in the area we cover, you can search for the contact details of your local Citizens Advice.

Click or call

Click for online advice, information and factsheets

Citizens Advice is our self-help website which is available 24 hours a day. It gives you information on your rights and helps you take the first steps in sorting out problems. The site covers a wide range of topics, including benefits, employment, housing, and has help on debt, consumer and legal issues. There is information in other languages, and also a large number of fact sheets to print off and use for reference.

If you do not have access to the internet, you can access the website in our reception.

The Citizens Advice website is currently piloting a service offering webchat and email advice.

Call our Helpline for a telephone assessment

If you are unable to use the internet or require further help, please call our free Helpline on 0808 278 7845 (Monday – Friday, 10am – 4pm)

 If you need help to claim Universal Credit for the first time, please call our dedicated helpline on 0800 144 8 444

If you can’t hear or speak on the phone, you can use our textphone service via Relay UK – 18001 then 0800 144 8884. This service can also help with Universal Credit claims.

A member of our team will answer your call or textphone enquiry and assess your advice need and ascertain the next steps. These may include: a telephone or face-to-face appointment; referral or signposting to another advice provider; or providing further information. We also have access to translation services, including sign language.

Drop in assessments and appointments

We do not currently offer a drop in assessment service. Please look at “how to access our services” on our opening times page for details.

Face-to-face assessments

We offer face to face appointments to clients who have been identified by our team as vulnerable. We are in regular contact with many agencies across the city to ensure that we continue to support and give advice to all members of our community who need it

All of the above is subject to change should further restrictions be put in place.

Reception information and resources

We have leaflets and factsheets in our reception on a range of issues. Our volunteer information guides will help you to find what you need. There is also a phone line which offers free calls to a number of relevant organisations and computers offering internet access to them. There is a list of the organisations you can contact free from reception on our Advice and information useful links page.

Specialist advice

As well as our main advice service, we run a range of projects offering specialist advice. In some cases you do not need a gateway assessment to be seen by a project caseworker. Please check the specialist advice page  to see if you are eligible.