A FORMER building society manager and mortgage broker, who was hit hard by the banking crisis, is now helping other people struggling with their finances.

Pam Oliver was an account manager with a mortgage broker with offices in London and the North East when the financial world went into meltdown.

She said: “I was made redundant and went from having a very good salary to earning nothing at all.

“I had to work out how to pay my mortgage, loans and credit card bills. It was a very harrowing experience and all through no fault of my own.

“There are many people with similar stories to mine and I’ve been able to help them sort out their creditors and manage their payments in a way which is affordable and relatively stress free.”

She has now started A1 Debt Advisory Solutions, based in Throckley, to help people who find themselves in similar situations.

The business offers practical advice on dealing with debt and helps to restructure monthly payments to ensure clients have enough money to pay for day to day essentials.

Pam also works with people facing bankruptcy and Voluntary Arrangements and helps clients claim back payment protection insurance where it has been mis-sold.

She said: “My life experiences and non-judgmental approach seems to help me to forge strong relationships with the people I help.

“This job needs a great sense of maturity and empathy and gives me tremendous job satisfaction when I see the end result of my work.”