Huge rise in debt-strapped consumers taken to court

CONSUMERS are increasingly being hauled before the courts for failing to pay their debts as banks, the taxman and firms get tough during the economic slowdown.

Stubbs Gazette, which publishes a weekly magazine listing debtors before the courts, said it has seen a rise of 30% to 40% in debt cases in a year.

The largest amount of cases are being brought against individuals who default on consumer debt like credit cards, mobile phone bills, and credit union loans.