WITH the financial pressure of Christmas at full throttle, the public of Worcestershire are being warned to beware of the temptations of credit agreements.

Consumer advice officers from Worcestershire County Council have seen an increase in calls regarding credit agreements over the years, with around 50 received in the past few months.

They have produced an easy-to-follow guide to understanding agreements, in a bid to reduce the number of people who commit to a finance contract they cannot honour.

The factsheet covers topics such as the annual percentage range of interest, part-ex-changes, the amount of credit and the credit period.

People signing a credit agreement should bear in mind that they do not automatically have a right to cancel it, but if they have signed an agreement that can be cancelled, it should clearly state their position in a box headed Your Rights to Cancel.

Individuals should be aware of additional add-ons.

"This is an area that is often not addressed because the focus is usually on the end result," said Alison Cornelius, senior consumer advisor.

"We are not trying to stop people signing up to finance contracts, but what we are saying is that widely preconceived ideas about cooling off periods and protection insurance are often not true.

"People should take more time to understand the implications of what they are agreeing to before they sign on the dotted line."

For an information factsheet on how to understand credit agreements, visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/tradingstandards or call a consumer adviser on 01905 765373.