Major new research by Citizens Advice has found that nearly 1 in 5 people struggling with debts have had their credit card limit raised without them requesting it - a practice the charity would like to see banned.

After the Bank of England issued a warning to lenders about how they are granting credit to consumers, Citizens Advice says poor affordability checks by firms are making people's financial situation worse.

Consumer borrowing has risen to over £200 billion and over a third of this - £67 billion - is on credit cards.

The charity's major new report, Stuck in Debt, reveals that people struggling with long-term credit card debt were more likely to have their limit raised. 18% of struggling credit card users had their limit raised in the past year without requesting it, compared to 12% of all credit card holders.

People with credit card debts were also more likely to get into long-term debt than those with personal loans and were less able to pay their debt down.

Citizens Advice is also concerned that firms are not providing support early enough to people who, despite meeting the minimum repayments, are struggling with long term credit card debt.

The charity is calling for changes to protect people from falling into long term credit card debt, including:

• Firms to be banned from raising people's credit limits without obtaining their explicit consent to give people more protection against ever-increasing debt.
• The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to provide clear guidance to lenders stressing that before increasing a borrower's limit, they must check their ability to repay it.

Citizens Advice helped nearly 66,000 people with over 140,000 credit card debt problems in the last year.

Citizens Advice chief executive Gillian Guy said: "Irresponsible offers of further credit are pushing people into long-term debt cycles.

"It's clear that irresponsible behaviour by some lenders is making people's debt situation worse - such as offering more credit when they already have thousands of pounds of unpaid debt.

"The regulator must ensure that lenders are taking into account people's whole financial and personal situation before agreeing further credit. Banning firms from raising existing customers' credit limits without seeking their express permission first would also help people take more control over their finances.

"Lenders must act responsibly and direct people struggling with debt towards free and independent advice and support - rather than more credit."

The FCA has announced a range of proposals to help those already in long-term credit card debt.

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