A new survey by YouGov in association with R3 has found that unsecured debt is increasingly becoming a source of worry to many people in the UK.

The study identified the main causes of rising personal debts as the misuse of credit cards and store cards, borrowing without thinking of how to repay the money and irresponsible lending by credit providers.

Inadequate wages and rising bills have also forced people to continuously subsidise their living costs, it was revealed.

It said the problem has been going on for years, particularly since the introduction of the National Minimum Wage.

The minimum wage, it argued, has been counterproductive in a number of ways.

The system has reduced wages to socially acceptable minimum and prevented calls for periodic increase that will take inflation into consideration.

Those who abused it still continue to do so, making it difficult to identify the gains that have been made.

They survey, therefore, suggested a clamp down on the way lenders and their collection agents represent themselves and conduct their business.