Financial Support: Official Places to Contact

Updated: 10.02.2026

This page lists official, public-facing resources where residents of each country we cover can look for financial assistance information, debt guidance, and consumer protection support. It is informational only and does not replace professional advice or official decisions. If you are at immediate risk of losing housing, utilities, or access to medication, contact local emergency or municipal services first.

Mexico

If you cannot pay on time, contact the lender or bank early and ask for a restructuring or payment plan in writing. If you believe a provider misled you, charged undisclosed fees, or handled collections abusively, use official consumer and financial complaint channels rather than third-party “helpers.”

Where to go (official portals)

  • CONDUSEF (financial products disputes and guidance) — best for issues with banks, lenders, insurers, and other financial service providers; useful when you need a formal complaint route and escalation.
  • PROFECO (general consumer issues and guidance; including non-financial service complaints) — best for consumer-rights guidance when the issue is not strictly a regulated financial-service dispute (or when you need consumer advice on contracts and commercial practices).
    • “Qué hacemos” and Teléfono del Consumidor info (55 5568 8722 and 01 800 468 8722): gob.mx/profeco
  • Programas para el Bienestar (federal social programs entry point) — best for checking eligibility and official application routes for federal support programs without intermediaries.
  • CONSAR / AFORE partial withdrawal for unemployment (formal procedure information) — best if you are unemployed and need to verify the official requirements and steps for a partial AFORE withdrawal related to unemployment status (when applicable).

Poland

If you are missing payments, your first move is usually to contact the creditor early and request a written restructuring proposal. If you suspect unfair conduct or need formal assistance with a financial-market dispute, use official redress routes. For state benefits, start from the government’s official benefits portals rather than unofficial “application services.”

Where to go (official portals)

  • Emp@tia (eWnioski: online applications for many benefits) — best when you want to submit applications online for family and social benefits through a government service channel.
  • Family 800+ (official program information) — best for understanding eligibility and rules for the child benefit and what changed in the program.
  • Financial Ombudsman (Rzecznik Finansowy) — best when you have a dispute with a financial-market entity and need an official route for support and procedures.
  • UOKiK (consumer protection authority) — best for consumer protection information and enforcement context, especially where practices appear broadly harmful (not only one contract).

Sweden

In Sweden, if you are over-indebted or at risk of enforcement, getting early support is crucial. Municipal budget and debt counselling is a practical first stop for planning, prioritizing bills, and dealing with creditors. For enforcement and payment demands, the enforcement authority provides guidance on what to do when finances change. For unemployment-related support, follow the official steps through the public employment service and social insurance channels.

Where to go (official portals)

  • Municipal budget and debt counselling (Kommunal budget- och skuldrådgivning) — best when you need help budgeting, prioritizing debts, negotiating with creditors, or preparing for a debt restructuring process.
  • Kronofogden (Swedish Enforcement Authority) — best if you have received payment demands, enforcement notices, or need official guidance on urgent steps and creditor contact.
  • Arbetsförmedlingen (Public Employment Service) — best when you become unemployed and need to understand the process, including registering as a jobseeker and how unemployment benefit routes work.
  • Försäkringskassan (Social Insurance Agency) — best for official information on compensation tied to employment-service programs and social insurance support pathways.
  • ARN (National Board for Consumer Disputes) — best if you have already complained to the company and need an official dispute-resolution channel; ARN indicates an application fee of 150 SEK.
    • Fee information page: arn.se

Romania

If you cannot pay, contact the provider early and request a written payment plan or restructuring options. If the issue is unfair commercial behavior, ANPC is the main public consumer protection route. For disputes involving banks and certain financial institutions, CSALB provides an alternative dispute resolution pathway and states it is free of charge for consumers and aims for settlements in under 90 days.

Where to go (official portals)

  • ANPC (consumer protection authority) — best for consumer complaints against companies, including formal complaints with registration.
  • CSALB (alternative dispute resolution for banking disputes) — best when you want structured negotiation/conciliation with a bank/NBFI and prefer avoiding court; CSALB reports “no charges for consumers” and “less than 90 days” settlement time targets.
  • ANOFM (unemployment benefit guidance) — best if you lost your job and need official eligibility/steps for unemployment benefit; ANOFM provides official program details and references the current social reference indicator value.
  • MMANPIS (VMI: minimum inclusion income support) — best if you need official information on minimum-income support and eligibility framing for households.

Kazakhstan

If you cannot pay, contact the creditor early and request restructuring in writing. For issues with banks, lenders, and other financial providers, ARDFM is the main official regulator contact channel and lists a national call center. For state support and social payments (including job-loss payments), use eGov guidance and official “life situations” pages that explain where to apply.

Where to go (official portals)

  • ARDFM (financial market regulator) — best for complaints and guidance related to financial services; the government page lists a call center 1459.
  • Job-loss social payment (official eGov service page) — best if you are eligible under compulsory social insurance and need the official service description and requirements.
  • Benefits and social payments guidance (where to apply, channels) — best when you need the official list of application options (e-labour exchange, eGov portal, “Government for Citizens,” employment center, eGov Mobile).
  • Targeted Social Assistance (TSA) — best for low-income household support; the official “life situation” page explains where to apply (eGov portal, career center, local akim in rural areas).
  • Banking Ombudsman (mortgage-loan disputes) — best if your dispute is specifically tied to a mortgage loan agreement; official pages provide contact details.

How to choose the right route

If your problem is primarily “I cannot pay,” start with your creditor and ask for restructuring, then use the country’s debt counselling or official social-support portals if income loss or hardship is the root cause. If your problem is “the provider acted unfairly,” start with the provider’s formal complaint channel and then escalate to the relevant authority or dispute-resolution body listed above. If someone asks you to pay an upfront fee to “unlock” a benefit, “guarantee” a loan, or “erase” debt, pause and verify through an official government domain or the official regulator before sharing documents or money.