People experiencing mortgage difficulties are being encouraged to talk to their lender as soon as possible.

It comes as the Banking & Payments Federation (BPFI) has partnered with the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) to offer help.

DealingWithDebt.ie outlines a range of advice and solutions available for customers, including switching options.

The website also details key contacts for all lenders and credit servicing firms, in addition to independent consumer support bodies.

Brian Hayes, CEO of the BPFI, told The Pat Kenny Show it's about being proactive.

"We're not seeing a significant rise or an uptick in mortgage difficulties at the moment," he said.

"But I think the prudential thing to do, the correct thing to do - particularly in a circumstance where cost of living issues are a real concern for people and we see mortgage interest rates rise - is to get out there soon and get out there quickly to let people know that there is help for people.

"I think the problem probably in the past - 15 years ago - was in many ways people put their head in the sand.

"They felt a sense of shame, they didn't want to speak to someone; but the sooner they speak to their lender, the sooner a solution can be found.

"So really this is a precautionary approach we're taking".

Michelle O'Hara, National Spokesperson for MABS, echoed these sentiments.

"Part of this campaign is obviously encouraging communication and engagement," she said.

"That is always the message from MABS: to communicate and to engage as early as you possibly can.

"These problems don't go away, you cannot avoid engagement with your creditor - either directly yourself, or through the support that we can give people in MABS".

'Clear advice'

Mr Hayes explained what is on the website.

"The most important point of contact on the website is simply a list of contacts for all our members," he said.

"There are traditional banks, pillar banks that we know, non-bank lenders that have come into the market in the last 10 years or so, and obviously credit servicing firms.

"Within that website, and that point of contact, is clear advice for people who might get into difficulty and the kind of solutions that we already provide.

"Some of those solutions are short-term, others long-term".

Mr Hayes said this is a key message that will carry through to a radio and social media advert campaign this summer.

"If people are seeing a difficulty making ends meet, and given the fact that their mortgage repayment is likely to be their largest monthly repayment, that the sooner they have that conversation with the lender the sooner we can put in place more short-term solution or a longer-term solution if that needs a bigger restructure of debt," he added.

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