NEW YORK, NY December 15, 2008 —Have your credit cards or mortgage payments become characters in your nightmares? Then the city's free financial hotline might help.

All this week, volunteers from financial institutions and universities will be answering calls from 9 AM to 7 PM.

Consumer Affairs Commissioner Jonathan Mintz says the "Money Helpline" should quell New Yorkers' economic fears.

MINTZ: I think what this help line is really designed to do is to let people know that they don't have to struggle on their own when they are feeling stressed about their finances.

REPORTER: About 400 volunteers will be manning the phones in both English and Spanish.

They'll be answering questions on debt and credit management as well foreclosure, retirement, and taxes.

More information on the city's Money Helpline" is available by calling 311.

Actual help-line number is 212-330-6505.