Many Sydneysiders can't pay bills on time but only three per cent seek help from a financial counsellor in times of economic stress, figures show.
Wesley Mission questioned 450 people across Sydney in December 2008 on financial stress and its impact on daily life for its report - Financial Stress: The Hidden Human Cost.
Figures on how the city-dwellers dealt with paying utility bills were not included in the report, released in May but were presented to a recent forum with utility providers.
The survey showed 24 per cent of respondents in the age brackets 30 to 44 and 45 to 59 could not pay their utility bills on time.
A quarter of women of all ages said they found it hard to pay on time, along with 18 per cent of men.
Almost half, 47 per cent, of respondents who did not own a credit card found it hard to meet bill payments on time, compared to 18 per cent who did have a credit card.
Only three per cent said they sought help from a financial counsellor, while 10 per cent took no action to find help.
Wesley Mission chief executive Keith Garner said there had been greater demand for help with household bills.
"Wesley Mission financial counsellors have experienced a surge in the number of people requesting or needing electricity vouchers to pay their bills," Rev Garner said in a statement.
"The wave has been building long before today's increase in electricity prices.
"For many people the coming months and year will mean a financial wipe-out."
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