17% have yet to pay off debts from Christmas 2011, according to new research from uSwitch.com.

The price comparison and switching service also found that 19% are starting 2013 with over £5,000 of debt on their credit card.

For the six in 10 (59%) consumers who bought their presents on plastic in December, the debt hangover is likely to continue. With pay rises unlikely to keep up with hikes in living costs, 53% of consumers expect to take a year or more to pay off their credit card debt, while 15% say that it may take as long as three years to settle their balance. A worrying 7% can’t imagine clearing it at all.

Unperturbed by money worries, however, only 29% of consumers cut back on costs this Christmas. 48% spent roughly the same as last year and a further 23% consumers spent more this year than last, with 10% spending over £1,000.