It can happen to anyone. Through no fault of your own, you find yourself in the unfortunate situation where you've lost your job through ill health or been made redundant. Nevertheless, the bills keep mounting up and you no longer have the money to pay them. In such circumstances debt counselling could be the answer to your personal financial problems. Always remember that:
- The longer you leave the problem, the worse it is likely to get
- Unopened bills don't mean the problem has disappeared!
STEPS TO TAKE
- Cut down on any overspending
- Prioritise your debts
- Get specialist help
- Don't ignore your creditors - try to negotiate terms with them
- Work out what you can afford to repay
LOANS
- Consolidation loans may help, but a word of caution: they are expensive!
- Your bank may also offer to help you
DEBTS TO PAY FIRST
- Mortgages - to avoid repossession
- Council tax - failure to pay can lead to a court summons and prison
MORTGAGE ARREARS
- Even if you are in arrears it may be possible to remortgage
- Remortgaging may be expensive - but it’s better than losing your home
REPOSSESSION
- If the lender sells your home for less than you owe them they may pursue you for the balance for years to come
- Your lender may agree to negotiate a reasonable repayment plan