What to do if you’re dealing with debt

If you are in debt, or have a family member who is, it can be the loneliest place to be and no matter how resilient you are, eventually it will wear you down. However, there are strategies you can adopt to alleviate the situation and get yourself back on track.

Talk to someone

Acknowledging the burden and seeking help is the first step towards breaking out of the frightening spiral. A professional debt adviser can help you discover your options. There are a number of different organisations such as Citizens Advice Service (www.citizensadvice.org.uk) and the National Debtline (www.nationaldebtline.org) who can offer immediate support with advice.

Make a list of your debts

Open any correspondence that you have been ignoring and tally up everything you owe. Decide, with help from the organisations above, which debts are most pressing and prioritise them.

Be proactive

Get in touch with those companies to whom you owe money. Not only will it help you feel more in control, but it gives you a chance to seek an agreed payment plan to pay a set amount per month that you can afford and start reducing your debt.

See what you’re entitled to

If your income has been reduced because of the loss of your job for example, there may be benefits that you are entitled to claim that could help your situation. Organisations such as Moneyhelper (www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/benefits), provided by HM Government, can show you what you can get and how to apply.

Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space)

You can get temporary respite in England & Wales from creditors for up to 60 days by applying via a debt adviser. They cannot add interest or charges to your debt, or contact you, and no enforcement action can be taken against you during the ‘breathing space’. Find out more about it here –https://www.gov.uk/options-for-dealing-with-your-debts/breathing-space.

If you’re struggling with debt, don’t suffer in silence. There are organisations out there specifically to help you, and if you need assistance, we can help to point you in their direction – just let us know.