Written by Tom James
With unemployment levels expected to reach a staggering 2.6 million by the middle of 2021, the sad reality is that many people across the UK will be struggling to pay their bills this year. Whilst redundancies are devastating for everyone, it’s fair to say that you’re even more at risk…
Written by PayPlan
So far, 2020 has brought with it many changes, opportunities and challenges. Our top priorities are quite rightly our health and checking in on loved ones – family, friends, neighbours and taking care of our own wellbeing. However, if your finances are suffering, or have been for a while, then…
Written by PayPlan
Read the first in our series of industry-focused guest blogs. In this post, Chauntelle Wright, Money Advice Project Specialist for the Institute of Money Advisers (IMA), gives her take on supporting Money Advice Group organisers and IMA members during lockdown. Can you even call yourself a “lockdown veteran” unless you…
Written by Will Lyon
There are around 3.5 million sole traders in the UK and 2 million limited companies, according to the business advice website CompanyBug. If you’re self-employed are and finding things tough during the Coronavirus crisis, don’t be afraid to seek help. You may have ended up in debt because your business…
Written by Emma Gibbons
There’s been a lot of talk about ‘breathing space’ recently. Simply put, it’s a period of time for you to get some advice and work out the best way to deal with your debt, without worrying about a knock at the door or your phone ringing. It helps you focus…
Written by PayPlan
What’s so blue about Monday? Known by many as the most depressing day of the year, ‘Blue Monday’ is called as such for a number of reasons. For many, the post-Christmas debt is due, so many will be feeling the pinch. In addition, weather conditions are generally very gloomy and…
Written by Sam Critten
Another Christmas has come and gone, and another January has arrived, which can only mean one thing…credit card debt, and lots of it.The festive financial hangoverEvery year, thousands of Brits brace themselves for letters from their credit card providers as the financial hangover from Christmas really starts to hit home.…
Written by Chelsea Potter
One of the most common concerns our customers express is whether their debts will affect their partner. This detailed blog post discusses marriage and debt and looks at how you and your partner can be financially linked. A useful read for anyone in a relationship.
Written by Payplan Ryan
How do I write a letter to a credit card company to freeze interest? Having interest and charges frozen on your credit cards can make a huge difference to the length of your repayment period. For many people a solution like an Individual Voluntary Arrangement or a Debt Management Plan…
Written by Tom James
It used to be that most people were retired by the age of 65. Unfortunately however, this is no longer the case. If you are working over the age of 65, you may be doing it to support your lifestyle or the livelihood of others. You may just be doing…
Written by Tom James
Christmas might still be six weeks away but it is an expensive time of year - a time when a lot of people start to feel overwhelmed by the costs and turn to credit for help. This week's blog post offers some cost cutting tips to help make your Christmas…
Written by PayPlan
Christmas is a time when spending can easily get out of control. Even if you haven’t been extravagant, it takes a lot of planning and budgeting to avoid the January Christmas debt hangover. In January last year, around 7.9 million people said they were likely to fall behind with their finances…
Written by Tom James
Every year in September, organisations around the world campaign to raise awareness of suicide prevention for World Suicide Prevention Day. That’s why we’ve teamed up with the Samaritans to talk about suicide prevention ready for #WorldSuicidePreventionDay. Why is it important to talk about suicide? According to the Samaritans’ website[i], there…
Written by PayPlan
Being a student can be incredibly expensive. You’ve got to pay for accommodation, shopping, food and a host of other expenses. For those who’re living away from home for the first time, this can be a pretty big shock to the system, which is why it’s unsurprising that some students…
Written by Sam Critten
When you’re in debt it can be difficult to know what to do next. Trying to sort out payments to different lenders, juggling calls from multiple creditors asking for money, trying to sort your priority debts from those that can wait…it’s stressful on paper, let alone in reality. Trying to…
Written by Tom James
Online banking Gone are the days where popping into your local bank was the only way to pay your bills, manage debt, or withdraw and deposit money into your account. Online banking has brought convenience to everyday life, and although the initial research and admin may feel daunting, it’s actually…
Written by Tom James
What is an IVA? An Individual Voluntary Arrangement, or IVA for short, is a debt solution whereby you pay all of your unsecured creditors back in monthly payments usually over a period of 5 or 6 years. Once the agreement ends, a large proportion of your debts may be written…
Written by Will Lyon
‘I can’t afford bankruptcy’ sounds like an oxymoron. You’re already in a poor financial situation. Why should making it worse cost money? The truth is, bankruptcy is often a more favoured option to other alternatives. And for those faced with severe debt problems, it’s not simply a last resort. Despite…
Written by Sam Critten
Creditors will use an array of different tactics to try and recover money if you owe a debt to them. Repeated phone calls, automated emails, endless letters reminding you of the consequences of not paying…the list goes on. If these don’t work, then another tactic they might use to get…
Written by Sam Critten
There isn’t a simple yes or no answer to this question, unfortunately. An Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) is a legally binding debt solution, and once you’ve agreed to the terms and conditions it can be difficult to add new debts to your IVA. However, you may find you will want…
