Written by Will Lyon
Alan Murdie, LL. B, Barrister gives his views on council tax in this guest blog: I have long maintained that council tax is an example of a science fiction scenario, where the computers have taken over. This has been a theme for many years in stories where human beings end…
Written by Tom James
New rules from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) are shaking up the way bank balances are presented to account holders. Here’s why your bank balance is going to look a little bit different… What’s going on?The FCA – a financial regulatory body in the UK – has brought in new rules…
Written by Tom James
Recent research from PayPlan has found that over half of parents will rely on their credit cards to cover their essential living costs this Christmas.Christmas is a time for spending with loved ones, but this usually results in overspending and denting the bank balance. There’s a lot of pressure to…
Written by Tom James
Christmas can be one of the most expensive times of the year for families in the United Kingdom. A new study conducted by PayPlan has found that many parents will even need to rely on the support of relatives, finance deals and their credit cards to make it through the…
Written by Tom James
What is Talk Money Week?Personal finance is often seen as a taboo subject but Talk Money Week is here to help break the stigma. Running from 18-22 November 2019, this year the campaign will be focused on pensions.Organised as part of the Financial Capability Strategy for the UK, the aim…
Written by Tom James
What is a buy now, pay later scheme?Buy now, pay later (BNPL) schemes are offered to customers at the point of purchase to allow them to spread the cost of what they are buying. Some retailers offer these services in-house and other use external companies who specialise in this.When choosing…
Written by Tom James
World Mental Health Day takes place on 10th October 2019. Results from a recent PayPlan survey, along with advice from the Samaritans, highlight the importance of seeking money advice sooner to try and support mental health problems. What is World Mental Health Day?Campaigned for by the Mental Health Foundation and recognised…
Written by Will Lyon
In recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day, we’re speaking to PayPlan Team Leader and ‘Shout’ volunteer Laura Evans. We sat down with Laura to find out more about how Shout offers support to people in crisis. Hi Laura, what can you tell us about Shout? Shout is a national non-profit…
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
Trying to get credit when you’re in debt, or have a poor credit score, can be incredibly frustrating. It might be the case that you’ve got a less-than-ideal credit score due to a County Court Judgment a few years ago, or had a few missed payments on a mobile phone…
Written by PayPlan
Are you worried about fake websites? We know that there’s no shortage of debt advice companies in the UK. Some, like us, offer free advice and free debt management plans, whilst others offer free advice but charge both a set-up fee and monthly fee to manage your plan. Whilst we…
Written by PayPlan
How much debt were you in when you asked PayPlan for help? When I initially called PayPlan to see if they could help me, I was in around £15,000 worth of debt. I said to the person on the phone “it’s a lot isn’t it?” and they replied with “it’s…
Written by Tom James
As part of 2019 Mental Health Awareness Week, we want to share a story about one of our clients who found themselves in financial difficulty and the effect it has had on their life. Christina Burns is a mother of three from the West Midlands and she shared her experiences…
Written by Will Lyon
Hi Diane, can you briefly explain what it is you and the Debt Relief Order team do here at PayPlan? My role is the Competent Authority Liaison, which means I’m the link between PayPlan and the Insolvency Service. I am also an Approved Intermediary. Our experienced Debt Advisers will speak…
Written by PayPlan
There are many reasons single parents struggle financially, and it’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Being a single parent is hard, especially when there’s only one monthly paycheck instead of two and you have to put more money into childcare whilst you go to work.We’ve outlined some of the struggles…
Written by PayPlan
With food bank use still rife across the UK and a considerable amount of in-work families still needing to use food banks, the controversy over Universal Credit rages on. In order to make sense of how well Universal Credit is (or isn’t) working, we decided to go to PayPlan clients…
Written by PayPlan
Almost 30% of people in financial difficulty admit they wait three to four years before reaching out for debt advice.
Written by Emmanuelle Kopliku
Want some motivation this fine Monday morning? Nothing inspires us more than the story of a PayPlan client who successfully became debt free. Alongside our many success stories, these helpful tips and tricks from our previous client, Andy, could help you become debt free. Andy’s Story Andy and his partner Jo…
Written by PayPlan
I recently read about a man who has gambled since he was 12 years old. He believed he needed to gamble in order to survive. He is now older and married with 2 children, yet he still gambles. His wife does not know that he gambles and if he loses…
Written by PayPlan
Mental Health Awareness Week takes place each year in May. We all understand that it is important to look after your mental health, but how do we do this? There are many physical warning signs that you may be struggling with your mental health. You may experience headaches, mood swings,…
