Coronavirus: Help for existing clients
If you’re an existing PayPlan client, you may be worried how your debt solution will be affected if your income has changed as a result of Coronavirus.
Please be assured that we will support you through this period and we’re continuing to work closely with creditors to ensure your debt plan stays on track.
What happens if I can’t make a payment this month?
If you’re worried that you can’t afford your next full payment, we would encourage you to pay as much as possible rather than nothing at all. Even a small, token payment will show creditors that you’re still committed to paying off your debts. However, please don’t make any changes to your payments without speaking to us first on the contact details below.
We understand that it may not be possible to pay anything at all this month, and in these circumstances, we may be able to agree a payment break with your creditors. Again, please don’t cancel any payments until you’ve spoken to us so we can help.
Please note: if you’re considering missing or reducing a payment because you feel you need to buy extra supplies in case of self-isolation, please follow Government guidelines and refrain from doing so. This will ensure everyone will be able to access the food, medicine and household goods they need, and this will mean your debt plan will continue without disruption.
When do I need to tell you I can’t make my payment?
In order to temporarily stop or reduce any payments, we will need as much time as possible to ensure this is actioned, and no less than 5 working days. Please remember that there may be a small delay in our response times due to increased demand at this time.
Debt solutions:
Debt Management Plan (DMP) clients:
Please call us on 0800 316 7155 or send us a message through your account in PayPlan Plus.
Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) clients:
Please call us on 0800 912 7269 or use the PayPlan Plus App to send us a message. This can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Store.
Trust Deed clients:
Please call us on 0800 197 7211
Always have your Client ID to hand so we can help you as quickly as possible. This can be found on any correspondence you have received from us.
Top tips for making cutbacks to save money:
To help keep your managed debt plan on track, we’ve put together a few tips to help you save on your everyday outgoings:
Check out your subscriptions
Subscriptions are usually paid every month and we often forget about them, but you may want to check to see if you are paying for something you aren’t using. Subscriptions can include:
- Gym memberships – some gyms (like David Lloyd and Bannatyne’s) are pausing memberships to help their customers
- TV – Sky sports are allowing customers to pause their subscriptions and BT Sport are offering a ‘bill credit for two months of BT Sport’
- Cinema passes – If you get exclusive or unlimited access to your local cinema, you should be able to save. Odeon has paused subscription payments for its members.
Claim back free school meals
If you are eligible for free school meals, you can claim a food parcel or £15 a week’s worth of supermarket vouchers. Check with your school to see if you’re eligible and how you can claim.
Get refunds on cancelled trips
If you were meant to go away but your plans were scuppered by Coronavirus, make sure you check to see what travel and accommodation is refundable. Hotels may offer you a full refund or a credit note, and train/coach operators (Like National Express and Megabus) will do likewise.
Compare your utility bills
We should all be frequently reviewing our utility bills to make sure we are paying a fair price. Websites like Go Compare can give you a better idea of what deals are out there to help you compare utility bills and save money.
Do you urgently need money for food and other essentials?
Check out our guide to borrowing money safely, or approach one of the following organisations for immediate help:
- If you live in England, get in touch with your local council
- If you live in Scotland, you can apply for a Scottish Welfare Fund
- If you live in Wales, you can apply for the Discretionary Assistance Fund
- If you live in Northern Ireland, you can apply for Finance Support