Finance

Debt counselling could be the answer to your personal financial problems. Maybe you've lost your job through ill health or been made redundant - the bills keep mounting up and you've no money to pay them.

• The longer you leave the problem, the worse it is likely to get

• Unopened bills don't disappear
  

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 they are expensive

• Your bank may also 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 get a remortgage

• This may well be expensive - but better than losing your home
  

REPOSSESSION

• If the lender sells your home for less than you owe them they have several years to start chasing you for the balance - between six and 12 years

• It is possible to negotiate a reasonable repayment plan