What help can you get if you can't pay your important bills and debts? If you don't think you can manage to pay everything, this article looks at your options for priority and nonpriority debts. And how to get help, with debts and with benefits. Get a budget & know what is top priority When there isn’t enough money to pay for everything, you have to make choices. It’s important to … [Read more...]
Section 13A – a little-known way to get Council Tax written off
Councils in England and Wales can reduce or write off your council tax under Section 13A (1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. This has been called "the best-kept secret in council tax law". These Section 13A write-offs can be used if your house is uninhabitable because of flooding or fire. But you can also get a write-off if you have no money to pay your council tax after paying for … [Read more...]
Should you cancel your direct debit if you can’t pay your energy bill?
The situation in August 2022 The average UK household annual energy bill is now expected to jump 70% to £3,358 in October. Cornwall Insight predicts that in January 2023 there will be a further increase to about £3,600. That's almost treble what it was at the start of this year. The government's current help with energy bills, including £400 off everyone's electric bill this winter, and … [Read more...]
Worried about rent arrears and being evicted?
Increasing numbers of people are worried about being able to pay the rent. Rent arrears are priority debts because if you don't do anything about them, you are very likely to be evicted. If you have rent arrears now, or you are worried that soon you won't be able to pay the rent, you need to get good advice as soon as possible on your options. Doing this sooner rather later helps … [Read more...]
It’s time to stop sending people to prison for council tax debt
A new report called "I can't believe we still do that" produced by Payplan and the Institute of Money Advisers (IMA) looks at the imprisonment of people for council tax arrears in England and Wales. Councils started court action to send 4,881 to prison in 2016-17. Their average debt was only £2,213. UPDATE: In April 2019 the Welsh government ended imprisonment for council tax debt. This … [Read more...]
Which debts can you go to prison for not paying?
I don't think people should be sent to prison for not being able to pay a debt. It rarely happens, but it's important to know the sorts of debt where this is a possibility. About a hundred people a year are sent to prison for council tax arrears - here is a case where a mother was in prison for 40 days before being released. About 30 people a year go to prison for not having a TV licence - … [Read more...]