Make An Action Plan!

Now you have worked out what money you have coming in and going out, how much you owe and what debts you should tackle first, you need to work out what you can afford to pay to each creditor and when you will be able to make the payments. Remember that it is better to make small payments regularly than to promise larger amounts and then not be able to keep them up.

Contact your creditors (Ask your ICAN Officer for help with this if you need to!) and tell them how you plan to repay what you owe. Send a copy of your budget planner and tell them what you are doing to reduce your spending and/or increase your income. They will want to see that you are doing your best to clear your debts.

Don't be put off. If you get a poor response at first, don't give up:
Make the payments you have offered, even if the creditor says it is not enough

Keep copies of all the letters you send and the replies you receive

Make notes about phone calls with the date and the name of the person you spoke to. If they are unhelpful, ask to speak to someone higher up

If you agree to something on the phone, write a letter setting out what you agreed, so you and the company have a written record

If you think you have been treated unfairly, you can complain. If the company belongs to a trade association (there should be a logo on the company's letterhead), contact the association. Or call your local Office of Fair Trading.