Debt help

[OhMyCherriePie]

I am in debt that I’m having to pay back at £75 a month, might not be a lot for some but it’s very hard for me especially at the moment. The next payment is due on a Sunday but I don’t get paid till the Monday, what would happen if I paid it one day late on the Monday? I keep getting threatening messages if I pay it late so just wondering what will happen if it’s only one day late?

Ask the person you owe? Do you not have a DD or so set up to pay?

It depends entirely on who you owe it too, but the best thing is always to contact the lender as soon as you no the payment will be late, rather than letting it just be late first. Who is the money owed to? Have you paid late before?

Never paid late yet no. It’s a mobile phone debt no it’s not DD I have to call every month and pay it on a certain day

How much is the debt and who is it to? And is it current debt or an old/closed account?

If it's already defaulted then your credit file likely isn't at risk (small chance of it progressing to CCJ but unlikely if you're engaged with them) so I'd be requesting a lower payment if it's really a struggle.

Is it a direct debit? They usually go out the next working day so it would be Tuesday. Don’t forget Monday is also a bank holiday which may affect your pay too (might not though if your paid cash though).

*just seen your update. Call centre won’t be open on Easter Sunday so just do it on Monday and if they question why it’s a day late say you just assumed they would be shut being easter

It’s not this Sunday it’s next Sunday They won’t take any lower I’m a single mum not working as my child gets dla. I spoke to step change (think it’s called) and that actually told me I could pay more and wanted me to offer £150 a month 🤦🏻 so when the company said £75 I agreed as it was half the amount step change told me to offer. I owe £500 it was £800 (original debt was £300 but they added to it)

Is it with bailiffs now?

Yes

Id phone them this week and explain it will be one day late and why, but I’d phone their offices and not the individual baliff.

Can you pay anything before? Even £10 would show willingness.

Looking at their opening times it’s closed on Saturdays and Sundays anyway so would the payment need to be made on Friday if it’s due on a Sunday?

Is it not an automated payment line?

No there is one but for some reason it doesn’t let me pay by that way I have to actually call and speak to them if I put it through that way it says it doesn’t recognise my account

Call Sunday when it turns out they're not open. Call back Monday saying you had not realised.

Most places put it back to modnay when the date falls at the weekend so you'll probably be alright. In the future, ask them what happens at weekends for payments. If you're being paid 4 weekly and they want the payment at the same time every month, you might need to check if you can change payment dates.

I doubt they expect you to phone up to pay on Easter day. Do it on the Monday.

It’s not Easter Sunday unfortunately it’s next Sunday so don’t even have that excuse, I think I’m just going to try to increase my over draft with the back so I can afford to pay it

It’d be daft to do that before phoning them and asking if you can pay a day late OP, phone them and speak to them first, they will probably be fine with it.

Oh ok thank you I read somewhere else that it will break my contract with them if I pay late 😓

You need professional advice. If your only income is benefits related then they should only be taking minimal payments from you and treating you fairly about dates, amounts etc. Do not be bullied by these people, you have rights.

Is this your only debt? Either way you could be a candidate for a debt relief order.

Hmm. This all sounds a bit off.

Do they send you regular statements on what you still owe and what you’ve paid? They’re not still adding interest are they?

Just seen you might be in overdraft too, that's a very expensive debt, definitely get advice before agreeing to increase what you pay for the phone debt.

It did seem like an unreasonably high amount but given that step change was telling me I could afford £150 a month when the company offered £75 I just accepted it. They said I needed to pay it back within a year? But yes the amount seems high as I’ve heard of people that have debt paying back £3 week! I have two children on dla so I guess it seems I have more coming in than I actually do as as soon as it comes in it’s back out again. They do not send me any letters they send me text messages on the day reminding me it’s time to pay and what will happen if I don’t.