Priority Debts - And turn2us.org.uk

All dunning letters need to be answered promptly - but it's particularly importantly to deal with 'priority debt' letters.

Priority debts are:

• mortage or rent
• fuel and utilities
• council tax
• income tax
• maintenance to ex-partners or children
• Court fines (e.g. magistrates fines for traffic offences
• TV Licence

and it's vital to deal with them quickly, because if you don't, you could lose your home, have your goods seized in settlement of your indebtedness - or go to jail.

If any one or more of your priority creditors is threatening to start, or has started, to take Court action against you, then you can send them a 'holding letter' explaining your problems, telling them that you will contact them again in two or three weeks time, and asking them not to take any further action in the meantime. That will give you time to seek advice and help - and it's particularly important to do that if you can't afford to pay anything, and your situation is not likely to get better.

Obviously, if you are in that situation, the first place to go is your local Citizens Advice Bureau - they will help you to write to, and negotiate with, your priority creditors - but you should also look to try to get help from turn2us.co.uk.

Turn2us is all about support - and not just financial support, although that's obviously an important part of what the Charity does. Turn2us can give you advice, help you to get benefits or grants that will help you to pay your bills or buy essential items, point you to resources that you may not know about or have thought of.

You can join Turn2us on Facebook (link opens in a new
window) for news, events, real-life stories and a growing community where you can discuss topics of interest and share information on their discussion board.

Do it!

Geoff