Frequently asked questions
Debt & Money
Take a look at a list of some of our most commonly asked questions. Below you will find help and extra support we have available to help you find a way forwards with any issue you may be facing.
Please remember, if you need advice or support with your debts, contact reach out to out team and a specialist Debt Caseworker will be in touch.
There are a number of actions that can be taken against you if you don’t pay your debts depending on several factors. These include the type of debt, the stage of recovery and the policy of the individual creditor.
They can include (but are not limited to):
• Bailiffs
• Charging orders
• Court orders
• Money being deducted directly from your salary/benefits
• And in some cases loss of liberty
Full information on actions creditors can take can be found here.
Making a budget can help you work out what you can put towards any debts you might have, it may also highlight any areas where you can reduce spending and increase income.
For help working out your budget, you can find useful information and access a budget planner here.
There are a number of debt solutions available in the UK including Debt management plans (DMP), Individual Voluntary Agreements (IVAs), Debt Relief Orders (DROs) and Bankrupcy. They all have unique criteria that may or may not make them suitable for you.
Before you explore any debt solutions it's important to talk to your creditors. You might be able to come to an agreement with them to pay off your debts, or get more time to work out your situation.
If you don’t feel able to talk to your creditors directly, we can support you with this.
You can find lots of helpful informaiton about your options for getting out of debt here.
Debt Advice at Citizens Advice is free, impartial and independent. If you need help with Debt, you can book an appointment and speak to us today.
Most creditors will have dedicated departments to communicate with debtors if they are unable to repay. This communcation can often be done over the phone, in writing or via email (although this list is not exhaustive). Once you have worked out what you can afford to pay and created a budget, you can contact your creditor to discuss your options
You can find lots of useful information about budget planners, how to decide how much to pay each creditor and useful letter templates to help guide the conversation here.
No, you are not legally obligated to let a bailiff into your home. In most cases they cannot force entry or use a locksmith to get in. However, bailiffs are allowed to come in through unlocked doors. Make sure your doors are locked, if you have a porch with a lockable door you should lock this too. It is always best to try to sort out your debt by keeping them outside and speaking through the door or over the phone.
Depending on the kind of debt you owe, the bailiff will sometimes have the right to force entry by asking a locksmith to open your door if you won’t let them in. It’s very unlikely they’ll do this - you should still have the chance to pay without them coming in.
The bailiff could have the right to force entry to your home or business if they’re collecting - unpaid magistrates court fines, for example if you were given a fine for not paying your TV licence, tax debts for HM Revenue and Customs, for example if you owe income tax.
You can get more detailed information about how to deal with bailiffs at your door here.
Can’t find what you are looking for?
We have much more information available online to help with your specific debt and money needs. Take a look below to find more information on a variety of debt and money issues.
Get in touch with our Debt Team:
Email the Debt Team
Send an email to our Debt Team and we’ll be in touch as soon as possible.
Please email: debt.support@
citizensadvicerotherham.org.uk
Book an Appointment
Use our online booking system to arrange a face-to-face appointment with our team at a time that suits you.
Are you part of an organisation supporting people in Rotherham and would like to make a referral into our service?
Our preferred method of referral is Refernet. Our team can set you up a free account and explain the process. Simply drop us an email to our debt administrator and we can discuss further.
Please email: debt.support@
citizensadvicerotherham.org.uk
Visit our Debt Drop-In Session
You can also recieve tailored face-to-face support by stopping by our weekly Debt Drop In Session.
Every Monday between 09:30 and 12:30, our advisors are available to provide face-to-face support on whatever Debt issues you may be facing.
There is no need to book an appointment, simply head down to our town centre office at 2 Upper Millgate, Rotherham, S60 1PF.