We know that being in debt or struggling with money can be very difficult for many people. Whether you’re a customer of ours or not, we want to help you manage your finances and reduce your money worries.
If you are a Fair for You customer, make sure you look at our FAQs and Help and Support pages if you’ve got any question about managing your account.
Did you know that there are debts that you should try and pay off before others? These are bills that can impact your home and health, cause legal problems and lead to more debt. They include child maintenance, council tax, county court judgements/criminal fines.
Find out more here.
The MoneyHelper website, run by the Government’s official Money & Pensions Service, has lots of free information and resources, such as a budget planner to help you keep track of your spending; guides on how to choose the right bank account for you; and information on prioritising your bills.
There’s also lots more information on the websites of some really helpful national charities - Turn2us, Stepchange, and Citizens Advice. There are also local Citizens Advice branches across the country. Find one near to you here.
There are lots of free debt advice services across the UK, which you can access online, over the phone or face-to-face. Find out about different debt advisers here.
Council tax debt is a priority debt. This means that you should always try and pay it ahead of other debts.
If you're struggling to pay your council tax, first try and get in touch with your local council. Explain your situation. They might agree to accept lower payments if you can show that you're struggling to pay the full amount.
Check to see if you can pay less council tax. If you're on certain benefits or on a low income you might be eligible for discounts and exemptions.
Please don't ignore demands for payment. Your local council can take further action to collect the money if you don't pay, like taking money from wages, benefits or court action. And court action could negatively impact your credit score.
If you struggle to understand your energy bills, you're not alone. Pay close attention to your regular payments and check that you are covering the amount of energy you've used. This is important so that your account does not go into arrears.
If you're struggling to pay your gas or energy bills and you're on a low income or receiving benefits, your supplier may be able to help. The main grant and support schemes offered are listed on the website of the debt charity StepChange.
The Fuel Bank Foundation also has tips for what to do if you have a pre-payment meter and are struggling to pay.
If you need help with food, this article on the website of Citizens Advice tells you what you need to know about accessing a food bank
Mobile debt should be treated as a priority debt. This means that you should always try and pay it ahead of other debts.
When you buy a mobile or set up a new contract with a service provider, your contract is for a set amount over a set period of time. If you miss a payment your account will go into arrears.
Have a look to see if you can pay less for your mobile phone contract. There are a number of ways:
If you struggle to afford to stay connected, then you may be able to get a free mobile SIM card to help you access the internet.
Read more about the National Databank here - and you can find your local provider on this map (you’ll need to check the option for ‘databanks’ in the drop-down menu next to it).
Use Gamban to help protect yourself from adding to your debt
We put lots of free tips and ideas for making your money do more on our blog. You can sign up to our newsletter here, or follow us on Facebook or on Instagram to keep in the loop.
One of the best ways to look after your finances is protecting yourself against online scams.
If you’re less confident with using the internet and staying safe, have a look at the resources from Learn My Way. Even if you think you know how to stay safe online, it's worth spending five minutes checking out the Government's Cyber Aware campaign.
We know that being in debt or struggling with money can be very difficult for many people. Whether you’re a customer of ours or not, we want to help you manage your finances and reduce your money worries.
If you are a Fair for You customer, make sure you look at our FAQs and Help and Support pages if you’ve got any question about managing your account.
Did you know that there are debts that you should try and pay off before others? These are bills that can impact your home and health, cause legal problems and lead to more debt. They include child maintenance, council tax, county court judgements/criminal fines.
Find out more here.
The MoneyHelper website, run by the Government’s official Money & Pensions Service, has lots of free information and resources, such as a budget planner to help you keep track of your spending; guides on how to choose the right bank account for you; and information on prioritising your bills.
There’s also lots more information on the websites of some really helpful national charities - Turn2us, Stepchange, and Citizens Advice. There are also local Citizens Advice branches across the country. Find one near to you here.
There are lots of free debt advice services across the UK, which you can access online, over the phone or face-to-face. Find out about different debt advisers here.
Council tax debt is a priority debt. This means that you should always try and pay it ahead of other debts.
If you're struggling to pay your council tax, first try and get in touch with your local council. Explain your situation. They might agree to accept lower payments if you can show that you're struggling to pay the full amount.
Check to see if you can pay less council tax. If you're on certain benefits or on a low income you might be eligible for discounts and exemptions.
Please don't ignore demands for payment. Your local council can take further action to collect the money if you don't pay, like taking money from wages, benefits or court action. And court action could negatively impact your credit score.
If you struggle to understand your energy bills, you're not alone. Pay close attention to your regular payments and check that you are covering the amount of energy you've used. This is important so that your account does not go into arrears.
If you're struggling to pay your gas or energy bills and you're on a low income or receiving benefits, your supplier may be able to help. The main grant and support schemes offered are listed on the website of the debt charity StepChange.
The Fuel Bank Foundation also has tips for what to do if you have a pre-payment meter and are struggling to pay.
If you need help with food, this article on the website of Citizens Advice tells you what you need to know about accessing a food bank
Mobile debt should be treated as a priority debt. This means that you should always try and pay it ahead of other debts.
When you buy a mobile or set up a new contract with a service provider, your contract is for a set amount over a set period of time. If you miss a payment your account will go into arrears.
Have a look to see if you can pay less for your mobile phone contract. There are a number of ways:
If you struggle to afford to stay connected, then you may be able to get a free mobile SIM card to help you access the internet.
Read more about the National Databank here - and you can find your local provider on this map (you’ll need to check the option for ‘databanks’ in the drop-down menu next to it).
Use Gamban to help protect yourself from adding to your debt
We put lots of free tips and ideas for making your money do more on our blog. You can sign up to our newsletter here, or follow us on Facebook or on Instagram to keep in the loop.
One of the best ways to look after your finances is protecting yourself against online scams.
If you’re less confident with using the internet and staying safe, have a look at the resources from Learn My Way. Even if you think you know how to stay safe online, it's worth spending five minutes checking out the Government's Cyber Aware campaign.
If you're struggling with debt an Individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) may be a solution that could help.
Please do your research and seek advice first as it can come with benefits and risks. For example, it stays on your credit file for six years from the date it is approved.
See what benefits you could be eligible for with this quick calculator
Check what grants you could be eligible for in just a few minutes
What else should we list on this page? Have you got a great tip for things that would be helpful to other Fair for You customers? Email us on contactus@fairforyou.co.uk
Important: while Fair for You would only provide links to trusted, reputable organisations, we cannot take responsibility for the information provided by external organisations.
