Dealing with non-priority debts

Non-priority debts do not have the power to take more serious action against you, like evicting you from your home or sending you to prison.

You might feel that a non-priority debt is more urgent to you, but to avoid losing vital goods and services it is important you deal with debts in order of their priority.

Non-priority debts include:

• credit cards
• personal loans with finance companies (if not secured on property)
• bank/building society loans and overdrafts
• charge cards
• catalogues/mail order
• personal debts to friends and family
• doorstep and payday loans

Let your creditors know you are having difficulties, use the sample letter in our page on how to contact your creditors. You can ask for a temporary hold on recovery and interest being charged whilst you make your financial statement and choose an option to deal with your debts.

Not been in touch with a creditor for several years?

If you haven’t written to a creditor or made a payment towards a debt for several years, you should ask for advice before you do. This is because the debt may be ‘statute barred’. This means it is legally unenforceable, meaning you might not need to pay it.