How to contact your creditors to make offers of payment First decide how you want to contact your creditors. This will usually be by letter, email or phone. If you contact your creditors by email or letter, send them a copy of the Summary budget for creditors and make an offer of payment. If you contact your creditors by phone, have the Summary budget for creditors in front of you and make an offer of payment. If you have a priority debt For more information on making offers for particular priority debts, see the Common priority debts section on page 53. Do not offer more than you can afford. The Summary budget for creditors shows what you can pay towards your debts. Tell your creditors the date that you will start making payments. Ask your creditors to freeze any interest and charges they are adding to your account. This will help to stop your debt increasing. Your creditors may agree to do this. Tell your creditors about any circumstances that will help them understand your situation (for example, if you are unwell). Keep copies of all emails and letters that you send and receive. Keep them together in an envelope or folder, so you can easily find them. Keep a record of anyone that you speak to. Write down their name, what was said and the date and time of the call. If your creditors agree to a payment plan over the phone, ask them to confirm it in writing. If you have difficulty getting a creditor to agree to your offer, contact us for advice. In the meantime, start making the payments you have offered. Reviewing your offers After you have come to an agreement with your creditors, they may contact you a few months later to ask if you can pay more. If you can't afford to pay any more, explain this to them and send your Summary budget for creditors again. Most people’s circumstances change from time to time. Remember to review your budget and offers of payment if this happens. Page 52