Debt Advice

Dealing with debt

If you are having difficulty paying your rent you should contact our Income Management Team on 0800 1070713

If you are struggling financially and wish to have a ?financial health check? please contact our Tenancy Sustainment Team on 01992 453700 to book an appointment.

How can Broxbourne Housing Association (BHA) help?

BHA has a close working relationship with The Citizens Advice Bureau and offers a referral service to offer you help with debt advice, benefit checks, money advice and completing Housing Benefit and Council Tax forms.

The Citizens Advice Bureau also offer a drop in surgery at our offices at Scania House, Hoddesdon on Wednesday mornings. Please contact us on 0800 1070713 before attending to ensure that the surgery is running.

Our Income Management Team and Tenancy Sustainment Team are Housing Benefit verified and are therefore able to help you fill in Housing Benefit forms and check that they are fully complete.

Our Tenancy Sustainment Team are also able to provide a ?financial health check? to ensure that you are receiving all benefits you may be entitled to and can offer advice around other financial matters such as fuel tariffs.

Money management

Credit Union

BHA is a partner of HertsSavers (Link to Website) Credit Union. This is a safe, ethical community focused financial service where you will find responsible, affordable lending and a safe and accessible place to save money. For further information please contact 01707 269 239.

Bank accounts

If you do not have a bank account, most banks will offer a basic account. For further information please contact us on 0800 1070713.

General debt advice

How you deal with debt will depend on your financial circumstances and if any legal action has been taken. It is always best not to ignore the situation and try to come to some arrangement to pay. Offer an amount you can afford and then make sure you make regular payments.

Priority should be given to the following debts as not paying them could have the highest consequences;

• Rent arrears
  
• Council tax arrears
  
• Magistrate court fines
  
• Gas, electricity and water rates

Other debts which have lower consequences may include credit cards, store cards, catalogues and loans.

How do I know how much to offer to pay?

Start by writing down how much income you receive each month. Then do a separate list of all your household expenditure, for example, food, childcare, clothing, gas and electricity bills, transport costs, etc. At this stage you don't need to include your payments to organisations you owe money to as you need to work out how much money you have left each month to offer to them. You should now know how much money you have available to pay towards your debts each month.

Other places where you can get debt advice:

Consumer Credit Counselling Service - 0800 138 1111 or www.cccs.co.uk - (Link to Website)

Debt free helpline - 0800 881 8891 or www.debtfreehelpline.co.uk - (Link to Website)

Debt advisory Centre - 0800 970 7724 or www.debtadvisorycentre.co.uk/debt-advice - (Link to Website)

National Debtline - 0808 808 4000 or www.nationaldebtline.co.uk - (Link to Website)

Remember ?the cheapest and most convenient way to make payments is by Direct Debit. For further information about making payments please go to our making payments section.