Communication is vital - with your family, the Benefits Agency and between you and your creditors. Bringing financial problems out into the open can start the process of trying to resolve the various issues.

Financial difficulties cannot be resolved by guesswork. So before you make contact with your creditors - you will need to prepare two lists:

1. a Budget summarising your income and living expenses

2. a list of creditors and amount owed.

Both lists must be as accurate as possible. You will also need to keep updating them as circumstances change - including details of the payments you agree with individual creditors.

Be honest about your situation, send a copy of your budget and list of creditors, it will help them to understand your situation and as a result they are more likely to be sympathetic to it.

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