Important information if you can't pay your mortgage

If you're having trouble making your mortgage payments call us free on 0800 915 0411 as soon as possible so we can try to help you.

We'll be able to discuss your circumstances and could offer help to meet your individual needs.

What we will do to help you

• If you haven't already been in touch with us, we'll contact you as soon as possible to discuss your situation
• We'll consider your circumstances and may be able to:
  • Arrange a new payment plan with you that suits both of us
  • Change the way you make your payments, or the date you make them
  • Allow you to pay your mortgage over a longer period of time (to reduce your monthly payments)
  • Change the type of mortgage you have
  • Arrange for a debt counsellor to visit you and discuss ways of managing your finances. The cost of the visits may be charged to your mortgage account

  We will provide you with full details on how these options work and give you time to consider any changes. If we can't offer you any of these options we will explain why.

• We will give you reasonable time to pay back the debt
• We will talk to an agency like Citizens Advice Bureau to arrange a payment plan for you, if you want us to
• We will only start proceedings to repossess your home if we cannot solve the problem with you.

If we cannot offer any of these options we might agree to you remaining in the property to sell the property yourself.

What you can do to help

• Tell us as soon as possible if you are having problems repaying your mortgage or think that you might experience problems in the near future
• Refer to our free online budget planner - this could help you better manage your finances
• Seek debt advice if you would like help managing your finances. The following companies provide free advice on money problems:

  Citizens Advice Bureau - www.adviceguide.org.uk
  Consumer Credit Counselling Service - 0800 138 1111 www.cccs.co.uk
  National Debtline - 0808 8084000 www.nationaldebtline.co.uk
  Money Advice Scotland - 0141 5720237 www.moneyadvicescotland.org.uk

• Contact us quickly, if we try to contact you
• Make sure you keep other people responsible for the mortgage (and anyone guaranteeing the mortgage), up to date with what's happening
• Keep to any payment plan we may agree with you or tell us as soon as possible if there is a change in your circumstances which may affect the arrangements. If you don't make the agreed repayments, we might have to go to court to get any money you owe us or to repossess your property
• Keep us up to date with any changes to your circumstances, including if you move to a new address
• Check whether you can get any state benefits or tax credits which could help to increase your income
• If you have a mortgage payment protection insurance policy, check if it can help with your payments
• If it is unlikely that your situation will improve in the future you may need to think about selling your home.

You may want to talk to a professional adviser, such as a debt counsellor or a solicitor, before you change your mortgage arrangements. We would strongly advise that you seek independent, free debt advice.

Costs and Charges

If you are in arrears, we may charge you for any administration or legal costs which we incur. You will be informed about all charges which we may make.

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