Reducing payments to creditors

Angel_Rachie

Due to a change in my financial circumstances I am going to have to reduce my payments to one of my creditors (JPB solicitors). I am off work sick at the moment and living off of SSP and then due to apply for ESA when my contract at work ends. Needless to say I know I wont be able to make the payments im paying now.
I just want to know how to approach them to ask if I can reduce my payments? Past attempts to contact them by post or email have ended in them just repeatedly asking me to call them. This has then ended with them bullying me or threatening me.
So do creditors have to take any form of payment from me?

BlushingRose

I wouldn't ask them, i would tell them.
Write a letter, send it by registered post (so they have to sign and you can track it) saying that due to ill-health you have had a reduction in income and as of (whichever date) you will be paying them the reduced rate of (£££). You will of course return the payment to it's previously agreed level as soon as you are able.

That's what I;d do anyway, just my opinion though so hopefully someone more helpful will be along soon x

eyeopener2

Sound advice from BR. Just tell them whats going on, make the offer and then continue to pay it by standing order if you can.

That way they cannot say you are refusing to pay.

By the way, who are JPB Solicitors? sounds like dodgy debt collection firm to me!

Angel_Rachie

They collect debts for Halifax bank and they are the pain of my life! I have set-up direct debits with them and they have not honoured it. They have not taken money out on the agreed dates and then called me up angryly asking why I have not paid - its not my fault if they do not take the money out.
Its not even one of my 'priority' debts (e.g overpaid benefits) but they are being paid the most.
BR has a good point, I will send them a letter with a break-down of my income and state I can only afford to pay X amount. At least if I have proof that I have wrote to them then that is in my favour, although I think they will still just ask me to call them tbh. But I suffer from anxiety and don't think my nerves will take speaking to a arogant bully of a debt collector.

BlushingRose

You don;t have to call them. Add to any letters you send that you will only deal with them via letter, not over the telephone.