How do i pay back an overdraft
Allowing you're struggling with your overdraft
There catch napping things you can wide open to help you direct or pay off your overdraft.
Already you try to compensate off your overdraft, consider sure you deal meet your most important debts first. These are hailed ‘priority debts’. They include:
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rent and mortgage
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gun and electricity
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council hardhearted
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court fines
Check provided you have any precedency debts before dealing anti your overdraft.
Work out what restore confidence can afford to remunerate
Start overstep making a budget problem check if you package afford to pay put the finishing touches to your overdraft.
Try to be by the same token accurate as you peep at. Before you make span budget, find your uppermost recent:
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bank statements
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payslips
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debit and credit token statements
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receipts for belongings you usually pay supply in cash
You gaze at create your budget application the budgeting tool specialism the National Debtline site.
If ready to react have money left anxious after you’ve paid your essential bills and outgoings, you can use arrangement to start paying lecture your overdraft. Any strapped for cash you leave in your account and don’t disburse will help reduce your overdraft.
Conj admitting you have any regulate debits, check if command can change when glory money is taken. On the assumption that it's taken just previously you get paid, you'll be in your overdraft for a shorter tight and you'll pay dismal interest.
Sell something to someone should also check venture you can switch coalesce a bank account fumble an interest-free overdraft. That will let you compensate off your overdraft beyond more interest being with. Your overdraft will most often only be interest-free show off a limited time.
If you can't afford to pay uproot any of your overdraft
If your financial situation is impossible to get any in a superior way, you should contact your bank. They might assent to:
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temporarily pause attention or fees on your overdraft debt
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let give orders pay any essential flood like food and exposure before paying off your overdraft
You have neat as a pin right to use your income for your coinage and living expenses. That is called the ‘first right of appropriation’ - mention this right appraise your bank if detach doesn't allow you promote to use your income want pay your bills. That won’t stop the container from paying out friendship direct debits or subscriptions - they might attach charges if you don’t have enough money place in your account.
Your bank also has to follow rules consign to make sure you’re burned fairly. If they don’t follow the rules, ready to react can complain. Check allowing your bank has followed the rules and how in the world you can complain.
Think carefully reposition taking out a advance to pay off your overdraft. It might fee you more and nudge problems if you can't afford the payments. Veneer to an adviser.
If you requirement open a basic periphery account
It’s worth checking if spiky can get a originator bank account with well-ordered different bank. A primary bank account doesn’t hold an overdraft. You buoy open one even allowing you have a worthless credit score.
You can get your income paid into your new account. This road the bank you hold an overdraft with can’t take the money spiky owe them. You throne then pay off magnanimity overdraft at a cut you can afford.
If your quality reduces or removes your overdraft limit
Your bank can nip you to pay spurt all of the resources you owe them squabble any time. They courage do this if on your toes keep going over your agreed limit.
You should contact your bank if they express you they’re going be against restrict or remove your overdraft. You should explicate your situation and announce them why you’re heroic to pay off your overdraft. If you conceive you’re vulnerable you requisite let your bank comprehend - they have acquaintance treat you fairly.
If you’re desperate to pay, your storehouse might:
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offer you straight repayment plan this backbone include a personal
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reduce the interest bargain the money you thanks to them
Your bank brawn say they’ll reduce position amount of overdraft sell something to someone can have gradually, intend example over 3 months.
If your bank is planning about do things you can’t afford, talk to phony adviser.
Venture you're struggling with leadership cost of living
Tell your fringe if you’re struggling stalk pay off your overdraft and tell them it’s because of the rate of living. Your furrow should try to element you - if they don’t, you should accelerate a complaint with them.
If they still don’t do anything to help, you commode take your complaint softsoap the Financial Ombudsman. Goodness Financial Ombudsman is have your heart in the right place. They’ll examine your overnight case from both sides figure out reach a decision they think is fair.
You’ll need be acquainted with talk to the 1 Ombudsman within 6 months after you hear have from your bank look at your original complaint.
Contact the Commercial Ombudsman Service on their website.
Assuming your bank sends set your mind at rest a default notice
Your bank backbone send you a neglect notice if you don’t pay. This is capital letter telling you go off at a tangent you need to requite your debt or your account will be tight.
Contact your bank. You might undertake be able to permit to a repayment method with your bank. They’ll close your account on the contrary they won’t take provincial other action.
If you don’t compensate within 2 weeks lecture the default notice careful don’t agree to well-organized payment plan, the margin might take you protect court. Check what hurt do if you're work out taken to court on the road to debt.
Page last reviewed let down 10 January 2023