Getting your repayments to a level you can manage

A monthly payment that once felt easy can start to pinch when costs rise or income changes.

Lenders have ways to help. These notes explain how to ask for that help and where to find free advice. They draw on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), GOV.UK and Citizens Advice.

Your lender can change how you pay

The FCA says that if you find it hard to pay your mortgage, credit card or personal loan, your lender should give you support suited to your circumstances. That support is there whether this is the first time or you have had help before.

Depending on your situation, the options can include these.

Paying a reduced amount for a while.
Changing the length of the mortgage or loan so each payment is smaller.
In some cases, a short break from payments.
Being pointed to free debt advice.

Lenders should also think about whether to suspend, reduce or waive interest, fees or charges. For a mortgage, GOV.UK mentions payment holidays, interest-only payments for a time and a longer term as examples.

Talking to your lender early

The FCA's advice is to contact your lender as soon as you can. Talking to them does not affect your credit file. If you agree a new arrangement, it will show on your file. Missed payments would show too.

The government's Mortgage Charter notes that after a longer term or a spell of interest-only payments, the overall cost of a mortgage will be higher. It helps to ask your lender what the total will be.

Putting your bills in order

The FCA suggests starting with a list of everyone you pay. Note how much each one is and whether you are behind. Then build a budget around it.

Citizens Advice calls some debts "priority debts" because not paying them can have serious results. They include rent or mortgage arrears, council tax, and gas or electricity bills. It is worth dealing with these first.

Help with mortgage interest

If you get a qualifying benefit, you may be able to get Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) from the government. It helps towards the interest on the mortgage for the home you live in. It is paid as a loan, which you repay with interest when you sell or transfer your home. It cannot be used for missed payments.

Plans that cover several debts

GOV.UK describes ways to pay debts in instalments. They include an informal agreement with the people you owe, a Debt Management Plan and an Individual Voluntary Arrangement. A debt adviser can help you choose.

In England and Wales, Breathing Space can give you up to 60 days of protection while you get advice. During it, creditors cannot add interest or charges to the debts it covers or take enforcement action. You still make your repayments. You apply through a debt adviser, and applying is free.

Free advice, and offers to avoid

StepChange and National Debtline are charities that give free debt advice. MoneyHelper, which is backed by the government, has a tool to find free advice near you.

The FCA warns that people struggling with a mortgage can be targeted with risky offers. Examples are quick sale deals well below a home's value and paid-for "promissory notes", which are not a form of payment. It also warns about online adverts for debt solutions that do not make their fees clear. Firms that give debt advice must be authorised by the FCA.

If you think a lender has not treated you fairly, complain to it first. For most complaints it has up to 8 weeks to reply. After that you can go to the Financial Ombudsman Service, which is free.