Support from PayPlan has helped Steve turn his finances around

A customer has credited the help he received from PayPlan for helping him turn his finances around.

Steve Jones* suffers from anxiety and depression and had two months’ rent arrears on his account. This had built up due to his Universal Credit being paid monthly, but his rent weekly.

He also had two credit cards which he was struggling to repay.

Steve reached out for help from PayPlan and, after arranging for a text message to be sent before they called him to help with his anxiety, he says their help has put him in a better place.

He spoke with Gemma at PayPlan, who helped him to build a realistic and sustainable budget. He’d already agreed to pay an additional £20 per week towards his rent arrears, so this was arranged as a priority within his new budget.

Gemma also advised Steve that he may be eligible for PIP of up to £270 per month which would improve his standard of living and advised him on how to apply.

Steve said: “Amongst other things, the main bonus of speaking to PayPlan was being told how much I can offer everybody I ended up owing money to.

So, when I contacted them, I had a figure to stick to. Years ago, when I had to deal with it all myself, no matter what I offered, it was never enough for them.

“They’d continually push for more. The help and advice I received was excellent.”

Steve was using foodbanks when he first contacted PayPlan and felt that buying food was out of reach. However, working with PayPlan, he was shown how reducing payments to unsecured debts and making token payments would enable him to be able to afford a regular food shop.

Steve was advised that these payments could be increased once the rent arrears were paid off, as these were his priority.

“My situation was getting to a point where, one way or the other, things could have very easily turned very messy,” he added.

“Fortunately, I spoke to PayPlan just in time.”

 

*Not our customer’s real name